by Naomi Niles
I could probably use a drink right now, but that would be bad.
I opened my door to Dylan, who was about to knock. I smiled.
“You ready?” he asked.
“As I’m ever going to be. I might throw up first.”
He hugged me. “You can do this, Taylor. It’s the right thing and they’ll see that.”
“Thanks, Dylan.”
“You can change your mind. I can be in the room.”
“No. I need to do this on my own. It will make them think more about what I’m saying,” I said.
He nodded and let me go. “Good luck.”
“Thanks.”
I took a deep breath and walked downstairs, my brain full of answers to any argument they might have.
They sat at the table, both on one side of it. They had glasses of wine in front of them and they held hands. It was nice to see them when they were like this. I watched them for a moment as they talked quietly.
My mother looked up and saw me. She smiled. “Taylor?”
I strode into the room.
“You look nervous, kitten. Is everything okay?” my father said.
“I hope so.” I took a deep breath then let it out. “I’ve been thinking. About college.”
“That can’t be bad, Taylor,” my father said.
“First, I don’t want to be an engineer. I don’t like math and I’m not good at it,” I said. I paused to let that sink in.
“Your grade this quarter was much better,” my mother said.
“That was only because Dylan helped me so much,” I said.
The two exchanged a look, but I couldn’t read it.
“Go on, kitten.”
I took another deep breath before I went on. “But I have decided I want to go to a four year college and what I want to major in.”
“Well, don’t keep us in suspense, Taylor,” my mother prompted. “Enough of the drama.”
I frowned. “I want to be a nurse. I want to get my Bachelor’s Degree in nursing.”
I waited. My mother blinked. My father smiled, but he always did that before he made a decision. The two looked at each other.
“Nursing?” my mother said.
“Yes, nursing,” I said. I wasn’t backing down. I wanted this. I could do this.
“Well,” my father began.
“Listen a minute,” I said. “I can get a job in nursing.”
“Awful hours.”
I shrugged. “Not a concern at this point. I’ll deal with that. With a BSN, I can do more than hospital nursing. I can be in a doctor’s office. I can be a supervisor eventually,” I said.
I was doing to sell them on this if it killed me. “If I marry someone who has to move, I can move with him since there are nurses everywhere. You always said I need to do something that puts food on the table and roof over my head. Nursing does that.”
“Okay, Taylor. I get that you’re passionate about this,” my mother said. “What made you think of nursing?”
“Because when I do community service with the cheerleaders, I really enjoyed it. I like helping people.”
“Nursing and a few hours of helping people are different,” my mother said.
“I know that, mom. If you want, I can shadow a nurse. My guidance counselor will set it up. I’ll see if I can handle it all.”
“You’ve clearly thought about this, kitten. I’m proud of that.”
“Proud of her being a nurse? When she could be so much more?” my mother objected.
“But what if I’m happy? What if I can make a living and it makes me happy?” I said.
My father might listen to that, but my mother might not. She was only just now pursuing what she wanted as a career. She had no sympathy for having to give up your dreams.
“That’s a good point. Mallory, we need to think about this, for Taylor’s sake. If she really wants this, let’s listen and try to support.”
My mother crossed her arms. She was done. She didn’t want to listen.
“I’ve picked a few schools that I’d like to go see,” I said, ignoring my mother.
“Have you set up dates to visit?” my father said.
“No because I wanted to coordinate with you before I did.”
“Okay, yeah. I have some trips coming up, so let’s sit down and do that. Let’s look at weekends we can go.”
At least my father was supporting me. My mother clearly didn’t want to. Couldn’t she just let me be happy? She was going to make a bigger stink about Dylan than my father would.
“I don’t like this, Taylor.”
“Mom, it’s what I want.”
She frowned. “It’s a hard job. You’ve never worked in your life.”
“Then, I guess I’ll figure that out, won’t I?” I wasn’t afraid of hard work.
“Okay, fine.” She left the room in a huff.
“She’ll come around, kitten,” my father said. “It seems like you did your homework.”
“I did, Daddy. I really want this.”
“I’m proud of you. Just give your mother time. She will see the light. Now. We have to schedule those visits. Your computer or mine?”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Dylan
I was packed and ready for my weekend visit to Penn State. Mr. Dean lent me a suitcase and it was only half full, but I thought I had anything I would need.
Taylor was in her room. She wasn’t looking forward to the weekend without me, but I had to do this. Mr. Dean’s co-worker had a son who was hosting me. I’d texted him a few times and now I was on my way there with Mr. Dean.
The drive would take two hours – a lot of time to fill. Hopefully, he wouldn’t feel the need to ask me about any girls I might be interested in. I couldn’t tell him that I did it with his daughter.
I kissed Taylor goodbye, then found Mr. Dean waiting for me in the kitchen. “You ready?”
“I’m ready.”
“This is pretty exciting.”
“It is,” I agreed.
