Graceful Waters

SIX MONTHS

“Am I ever going to see you again?"

"Grace, I can't answer that question," Carey said. "Neither of us knows what the future will bring."

"I hate this," the teen said, wiping her eyes. "I don't want to leave you."

"You knew this was coming," Carey said, wishing she knew the magic words to ease Grace's pain. "It's time for you to make those goals a reality."

"I love you," Grace said, wrapping her arms around Carey's waist and resting her head on the older woman's upper chest.

"I know," Carey said softly. "And I care about you, very much. It can't happen, Grace. I know you understand why."

"I do." Grace said. "But I still don't like it."

Carey smiled, gave Grace a quick hug, then stepped back. "I have something for you. Stay here." She went to the bedroom and returned a moment later with a brightly wrapped box. "Happy graduation." Her smile grew when she saw the wide-eyed look in the teen's blue eyes. "Careful, it's got some weight to it."

"What is it?"

"Set it on the table," Carey said. "It's actually a few presents. Take the lid off." Grace did. "Open the manila envelope first. Careful, there's a bunch of papers in there." Carey watched excitedly as Grace pulled out various forms and applications along with an Iroquois Community College catalog. "You'd still have to get a student loan and a part-time job to make ends meet, but those are the application forms for all the tuition programs and grants that I could find that you qualify for. It's enough to cover your tuition and probably your books too."

"That's great, but I can't go," Grace said, setting the papers on the table. "I still have to serve another month at Crestwood, and classes start in two weeks."

"Uh-huh," Carey bit her cheek to keep from smiling too much and giving everything away. "Open that second envelope." She bit harder as the teen pulled out the legal papers.

"Modification...probation..." Grace looked at her. "I'm free?"

Now Carey could not keep the smile in check. "Signed by Judge Grimm himself. He's the one that sentenced you here, wasn't he?"

Grace nodded. "Bald, no sense of humor. Gets angry easily."

"Uh-huh, I bet having a clown-haired teenager mouthing off at him had something to do with it, don't you think?"

Grace colored and nodded. "A bit, I guess. How did you get him to do this?"

"What makes you think I had anything to do with it?" Carey waited a beat. "Actually all I did was send some letters to the judge along with a copy of your record here and mentioned that forcing you to serve that month at Crestwood would keep you from being able to attend ICC."

"Some letters?"

"Instructors Gage and Donaldson had something to say about you as well," Carey said. "Now that just means that the judge has agreed to release you on probation provided that you stay in the county and attend school. You have to meet with a probation officer weekly and submit to random urine tests. That's not going to be a problem though, is it?"

Grace shook her head vigorously. "No, not a chance," she said, the realization sinking in. "I can go to college."

"Registration is next week and classes start the week after that," Carey said. "Not much time to get everything ready but I know you can do it."

Grace set the judge's order down and touched the stack of aid forms. "And I really can afford this?"

"I believe so," Carey said. "We'll sit down later and go over the figures, but I checked them out a few weeks ago and I came up with enough to cover the major expenses with some left over for the unexpected." She tapped the box. "Next. Now be careful, don't drop it," she said as Grace reached in. The teen ripped through the tissue paper that Carey had so carefully wrapped around it the night before.

"A computer?" Grace pressed the button, opening the laptop. "Oh my God, it's a computer."

"Let me explain," Carey said. "It's not new. My friend Leslie gets a new one every two years for work and this is her old one. It's missing whatever you need to get on the Internet, and there's no printer, but she said something about using the disks and the school printer."

"Sure," Grace said, her eyes wide as she looked over the black laptop. "You put what you want to print on a disk, then use the school's computer and printer to print it out." She closed the laptop, her fingers delicately brushing the surface. "I can't believe you got me a computer." Setting the computer on the table, she surprised Carey by leaning over and giving her a big hug. "Thank you so much."

"You're welcome, Grace. I don't know much about computers," Carey said. "But Leslie said it's more than enough for school. She said it has a word processing program and some other programs you'd find useful."

"This is great," Grace said, sitting up and touching the laptop again. "It's got a CD/DVD drive built in." She grinned at her mentor. "Now I really am ready for college."

"Not quite," Carey said. "Come on, there's more in the box."

"More?"

"Just a little bit," Carey said. "I hope you like blue." She watched as Grace pulled out a blue backpack. "For carrying your books to class."

