Greta felt like her heart sped as Kaelee stared down at her. “Yes.”
“You don’t want to know what first?”
“Will you or I be naked?” Greta asked.
“Yes.”
“Then I’m in.” Greta removed her robe.
“I love you, darlin’.” Kaelee froze, seeming to realize what she’d said.
Greta pulled her closer. “I love you, too.”
38Kaelee
After returning from her tour dates, Kaelee filled out the university paperwork to take a term off. There were two other classes she would need to take for an MFA, or she’d have to write her dissertation for the literature PhD. She’d taken extra classes while she was thinking, so the question of what degree she had rightly earned was the one to figure out. Was it better to call an end and have an MFA? Was it more useful to be ABD (all but dissertation)? Or should she finish the dissertation? Was there any use in that if she wasn’t going to teach?
Knowledge for knowledge’s sake still matters!
“Dr. Darbyshire entered the paperwork last month to be your advisor,” Suzanne, the woman at the English department main office, told her. She was a sweet older woman, the sort that would make a great grandmother in media portrayals, but Kaelee had talked to her often enough to know that Suze did not suffer fools. She was a transplant from somewhere deeper south than Kaelee’s home state of North Carolina.
“Wait. Toni didwhat?”
“Her department head allowed it,” the woman continued. “Dr. Darbyshire has the credentials to be your thesis advisor if you are doing the Master of Fine Arts. Do you not want her as your thesis advisor?”
“No. I mean,yes. Yes, I want Darbyshire, but she’s so busy.”Kaelee’s eyes widened in surprise that Toni just declared herself Kaelee’s advisor. “And she’s in the history department.”
“Dr. Harrison signed off on it. She’s really persuasive, and of course, she’s a successful commercial author as well as historian.” Suze paused and smiled wide enough that she looked a bit frightening. “Close your mouth, girl. You don’t want flies to get in or your remaining manners to get out.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Suze nodded approvingly. “You were her TA last term, so it’s not surprising. She might as well get credit for mentoring you, since she obviously already is!” Then her stern demeanor faded into something sweet. “We’re all just so pleased by your successes, Ms. Carpenter. I will say, though, that the scene in the forest with those girlies in your book. Wow wee.” She fanned herself. “That kind of spice will make an old woman consider dating.”
“Right. Err, thank you.” Kaelee stared at the papers clutched in her hand. “I’m only taking the fall term off to think. I’m not deciding to withdraw from the program.”
“You’ve completed your classes and written not one but two novels,” the woman tutted. “If you wanted to finish your dissertation instead of the MFA…”
“Honestly, I can’t even think about what’s next.”
Suze reached out and patted her hand. “You’re young and have time to figure it out and then go ahead and change your plan several times. Life is long, Ms. Carpenter. Don’t rush through the exciting parts.”
Kaelee sighed. “I feel at home here. I think that’s the real issue. I have a master’s in history already, and in all practical ways, I now have everything I need for the MFA… but what I want is the feeling of fitting in here.”
“There’s no place in the world quite as comfortable as academia for some of us.” Suze smiled and then stood up. She stepped around the side of her desk. “You’re a good egg. If you want a hug, I often find that helps me.”
Kaelee bent to hug her. “You’re proving my point about the people here.”
There was a lightness to Kaelee’s mood when she returned to her apartment. She’d taken control of her life, and everything was working out. Her debut novel had hit the far end of both theNew York Timesand theUSA Todaybestseller lists. Everything had turned out better than her dreams.
… Which was why seeing her mother standing primly at the door of her apartment was unexpected.
“Kaelee.” Julia stared at her, not in disgust but in the way she once had when Kaelee came in from softball practice or riding lessons, as if seeking any injuries.
“Hi.” Kaelee stared at her. Age had added lines to her mother’s face, but she still looked wonderful. She was too thin to be genuinely healthy, but there was a lightness to her that Kaelee didn’t recall ever seeing. Her hair was tastefully dyed, and her clothes were impeccable designer fare. Light makeup—eyes, foundation, and natural lip color—countered some of the years she’d added. Small but expensive jewelry adorned her ears, throat, and fingers. Surprisingly, she wore a smartwatch.
“Could we speak?” Julia asked.
“Go ahead.” Kaelee folded her arms.
