I looked up at all of them. “I might not get in, guys. Ford, you might’ve come all this way for nothing.”
He winked. “Coming home is never for nothing.”
“He was long overdue,” Granny said.
“You’ve got this,” Duncle Silas said, his arm around Lemon.
I peeked at Dr. Atkins standing against the kitchen counter. His eyes were twinkling. Maybe he already knew my fate.
“O-pen it. O-pen it. O-pen it,” James and Brooklyn, who were sitting next to each other, pounded on the table, starting a chorus. Ashton, Holden, and Christy joined in, followed by everyone else.
“Okay, okay,” I smiled. But I quickly glanced at Blue just to see what he was feeling. A small smile teased at the edges of his mouth. But I could see the worry in his eyes. Maybe he felt like our relationship was riding on this as much as I did.
He mouthed the wordsall to piecesand it gave me the courage I needed. I looked down at the phone. In the time it had taken me to get up my nerve, a text had appeared. My stomach knotted at the name but I flicked up with my pointer finger, sending it out of my mind. Or at least I tried.
I gripped my phone, double-handed, and bit my lip as I clicked on the email. I told myself I wouldn’t scan ahead. I would only read one word at a time. But my eyes went there anyway. Relief and despair swirled together, forming a tumbleweed in my chest.
“Anna?” Lemon encouraged.
I swallowed. “Okay. Here we go.”
Dear Ms. Dupree,
On behalf of the Admissions Committee, it is my pleasure to inform you that you have been accepted for admission to the Doctor of Vet?—
Brooklyn jumped up so fast her chair flipped backward, hitting the ground with a slam. “Squee! You got in!” She screamed, her fists thrust to the ceiling.
“A-rooooo,” Huckleberry sang.
The room erupted in laughter. In three seconds, I was engulfed in hugs and well wishes.
Silas and Lemon sandwiched me in a squeeze. Dr. Atkins rubbed me on the head like I was five. I chortled.I got into vet school. I actually got in.My mind couldn’t even comprehend. It had been my dream since I was a little girl.
“Oh my goodness.” I grinned. But it felt like someone had cracked my ribs open and yanked my heart out. I wasn’t going with Blue in the spring. There was no chance for that now.
It took all my might, but I held the hurt in while everyone congratulated me. Even Madden offered me a fist bump. Everyone but Blue. He held back, watching, always a proud smile on his face. But I knew deep down he was as heartbroken and confused as me. If we were meant to be, why wasn’t this working out?
“I don’t know,” I said once Gramps was done squeezing the stuffing out of me. “Maybe I shouldn’t go.”
“What?” Silas said, too intensely.
I ran a hand across my brow. “I mean, it’s so expensive.”
“Anna,” Ford said likecome on. “I’ve gotchu.”
“No. We’ve got her,” Gramps said, an arm around Granny.
“We can help,” Christy said.
“Absolutely,” Holden agreed.
Ashton cupped his hands and shouted, “I’ll cover her pencils.” Which elicited laughter from everyone. Ash had only been a professor for a couple of years. He was still getting his feet under him.
“No. She’s our kid,” Silas said. Lemon nodded next to him. “We’ll cover it.” He lifted his chin up at Ford. “We’ll let you pay for her books.”
Ford rolled his eyes and smiled. “Don’t worry about the money. You put in the work. You got in. You’re going.”
“Yeah.” I nodded, gripping the back of the chair. “Okay.” My eyes were welling. I had to get out of there. “I just…I need to use the bathroom. I’ll be right back.” I spun on my heel and hurried down the hall to the restroom right outside of Silas and Holden’s old bedroom. I flipped on the light and closed the door behind me.