"Oh, it's great," Grace said, "It even has wheels." She opened the hook and loop sections. "It's got a place for pens and other stuff. Hey it's even got a mirror."

"Yeah, well, worry more about having a pen that works than your makeup," Carey said. "Your last present is inside the pack. You should have seen me standing at the computer store trying to pick it out."

Grace's eyes lit up more, if that was possible. At least it seemed so to Carey. "An encyclopedia. Two CD set. Oh, this is the really good one." She flipped the case over and glanced at the back. "Yeah, this is the one with the built-in detailed atlases and world timelines. Oh look, it can do footnotes."

"So it's a good one, right?" Carey asked, not certain until that moment that she had bought the best one. The smile on Grace's face answered her question. "I'm glad you like it. All of it."

“Go ahead, open it."

"Thank you," Grace said, giving her father a hug before tearing open the envelope. "A credit card?"

"Debit card," he said. "I asked the man at the bank what the best way was to help you out and he suggested this. You use it like a credit card but it comes out of a special account I set up just for you."

"We learned about them in Personal Finance," Grace said, excited to see her name in raised silver lettering.

"It's easier than sending you checks each month," he said.

“Since you're turning eighteen and my child support will end, I suddenly have this extra money each week and I can't think of a better way to spend it than to help my girl get the education she deserves." He put his arm around her and pulled her close. "And once you say your good-byes I'm going to take you to Mohawk and we're going to get you some clothes and whatever else you need. Then we'll find you an apartment."

"B-but how?" she asked. "Dad, you don't have that kind of money."

"I can't buy you a car and make it so you don't have to work while you're in school, but I can take care of most if not all of the rent and give you a little something for spending money."

"But do you know how much clothes cost?"

"Graceful, you're my only daughter and if I want to spend my money on you, then I will. Consider it early birthday and Christmas presents if you want."

Grace's father closed the trunk but her attention was on Carey approaching them. "Dad, do you have any film left?"

"There's three pictures left," he said.

"Hang on," she said, jogging up to meet the dark-haired woman. "Can I have a picture?" she asked, not bothering to mention she had used up half the roll snapping shots of her during the day.

Carey smiled. "Sure. You're all set to go?"

Together they headed toward the rental car. "Everything's packed," Grace said, the pain of separation weighing heavily upon her. "This is hard. I don't want to leave you."

Carey stopped and put her hands on Grace's shoulders. “I know," she said softly. "I'm going to miss you too, but it's time for you to go out on your own and make your own life. I'm only a phone call away." Her smile eased the pain in Grace's heart.

"I'll call," the teen said. "You know I will."

"You'd better," Carey said. "I want to know what's going on with you. I care, Grace." She gave Grace's shoulders a quick squeeze. "Now let's get that picture taken so your dad can take you shopping."

"Dad, take the picture," Grace said, slipping an arm around the older woman's waist, pleased when Carey didn't make her move it. As soon as the camera clicked, she tightened her hold. "Wait, just a couple more, please? Just in case he didn't get that one right."

"One more," Carey gave in.

"Okay, Dad," Grace said happily. "Take another one."

"Satisfied?"

"Wait, there's only one picture left on the roll," Grace said. “It'd be a waste not to use it."

"Do you have any of you and your father yet?" Carey asked.

"No."

“Go stand by him," Carey said, walking the teen over to the lumberjack. "Mr. Waters, would you like a picture of you and your daughter?"

"Ayup, I'd love it," he said, putting his arm around Grace's shoulders and handing Carey the camera. "Just aim and shoot."

Carey looked through the viewfinder until she felt she had the best picture of the two of them, then clicked the shutter button. There was a click, then a whirling sound as the camera automatically rewound the film. "Here you go," she said, handing the camera back to him. "Mr. Waters, you do understand that you're taking a seventeen-year-old girl to the mall, don't you?"

"Sure," he said. "What's wrong with that?"

Carey tried to suppress a smile. "Have you ever taken a seventeen-year-old shopping?"

"No. Can't say as I have."

She put her hand on his arm. "You have my utmost sympathies," she said. "I'd rather take thirty-six girls on a five-mile run than one to the mall."

"Pshaw," he said, waving his hand dismissively.

"There's an ice cream place on the way if you want to stop," Richard said.

“If you want," Grace said, looking out at the endless fields and trees. "Nope," he said. "This is your day. I just thought you might like a nice double scoop of mint chocolate chip to get your energy for the mall."

