“Sara?”
My eyelids fluttered open. I focused out the window and recognized where we were. Not far from Magnolia Grove. “Yeah?”
“Will you apply to Newman College?”
“I already have. Mostly. The admissions office has everything they need, except an essay. I’ll write it tonight.” I smiled at him groggily. “Newman has a conservation biology program. They say the classrooms are outside.”
“Perhaps they are responsible for the intriguing garden we visited.”
Nodding, I sat up straighter, humming with excitement. “They also have a degree in business and entrepreneurship.”
“You already know that you would be a natural at commerce. Would you wish to own another consignment shop?”
“Maybe, but I’ve also enjoyed Scott’s B&B project. I might look into conservationandbusiness.”
“You may not expect my approval, but you have it.” He blew out a breath nervously. “With regards to the landscaping project, I have an alternative that I’m considering.”
I studied the clean line of his profile. “What is it?”
“Proceeding anyway.”
Oh, wow. “You’ll defy the League?”
“I think defy is too strong of a word. Protest is better. I am protesting their lack of flexibility.”
“I doubt they will see it that way.”
He smiled faintly. “I suspect you are right.”
“What will they do to you?”
His hands tightened on the steering wheel. “In the best case, my only consequence will be that my nutrients cease. They are my source of power.”
“So you’ll just be a regular guy.”
“My powers will take a few days to wear off, but after that, I shall be a regular guy.”
“What’s the worst case?”
“Retraining. Counseling. Further contemplation of the rules. Perhaps careful supervision.”
“Anything else?”
He opened his mouth. Closed it. Seemed to be lost in his thoughts for a moment. “I shouldn’t imagine so.”
His offer felt more ominous than he was letting on. “I’ve asked you to watch movies with me or just talk, and it didn’t cost me any wishes. Why is this different? Why can’t you go with me to the landscaping project and call it hanging out?”
“When you’ve extended such an invitation to me, it’s been for my companionship—and not for me to labor at something you can’t finish on your own. It would be a gray area to complete a tangible goal while I hang out with you. There would be nothing gray about laboring on behalf of Scott.”
“So when do we start?”
“Tomorrow would be best. You will get increasingly less from me after that. I have two or three days to produce above what’s humanly possible. We should petition Scott for tasks that would most benefit from my powers and perform them first.”
If I weren’t so deeply grateful, I might feel guilty at what was likely a big sacrifice for him. I leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Thank you, Grant.”
“Always.”
Status Report #24
