Page 198 of Love Me in the Dark

A faint smile touched his lips. “Don’t you know that land is the most valuable thing you can own? Own a little land, and you’ll never be poor. Never want for nothing.”

At this point in my life, twenty-five acres was all but useless to me. But ten years from now…who knows. I was smart enoughto recognize a good deal when one bit me in the ass, and this was a good deal.

I held my hand out.

“Mister Chester, you have a deal.” I looked around the farmhouse with satisfaction. “Thank you!”

6

Jude

Things fell into place quickly after the purchase of the farmhouse. Within the month, Jerry was able to release the necessary trust funding to make the purchase go smoothly, and I began the process of making the house a home for me and my sister. Days were taken up by my job at the fast-food restaurant, annoying paperwork like change of address forms, and scouring secondhand stores for cast-off furniture.

The one bleak spot in the semi-bright future I was working to create was the refusal of the family services offices to allow Eleanor to live with me. I didn’t yet have guardianship, they said, and as such she had to remain with our uncle.

“I’m tempted to bring you over with me, anyway,” I said, wiping the table where she sat for an excuse to talk to her. My boss hovered at the counter, watching with an eagle eye, so I couldn’t pretend to be busy for long.

She bit into her burger, talking around it. “Nah. No point in risking them finding out and using it as a black mark against you later, when you do have everything in place. And you know they would.”

She was right. One strike against me and it would set us back months of preparation in my guardianship process.

“I just worry about you. You still have the chair in your room?” I moved on to the next table, keeping my face averted from her.

“Yep. And I have the Louisville Slugger, right by the door. Don’t worry, Jude. If he actually tries anything, I will not hesitate to swing on him. All he does is look, though. I really don’t think he has the balls.”

I straightened, compressing my lips and rolling my head on my neck. “Alcohol gives courage where there is none sometimes. Just…promise me you’ll be careful. Never let your guard down, Lens.”

“I won’t.”

“Tiernay! You’re needed in the drive-thru!”

I rolled my eyes. “Duty calls. Love you.” I headed toward my boss. “On it.”

The one-lane roadthe house was situated on was perfect for running, and I ran every afternoon just to keep myself sane before circling back around to pick up the mail and wave to Mr. Chester as he made his way back from checking on his cows or whatever mysterious errands he ran.

Today was no different. I grabbed the mail from the metal mailbox with its creaky door and half-jogged my way down the gravel drive to the house. Inside, I dropped the stack onthe counter and poured myself a glass of water from the sink, draining it swiftly.

Then, eying the pile of varied-color envelopes, I poured another and drank it, more slowly this time. I was delaying the inevitable.

Rejections for the college applications I had sent in were pouring in steadily, and I was getting tired of the dull ache of depression that set in after dealing with them.

I could tell from every envelope before I even ripped it open that it was a rejection, and yet I opened each and every one anyway, just in case it was acongratulations! we want you!printed on a single thin sheet of paper.

They were always the same, though.

We regret to inform you that although your scores were admirable and your academic and extra-curricular history exemplary, we had simply already filled our roster for the current academic year, particularly with regards to the requested scholarship. We recommend re-applying for the following year…

But they didn’t understand. I couldn’t wait another entire year. I had to get Lens out of that trailer, and to do that, I had to finish college—just one more fucking year—and get a decent job. Everything depended on it.

I fingered the corner of a pale green envelope, slightly sturdier than the rest. Chandler U. Maybe they wouldn’t send a rejection in a pretty envelope?

I set that one aside, and picked up another.

Eastern Virginia. A thicker weight, kraft envelope. This looked promising. Sliding a finger beneath the flap, I opened it and withdrew the letter inside.

We regret to inform you…

Shit.I didn’t read any further, dropping the letter and envelope into the trash can I kept beside the counter just for this purpose.