Grace's eyes lit up. "You remembered," she said looking at him.

"Ayup, can't forget my daughter's favorite flavor," he said. "So it's settled. We'll get some ice cream, then you can tell me why you're so glum about leaving that place."

"I'm not glum," she said. "I'm happy to be free."

"Partially free," he said. "You have to stay in Iroquois County for the next six months and you have to see your probation officer once a week."

"Yeah, but, Dad," "She said, shutting off the radio. "If I want to walk down the street I can do it without having to ask permission, and worry about leg chains or having someone watching me. We're going to the mall. You know how long it's been since I've been to the mall?"

"That woman warned me about taking you to a mall," he said. "You're not going to run your poor father ragged, are you?"

"Oh no, we'll do it the easy way," she said. "We'll start at one end and work our way down. What did Carey say to you?"

"She gave me her sympathies and said she'd rather take a bunch of girls on a run than to take one to the mall."

Grace smiled. "She's not the mall type," she said. "When Carey wants to buy something, she hits the catalogs and mail order places. Did I tell you she bought me an encyclopedia for the computer?"

Richard smiled. "Twice."

"She went to the mall to find it for me," she said. "Hey Dad? I bet there's a photo place at the mall. Can we drop the film off there to be developed?"

"If you want," he said. "I want a copy of the one of us together."

"They usually have those free double sets," she said. "If we get those, I can send a copy of the ones of me and Carey together to her. Did I tell you that she said I could call her each week?" She looked out the window. "Not the same as seeing her every day, though."

"Well, I reckon I know why you're so glum," he said. "Better stock up on those prepaid calling cards."

"I planned on it," Grace said, looking back at him. "I gotta get stamps and envelopes too so I can send her letters."

"She's really special to you, isn't she?"

"Very," Grace said.

"This is the mall?" Grace asked skeptically when her father pulled the car into the large parking lot.

"This is it," he said.

"It's only got one floor."

"Ayup, how many do you need?" He pulled into a spot halfway down the parking aisle and shut the engine off. "Now before we go and spend some money, let's get some rules down." He reached into his front pocket and pulled out a thick wad of bills. "I'm not a rich man, Grace, but I want to do this for you. Here's forty bucks for your own pocket. I'm not buying you anything I think is foolish or too expensive."

"Okay, Dad," she said. "Thanks. I won't waste it on junk, I promise."

"Graceful, Graceful, please wait up."

Grace turned around to see her father lumbering toward her, his hands full of bags. "Oh, I'm sorry, Dad," she said, walking back to meet him.

"I think it's time for another trip to the car," he said, setting the bags down and collapsing onto a bench. "That Miss Carey wasn't kidding. Where do you get the energy?"

"I don't know," Grace said. "Shopping is fun." She looked down at her new watch. "Hey, Dad, it's been an hour. Can we go back to the photo place?"

"But...but that's at the other end of the mail," he protested, looking back at the seemingly endless aisle of stores. "Pumpkin, can't we stop on the way back?"

Grace reached down and took a handful of bags. "You said we had to drop these off at the car anyway."

Richard reached into his pocket and pulled out several bills. "I'll make you a deal. You take those out to the car and get the photos. I'll wait here and regret every cheeseburger I've ever had."

"Okay," Grace said, taking the money, then giving her father a hug. "I'll be back in a few minutes." Gathering up the bags, she began walking briskly to the photo booth. The pictures are supposed to be ready. They said one hour and it's been one hour and five minutes. They'd better be ready. Reaching the kiosk, Grace excitedly pulled out her stub and handed it to the clerk. "Are they ready yet?"

"I'll check," the pimply-faced boy said, pulling open a drawer full of photo envelopes. "Here they are," he said. "Just finished these a few minutes ago."

"Great," Grace said, taking the envelope and handing him a twenty-dollar bill. There was no way she could wait to look at the pictures. Shuffling quickly through them she found the ones she had taken of Carey. "This is the one," she said.

"Pardon, miss?"

Grace held up a picture of her and Carey standing together, her arm wrapped around Carey's waist. "I'd like this one enlarged to eight by ten."

"Oh, sure. We can do that for you." He reached over and took the envelope from her, checking the negatives until he found the right one. "Enlargements take longer than an hour, though. You'll have to pick it up tomorrow."

"Okay, I'll be back tomorrow."

