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Back at his stall, Chloe untacked Doobs as Piper rattled off about school.

“Dad, guess what though?”

“What?”

“You know how I joined German club?”

“Yes,” I answered.

Piper spoke very good German for a kid with no ties to the place. She managed to go abroad the summer before on a school trip for a few weeks due to her excellent language grades.

“Well, they’ve got an amazing program. I’d go away for the middle trimester—starting in November—and come back in March. What do you think?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’d move to Germany for a few months. Dad, I know it’s a big deal and I’d be there for Christmas, but I’d have Christmas in Germany! And all I have to do is pass this test. I know I can do it! They only gave a few of us applications. I was the youngest student asked, in fact!”

Letting my baby go away for months to another country terrified me, I also couldn’t deny the happy look on her face. She was so proud of herself and her intellectual capabilities. Like her mother, I had no doubt she’d have a long career academically and win huge awards. I always told myself she’d go far, far away for college and I’d just have to be happy for her. She deserved to spread her wings.

“Let’s slow down,” I said.

She pouted. “But dad, this would look so good on my college application! If I want to get into Wellesley or Bard, this is the sort of⁠—”

“I know, I know,” I said. “It’s not a no. It’s a ‘we need to talk to your mom and figure out if I can swing this’.”

“Mom can pay. I bet she would. It’s a feather in her cap, Dad.” Piper rolled her eyes. “It will give her clout to talk to all her bougie-ass friends.”

Chloe overheard and snickered quietly.

“Take the test,” I said. “And we will talk to your mom if you get in, but I cannot guarantee anything.”

“I swear I will work so hard at the barn. Chloe, can I get a job to help pay for it?”

“For what?” Chloe feigned ignorance politely.

“To go study in Germany.”

“Talk to Ri,” Chloe answered. “We can always use help, of course. I am sure they won’t say no.”

“Oh my God! Yes! It’s going to happen!” Piper rushed off.

I let out a long sigh.

“It’s good for her,” Chloe said. “Not that you want or should even take my advice. I disappointed my entire family by not going to college.”

“Oh, I disappointed mine for dropping out in my junior year and getting a broker’s license,” I laughed. “I get it. But we both made it. Piper isn’t like that, though. She’s like her mom. She’ll be a superstar in that world. Her German is great and she loves languages—and Germany—so I’d be a fool to say no, but the money...”

“If she’s right about her mom, let her cut the check. I’m guessing she’s not dropping money on show clothes?”

I chuckled. “Good point. But she does pay child support.”

“Isn’t child support just the basic upkeep, though? If this is important to Piper and you all can give her this, why not? It’s the dead zone for show season, she’s had a rough few months. Poor kid. If she’s brave enough to move abroad, I say let her. I never regret the time I spend traveling or learning French. I would have regretted never doing it, though. And that’s like you said… those wild years matter.”

Chloe was right. Somehow, someway we’d find a way to support Piper’s dream if it came to fruition.

20. HORSEBACK FLIRTING

CHLOE