“I don’t care. I want to go to a real school.” She swiped her hand at a curl over her eye. “I know how to work Uber or whatever other service they have here. I can take a car to school and back. You wouldn’t have to come to any events. It wouldn’t take any more of your time.”
He raised his hand to stop the flood of words that mildly broke his heart. “I am not too busy to drive you to school,”he said gruffly. “My concern is that you’ve never gone to school before.”
She lifted one shoulder. “Only because Baba said tutors were easier for him.”
Rohan.
“I know you think an American school will be like 90210, but it’s not that glamorous,” he warned.
She gave him a blank look. “What’s that?”
“It’s not like the TV shows, I mean.”
“I don’t want to go because we’re in America. I’ve wanted to go forever.”
“Why didn’t you say something?”
“Because I needed time to think of reasons to give to you for me to go.”
“You are a great debater,” he conceded.
“Aji said I could play a great lawyer.”
“Or you couldbea lawyer.” He might not pressure her, but their elder relative was a different story. “Why don’t we discuss this in the morning.”
Her shoulders slumped. “That means no.”
“It means yes. However, it’s too late to determine which school you should attend.”
Her eyes brightened. “Really?”
He smiled, relieved that the dark clouds in her eyes had vanished. “Really.”
“I don’t want it to be a fancy school.”
“If you’re going to school, it will be the best school.”
“I’ve heard the best private schools are quite the partyplaces. Rich kids.”
He narrowed his eyes. His schools had been decidedly middle class until sixteen, and he could concede she was right. “You will go to the second-best school.”
“I’d like to go to a public school.”
He reared back. “Luna, that is too much.”
“Don’t be classist. A public school will allow me to meet different kinds of people.”
“I’m not... fine.” He gritted his teeth. He supposed his instant dislike of a public school for his niece was classist. Besides, it wasn’t like he had the money to justify this particular ism right now. “We will investigate both options.”
A smile spread across her face. “Thank you, Kaka.”
He wanted to hug her, but he kept the space between them. Physical affection had never been something he craved, but he’d never before been faced with a young curly-haired orphan with his brother’s chin and a polite smile and haunted eyes. “You will study at home independently, though. I want you ahead of your class, so you won’t face any trouble if we return to India and you’re back in a more rigorous curriculum.”
“I’m okay with that. School doesn’t take me much time.”
She always had been a quick student, and Dev had told her tutors to advance her where necessary. “Perhaps they’ll let you skip a grade—”
“No. The goal here is to be around people who are my age.”