"Okay, here we are," he said, signaling to turn into the motel parking lot. "Graceful...I'm sorry, Grace. This isn't the best motel in town but it's better than the one that rents by the hour."

"This is nice," Grace said, looking at the brightly colored sign and well-lit parking lot. "They're all over the country, aren't they?"

"Ayup," he said, pulling in and shutting off the engine. "I want to talk to you about the room or rooms." He tapped the steering wheel with his fingertips. "Do you want your own room or would it be all right to get one with two beds?"

"Isn't it cheaper to get one room?" she asked.

"Ayup." He nodded. "But I want you to be comfortable, Grace." Reaching out, he gave her hand a squeeze. "I'm not very good at this, I'm afraid." He returned his hand to the steering wheel and gripped tightly. "I look at you and I still see that little girl with the blonde ponytails." Grace watched his knuckles turn white from the exertion. "I'm worried you think all men are like that bastard," he said.

Grace leaned her head against his oversized upper arm. "I know not all men are like him," she said, brushing her cheek against the flannel shirt. "I thought we were gonna stay up and watch TV and I could show

you everything I bought."

"You mean everything I bought," he said. "Are you still hungry? I can order a pizza."

Grace sat up and smiled. "With mushrooms?"

"If you like," he said. "So, one room or two?"

"One," she said. "I figured that's what we were gonna do anyway."

"If you change your mind, you tell me," he said, letting go of the steering wheel and flexing his fingers. "I want you to be comfortable."

"Dad?" she said, stopping him from opening the door. "I don't think of you like I think of him." She looked out the windshield. "I know you wouldn't do that to me."

"Never," he said firmly. "And if I ever get my hands on that son of a bitch, I'll feed his ass through a wood chipper after I break every bone in his worthless body."

Grace smiled, feeling warmed by her father's words. "Grizzly bear," she said, remembering the name she called him when she was a little girl. "Always protecting me. Remember when I was in first grade and that big boy hit me? You went and scared the hell out of his father and they both came over to apologize."

Richard chuckled. "I don't think that little man in glasses knew what to say when I showed up in his dooryard screaming about his boy hurting my little girl."

"Greg something or other," Grace said. "He never came near me again until I got to high school."

"He bothered you again in high school?" he asked.

Grace shook her head and laughed. "He didn't hit me again," she said. "He hit on me. Wanted to take me out."

Her father laughed. "That be how it goes sometime," he said. "And now your grizzly bear is hungry. Come on, we'll rent a movie on pay per view and you can show me everything."

Richard Waters carried his daughter's suitcase into the room that was to be hers for the foreseeable future. It had taken some looking, but they had managed to find a room to rent in the home of a widowed woman who had decided to rent out her spare bedroom to supplement her income. It was far less expensive than an apartment, and it included meals. Besides, he felt better knowing that Grace was not alone. They had both liked Estelle Somers right off, and now that Grace was eighteen and could legally live on her own, it was time for him to return home.

"Don't you worry about a thing, Mr. Waters, she'll be fine."

"I know," he said, turning to Grace and opening his arms for a good-bye hug.

"You call me if you need anything, pumpkin."

"I will," Grace said. He kissed the top of her head, then turned to leave. She watched him walk down the hall with mixed emotions. It was hard to watch him go, yet at the same time exciting. She was finally on her own and it felt good. She picked up her suitcase and carried it to the bed. She unzipped the large case and began to organize her room, as her stomach reacted to the wonderful smells that were coming from the kitchen.

Carey smiled and put on her reading glasses when she spotted the yellow envelope in the stack of mail. Using her letter opener, she slit the envelope and opened the letter.

Dear Carey,

It seems like ages since I've talked to you and it's only been two weeks. I'm having a great time here. I can't believe all the homework and studying I have to do. I owe Instructor Gage a million bucks for teaching me how to study and take notes. Would you believe girls who graduated from high school are coming up and asking to borrow my notes?

Thought you'd want to know that I got A's on both of my tests and I'm sure I passed my English paper too. The computer classes are the most interesting and Mr. Reilly said I have an aptitude for it.

I don't miss Sapling Hill, but I miss you. Mrs. Somers is nice but it's not the same. The laptop is working great and I really love the encyclopedia. Of course, here I have my own room instead of a couch, but I'd take your couch over a room of my own any day.

I promised myself I wouldn't write you long, boring letters. I'm always thinking of you and hope we can see each other soon.