The drive went quickly. We talked about everything else, but girls. Mr. Dean saw me to the dorm and left me with Chuck, my host.
He was a nerdy guy, which was cool. I didn’t want to party.
“Why don’t we take a tour of the campus,” Chuck said.
“Sure.”
He lived in West Halls. “There are a few buildings further west than we are, but just the meteorology building and the IST building, which spans the road. It’s pretty cool to stand there and see the traffic go under you.”
“Wherever you think I should see.”
“The Berkey Creamery. We’ll get some ice cream, and we’ll get you a sweatshirt. Can’t go home without some blue and white,” Chuck said.
I was lucky. Chuck was a computer science major. He could give me the rundown on what it was like.
“Where are most of your classes?”
“They are actually in the labs. There’s a cluster of science buildings in the middle of campus. That’s mainly where my courses are.”
I nodded as we walked among trees. It was a pretty place to be. Cold and gray, but it was the middle of March. I guess I had hoped it would be warmer. That didn’t deter me from liking the school, though.
“I got us tickets to the girls’ volleyball game later today.”
“Okay.”
“It’s good to see the school spirit we have here.”
“What about the classes? Are they big or small?” I said.
Mr. Dean had given me a list of questions to ask. This was one of them.
“The ones you take the first two years are larger. General Education credits. Everyone needs to fulfill those. English and such. Once you get into computer science, the classes are smaller.”
“Okay.”
The tour of the campus took more than an hour, but we finished up with ice cream. I couldn’t turn that down. It was the best ice cream I’d ever had. If I were to choose a college based on food, this would be it.
I liked it here and c
ould see being here for four years. I didn’t know if my SAT scores were good enough, but I’d have to see. I thought I could take them one more time.
“You have anything you’d like to see?”
“Other than college girls?” I said.
Chuck laughed. “Yeah, well, I’m not the one to show you them. I’m a computer geek, but let me show you what we’re working on.”
When he showed me I gasped. “A satellite?”
“For NASA.”
“Pretty cool.”
“Yeah, I thought you’d like that,” he said.
The volleyball game was exciting. The energy in the place was amazing. I really could see myself f here. Hopefully, I could get some aid.
Mr. Dean picked me up on Sunday. “How was it?”
“Pretty awesome, Mr. Dean.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so excited about anything.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited about anything before. I really had a good time. I want to go away to college.”
“Good. Now, we have to look at some of the others. Won’t be the same experience as spending a weekend there, but you’ll get the idea.”
“Yep.”
I couldn’t wait to tell Taylor. I hoped she could be excited for me – especially, since she was going to go away, too.
“Did Chuck take you to all of the sights?”
“Yes. I even have a Penn State sweatshirt now.”
“That makes all the difference, then,” Mr. Dean said. “You pretty set on computer science as your major?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Okay. Good field. You’ll get a job doing that.”
“For the first time ever, I feel like I have a future beyond high school.”
He smiled. “Good.”
“I have to thank you, Mr. Dean. You’ve really changed my life.”
“I guess you picked the right car to steal,” he said with a laugh.
I was still a little embarrassed by how we met. “Have you ever told Mrs. Dean how you met me?”
“Nope. It’s our little secret. I never told Taylor, either.”
“That’s good. They both might think less of me.”
“You can’t worry about that, but I figure it’s our secret. No need to talk about it now. I really feel you’ve turned yourself around since , Dylan. I’m very proud of you.”
Whenever he said that, I felt guilty about Taylor. The man would be so disappointed in me. It wasn’t as if I just had sex – I really care about Taylor. I thought she cares about me, too.
Mr. Dean’s phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Hi, honey. Just wanted to check in and see when you’ll be home,” Mrs. Dean said on the other end.
“We’ll be there in forty five minutes, according to the navigation system.”
“Okay. Dylan? Will you need food? Or is that a stupid question?” she said.
“I’ll need food,” I said.
“Okay. I’ll have some dinner ready.” She hung up.
“She seemed chipper,” I observed.
Mr. Dean just laughed. Guess they’d had a good weekend, too. Not that I really wanted to think about my adoptive parents having sex. I tried not to shudder.
Chapter Thirty
Taylor
I was not looking forward to Dylan coming home. Well, I was, but he was going to be so excited about his college visit. All it meant to me was that I was going to have to give him up at some point. I knew I was being selfish, but I was also upset that my parents had not given me their decision about college. I had expected them to be on my side a little more.
I had expected them to at least be excited and that I was now looking forward to college. I’d been dragging my feet about applying. They’d put pressure on me, and this was how I responded.
The fact that Dylan was probably going to a different school far away didn’t affect my school decision, but it affected how I felt now. I didn’t want him to go. I didn’t want us to be apart. As much as I understood what my path was, I understood that his path was different.
Didn’t mean I had to like it. The only problem was trying to be supportive. Before now, I hadn’t cared about that. Guess I was maturing.
Helena called. “I got into Rutgers.”
