Page 118 of All of You

We’re slated to be able to move into our newhomenext month. Gramps has done some amazing tweaks and renovations and it’s all coming together beautifully. Although it’s weird seeing him standing in the spot Langdon and I had sex. The first time I saw Gramps in the cabin I couldn’t stop blushing. Luckily, he just thought I was really excited to have a place of our own.

“Mail, Delia,” Gramps shouts up the stairs to me. I lunge off the window seat while yelling back to him.

“Big mail?”

“Yup,” he says grinning at the bottom of the stairs holding up an envelope. I nearly tumble down the last three steps.

“Oh my God, gimmie,” I say with grabby hands.

“Woah there, take it easy or there won’t be any student to attend the college.”

It’s my last awaited college letter. I got into three so far, of the five schools I applied to. One rejection—which was fine because I really didn’t want to go that far anyway. I rip open the envelope and collapse onto the couch. Gramps sits next to me.

“Well?” he asks.

I try hard to keep my cool… but this is my top choice school. If the aid package isn’t enough I won’t be able to attend. Or maybe it’s a rejection letter. I pull out the papers slowly, start reading and my eyes nearly bug out of their sockets.

“I’m in.” My voice is as shaky as my hands. The paper trembles so hard that it’s hard to keep reading. “They’re offering me a full tuition scholarship for swimming!”

Gramps grins and slaps my shoulder. “That a gal.”

Turning to him I try to close my gaping mouth but can’t.

“Gramps, with the federal aid I got… I literally don’t have to pay any money to attend! Not room and board or fees or tuition or anything.”

He looks at me skeptically. “Nothing?”

I shake my head. “Nothing.”

“Holy—”

“Shit,” Gramps finishes. We both stare at each other momentarily before erupting in laughter. I’ve never heard him swear.

“I’m going to U of M!” I squeal leaping from the couch and jumping up and down. Gramps envelopes me in a giant bear hug so tightly that I can barely breathe.

“I’m so proud of you.”

When he releases me I step back and set the packet on the coffee table.

“I can’t wait to tell Mom. I know she was really worried about how we were going to make it all work. Also I need to tell Langdon.”

“Has he made a decision yet?”

“He’s been holding off because of me,” I laugh. “I told him he needs to go where hewantsto go but he said he’ll wait and see.” I shake my head.

“That boy’s smitten.”

I shrug. “Maybe. But I am too. I just, I don’t know… it makes me nervous to make big future plans—but I don’t want to break up either. I’m mildly conflicted.”

Gramps raises a brow at me. “That’s smart. Love always wins, kiddo, so no matter what—if it’s meant to be it will be—even if you have to let it go at some point.”

“KK, this is getting deep. I’m going to go call Mom.”

Sixty

Langdon

I’m lying on my bed thoroughly bored when Delia barges through the door in a flurry of movement and squeals.