Love, Grace

Carey was rereading the letter when Instructor Gage stopped by. "Come on in," she said to the knock.

"You have a mentoring session now?"

"No," Carey said, setting the letter down. "Amazingly enough, I'm free."

"Nice smiley face," Gage said, tapping her fingernail on the yellow envelope.

"Letter from Grace," Carey said. "She thanks you for teaching her how to study."

"Does she? And what does she thank you for, Carey?"

"You know better, Sue," Carey said. "I'm just being supportive to her while she gets settled in."

"I've never seen you be this supportive before," Gage said.

"She has a good shot at making something of herself," Carey said.

"I'm just helping her out by being a pen pal. It's just her and her father now that she's cut her mother out of her life. She doesn't have any female role models."

"Grace, Grace, wait up."

She stopped on the concrete path and waited for the young man to catch up. "Hi, Tom."

"Hi," he answered, slightly out of breath from running. "I need to ask a favor."

"What?" Grace asked, thinking the man who sat next to her in Computer Programming needed help with their latest project.

"My parents' best friends are in town and want to take me and my girlfriend out," he said, wiping his hands on his pants. "I don't have a girlfriend."

"I uh...Tom, you're really a nice guy but—“

"I have a boyfriend, Grace," he said. "My family doesn't know. They think Stuart and I are just roommates."

"Oh."

"Grace, I don't know who else to ask," he said. "And well, you do carry a picture of a woman taped to the inside of your notebook." He shrugged his shoulders. "My gaydar goes off every time you walk into class."

"Gaydar?"

"Yeah, like radar," he said.

"Oh."

"Look, do you have a class now?"

"No," she said. "I was going to head to the Dungeon to get some coffee and look over my Trig homework."

"Let's go to the Coffee Bean," he said. "It's cleaner, quieter, and my treat."

"You don't have to do that," Grace said, knowing coffee there was three times or more the cost of the school's lunchroom.

"I may be gay but I'm still a gentleman," Tom said. "Please."

Grace hesitated, then nodded. "Sure, I've been wanting to try a cappuccino."

"Great." Tom smiled broadly.

"So," Tom said as he sat down at the small table. "I'm right about you, aren't I?”

Grace moved the plastic stirrer through the frothy drink. "Yeah," she said. "But she's not my girlfriend."

Tom smiled broadly. "But you want her to be, don't you?"

Grace nodded. "Very much. She thinks I'm too young for her."

"Her loss," Tom said. "So why don't you ever go to the Last Straw? A lot of baby dykes hang out there."

"Not interested," Grace said, tapping her notebook. "That's who I want."

"Well if you change your mind, Stuart and I would be happy to take you out to the juice bar," he said. "So, back to my question. Will you be my fake girlfriend and go with me? I'll return the favor if you ever need it."

Being able to say she was seeing someone would put an end to the stream of men who asked her out, and Grace found she could not come up with any good reason to say no. "Sure," she said. "But I don't have the clothes to go anywhere fancy," she warned.

"What you have on now is fine," Tom assured her. "We're going to the Lobster House so you'll end up with a bib anyway."

"Hello?"

"Hello, Mrs. Somers. This is Carey, is Grace around?"

"Oh, hello, dear. No, she has a date tonight."

"A date?"

"Yes, with a very nice young man. Tim or Tom or something like that."

"Oh," Carey said, her mind imagining different scenarios, all bad. "Did she say when she would get in?"

"No, but I imagine it will be late. She seemed pretty excited. I'll tell her you called."

"Thanks. Bye."

"Good-bye, dear."

Carey hung up the phone. "It's a school night, Grace. What are you doing out?" she said to the empty room. She picked up the phone again and dialed.

"Hello?"

"Sue, it's Carey."

"Didn't I just see you an hour ago at dinner duty? What's up?"

"Are you busy or do you feel like coming over and playing cards?"

"I could be tempted but it's going to cost you."

Carey smiled and walked to the refrigerator. "Let me guess, you haven't eaten yet."

"Well I'm staring at a microwave dinner that promises to be low on fat and high on taste but I could be tempted."

"How does leftover stuffed peppers and beer sound?"

"Sounds like a cribbage game is about to happen."

"Thanks a lot, Grace," Tom said as he walked her to the door. "I owe you big time."

"It was fun," she said. "The lobster was great."

"I didn't know you never had it before," he said, smiling broadly.

"You should have seen the look on your face when they brought them out."