That was her number one pick. She was done. This part of her life was set.
“That’s great, Helena.”
I was truly happy for her. As much as I’d miss her, I knew we’d stay in touch. We’d been friends for so long, I couldn’t imagine not being friends with her. I just wouldn’t see her every day.
“Thanks, Taylor. I know this has been a sore subject for you, but you’ll figure it out.”
How had I failed to tell her my decision? “Actually, I’ve decided on a major. I have a few schools I want to look at.”
“That’s great, Taylor. Your parents must be pretty happy.”
“Well, they aren’t sold on my major,” I said. I shifted on my bed to get more comfortable.
“What’s the major?”
“Nursing.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“I guess it isn’t an acceptable profession for my mother.”
“That sucks.”
“I’m hoping my father can convince her that I’ve thought about this. That I’m going into this knowing what I’m in for. I don’t think she thinks I’m capable of something like this.”
“Not to be a killjoy, but what have you done like it? She hasn’t seen you be anything but selfish.”
I laughed. Leave it to Helena to tell me the truth. “Okay, I know this. I’ve been spoiled and selfish. I get it. Meeting Dylan and seeing another side of life has changed me.”
“I know that, but maybe your mother hasn’t seen that side of you. Maybe you need to prove to her that you’ve changed.”
I sighed. “Yeah, probably. Not sure how to go about doing that, though.”
“I don’t know. Be more helpful around the house. Think of ways to make her life easier. Cook dinner once in awhile.”
Helena had great ideas. “I’ll have to think on that.”
“You lost your car only a few weeks ago, so she’s thinking that you haven’t grown up.”
“I know. You’re right. Can I call you when we’re away at college?”
“Of course. We’re best friends.”
“I feel like I rely on you more than you rely on me,” I said.
“That’s probably true, but I’m okay with that. If I wasn’t, we wouldn’t be friends.”
I have been selfish my whole life. “So did you do whatever you have to do to go to Rutgers?”
“Yes. I have the dates for orientation and stuff like that. I’ve put in for housing,” Helena said.
“That’s so exciting. I can’t wait to be doing that.”
“You will. Maybe you need to nudge your parents so they make a decision and then you can apply. There are deadlines.”
“I know. I think at this point, I might have to wait until January to enroll.”
“You might.”
Darn. I’d wasted a lot of time. “My next question is how do I be happy for Dylan? I want to be. He has such great opportunities ahead of him. I want him to succeed, but I’m not ready to think about him gone. Or even me gone.”
“Just smile. Always smile.”
“Okay, I think I can do that.”
“Don’t say anything negative, either.”
“That will be harder,” I said.
“You don’t want to ruin anything for him.”
“I know.” Helena was right, as usual. “I better go and practice my smile. Dylan will be home soon. Or maybe I’ll just go set the table without my mother asking.”
“Good idea.”
My mother was in front of the stove. She really didn’t like cooking, so me doing it once in awhile would make her happy, especially on nights she had class.
“Dylan and your father will be home soon.”
I dug int
o the silverware drawer to set four places at the counter. My mother looked over her shoulder at me.
“I guess he had a good time?” I said.
“Sounded like it, and they are hungry.”
“They usually are.”
“You and I could go days without eating and they need food more than three times a day,” my mother said.
I laughed. Let’s try out the new Taylor. “Mom, would it make things easier if I cooked dinner sometimes?”
My mother stilled her stirring arm and glanced my way. “Are you serious?”
“I am. I know you have school some nights and you leave us something, but why not just let me figure out dinner.”
“You have no practice.”
I shrugged. “I can pull something together.”
She stared at me as if I had two heads. “Okay. I have class every Tuesday and Wednesday.”
“Then, I’ll cook every Tuesday and Wednesday,” I said.
“That sounds great, Taylor. Get the men to clean up if you can.”
“Oh, I will.”
She laughed this time. “Good luck with that.”
“No worries, Mom. I can charm Daddy into doing it.”
“Yes, I bet you probably can.” She stilled. “They must be home. I heard the garage door.”
I put my smile on my face, ready to face Dylan.
Chapter Thirty-One
Dylan
Taylor hadn’t been alright since I came back from the college visit. She seemed a little distant. On the other hand, we had better meals when Mrs. Dean was out with Taylor cooking.
The good and the bad I supposed, but I wanted to cheer her up. I went out and bought flowers. I snuck them into the house and put them in her room while she was out. I couldn’t wait for her to see them.
I knew the exact moment. I heard a quiet squeal come from her room. I knew she’d want to be quiet so her parents wouldn’t know about it. They never came in our rooms. We had a lot of privacy.
But we hadn’t had sex again. I was a little nervous about doing anything when her parents were in the house. That was be really disrespectful, and I couldn’t do that. Taylor had been hinting and thankfully, she hadn’t crawled into bed with me again. I was a good guy, but a naked woman in my bed would be too much for me to resist.