With the girls’ education, Ella had deferred much of that conversation to Zee.
After all, he knew how education and sports intertwined and what the best options would be for the girls.
But secretly, Ella agreed with Madison.
If she had the chance to play for a pro team now, she should do that.
Universities weren’t going anywhere.
Madison could always complete her degree after.
Parenting was where their dynamic stayed out of it, and they decided together whatever was best for the girls, staying a unified front.
“Madison, it’s not that bad.”Ella poured the boiling water over her tea bag.
“I know I flunked the last test I took.It’s an effort to maintain my grades.”
“We agreed to take it semester by semester, right?”
“Whatever, Mom, you know nothing about maintaining a course load, okay?”
Usually Ella could shrug off the barbs that Madison made while she was in this mood, but today, they stung.
“Has the offer expired?”Ella gripped her mug as she asked it.
“No, but the clock is running down on it.”
“I think we should talk it over with Dad again, okay?Call us tonight.”
The silence on the other end of the phone went on for so long she was sure Madison had hung up.
“Fine.But I can just sign it on my own, you know.”
Ella bit the inside of her lip.
She had kind of expected Madison to do that before now.
Madison didn’t need her parents’ permission to drop out of school or sign a contract.
Part of her wanted Madison to be gutsy enough to go for it on her own.
“You could,” Ella said.“And we’ll support you.I can’t promise Dad won’t be mad about it, but we love you.”
“Love you too.Thanks, Mom.”
Ella hung up, wondering if Madison had taken that for permission and if Zee would take it out on her.
But she’d deal with that later.
She didn’t want her daughter to end up regretting her choice.
But what did she know?Her daughter was right; she only had a high school education.
She never even held a job, going from working her parents’ farm, to helping them out at their market stall, to being Zee’s wife, where she raised their daughters while making Halloween costumes for everyone.
When he retired, she handled his guest speaking bookings, made corsets with proceeds going to the foundation, sat on charity boards and did volunteer work.
Ella didn’t regret her life.
