“Fine, Granny. The virus isn’t active.”
“No, thank the Lord, but you can’t wear yourself out.”
“I won’t, I promise. Pizza with Ryder is me having fun.” Elizabeth sat on the bed across from Granny. She was so beautiful with her carefully combed silver hair and steady blue gaze. “I try not to be stoical and serious, but after being sick for so long…I should be graduated by now and at my first job.”
“Beth,” Granny said. “It’s one thing to be sick. It’s another to let it steer your decisions after you’ve healed. Use what happened to you as a reminder that life is short. We never know what’s coming. Give yourself to the things you can take with you when you die.”
“And what would that be, Granny?”
“How well you’ve loved others. What you’ve done with your time, words, and money.”
“I try to do well with those things. It’s just that?—”
“Oh, Elizabeth.” Granny hugged her close. “It’s just that you hate to give up on a plan.”
“Does that make me the bad guy? Inflexible?”
“No, it makes you determined. But don’t forget the importance of love along the way. Now go.” She turned Elizabeth toward the door. “Have fun tonight.”
Elizabeth had just arrived at Angelo’s when her phone pinged with a message from her friend Jordie.
Jordi
I got into Kellogg!! They took long enough to tell me. I was getting scared. But I’m in. If Wharton hadn’t accepted you, I’d beg you to come with me to Evanston. We could’ve roomed together. How’s it going in…where are you again?
Elizabeth
Congratulations! You’re going to kill it. Yeah, Kellogg is a great school. I’m in Hearts Bend, TN. Working in the finance office of the family biz.
Jordie
Great experience! When do you leave for Philly?
Elizabeth
First of August.
She hated lying, but confessing she’d been wait-listed felt like defeat. She simply had to keep believing.
She jolted at a tap on her window. Ryder. Leaning down, peering in, a soft expression on his very fine face. Elizabeth popped open her door.
“Sorry, texting with a friend. She got into Kellogg.” Elizabeth grabbed her bag, held her head high, and shut the car door with resolve. There was no need to tell Jordie, or anyone, the truth. Her good news would come any day now.
“Kellogg?” Ryder said. “Wow. I didn’t know you could get an advanced degree in Special K, Cap’n Crunch, or Rice Krispies.”
She laughed. “Really, yes, it’s all the rage among the Ivy League these days. And Cap’n Crunch is a Quaker Oats brand.”
“Wow, so you really can get an advanced degree in cereals. Who knew?”
Just like that, Ryder Donovan eased her anxiety. Like he’d always done in days and summers past.
7
All joking aside, Ryder suspected something about the text had upset Elizabeth. He saw it in the way she fumbled with her phone. How she averted her gaze when she stepped out of the car. Plus, he was raised by competitive people. He understood the world of achievers.
“Ready for some fun?” he said, holding open Angelo’s door for her.
“It’s the reason I came.” But her smile lacked her usual brightness.