"I didn't know they came in their shells," Grace said, sharing the smile. "I'm glad the restaurant gives bibs."

"It's standard with lobster," Tom said. "Listen, why don't you come over for dinner tomorrow night? Stuart's an excellent cook and I know he'd just love to meet you."

"Should I bring something?"

"Just yourself," he said. "Stuart always complains I never bring my friends home to meet him so this will be great. I'll see you in class tomorrow."

"Good night, Tom."

"Night, Grace, thanks again. It really means a lot to me."

Entering the house, she was not surprised to see Mrs. Somers waiting for her. "Hi."

"Hello, dear," the older woman said, scooping up the cards she was playing solitaire with. "How was your date?"

"It was fun," she said, removing her jacket and hanging it on the hook near the door. "I had lobster."

"Messy," the landlady said. "I'm from Maine originally, don't you know, and there is nothing to compare to a fresh lobstah. Oh, your friend called twice."

"Carey?"

Mrs. Somers nodded. "Seemed a bit upset."

Grace was instantly concerned. "I'd better call her."

"You can use the phone in my room if you want some privacy."

"Thanks."

"What bug is up your ass tonight?" Gage asked. "You invite me over to play cards and all you're doing is sitting there shuffling them."

"Grace is out on a date," Carey said, passing the deck to her. "It's a school night, Sue. What's she doing out?"

"She is eighteen now," Gage said. "Going out on dates is part of college life."

"I called at nine and she wasn't home yet."

"Should we call the state police?"

"It's not funny, Sue."

"You're jealous."

"I am not," Carey protested. "I'm just...concerned. How much does she know about this guy?"

"Deny all you want," Gage said. "You're jealous because she's out having a good time instead of staying home and pining over you. Give her a break, Carey."

"She's over that," Carey said. "Just a phase she was going through because we were so close."

"And you believe that?" Gage shook her head. "I don't think so."

"She's too young for me and I'm too old for her. She'll realize that sooner or later," Carey said, the very thought paining her. "Looks like she realized it now."

"Those brown eyes are definitely turning green," Gage said.

"I'm not—“ Carey said as the phone rang. "That's her." She moved quickly, catching it before the end of the second ring. "Grace?"

"Hi. Mrs. Somers said you called twice. Is everything okay?"

"Are you just now getting home?"

"Yes, but my first class tomorrow isn't until nine."

"What were you doing out until after ten?" Carey asked, ignoring the smug look on Gage's face.

"Well, we went out to dinner but then Mr. Crenshaw wanted to go out for dessert."

"Who is Mr. Crenshaw?"

"Oh, he and his wife are friends of Tom's parents."

"And who is Tom? The guy you went out with?"

"Yes. He sits next to me in programming class. Is something wrong?"

"Wrong? What should be wrong? You're supposed to be studying, not out gallivanting around with God knows who."

"What are you upset about? Nothing happened."

"Only because you're lucky. Were you alone with him?"

"He picked me up and we met the Crenshaws at the restaurant. After the ice cream place they went back to their hotel and he drove me home. Nothing happened and he was the perfect gentleman. I didn't do anything wrong."

"You've never mentioned him before," Carey said. "How serious is this?"

"Oh, Carey, you sound like an overprotective father," Gage said from the kitchen.

"It's not serious. He needed a date for dinner with his folks' friends. That's all."

"So you're not going out with him again, right?"

"I'm going over to his apartment for dinner tomorrow." There was a pause. "He wants me to meet his boyfriend Stuart."

"Boyfriend? He has a boyfriend?" Carey glared at Gage as the diminutive woman began laughing hysterically. "Why didn't you tell me that before?"

"First, I didn't think it was important. Second, I didn't know I had to get approval from you to go out with someone, and third, you know how I feel." Carey heard the hurt in Grace's voice and felt guilty about upsetting her. "I'm not looking for anyone and I'm sorry if you were worried."

"I'm sorry, Grace," Carey said. "It's just that I called and she said you were out on a date and..." She leaned her forehead against the wall. "And I jumped to conclusions."

"It's nice to know you care."

"You know I care," Carey said. "I worry about you."

"I'm fine. Now, what are you doing up so late?"

"I'm um…Sue needed help grading essays," she said, earning a snort from Gage.

"Well, I won't keep you. When Mrs. Somers said you called twice I wanted to make sure everything was okay."

"Everything's fine, Grace. I'm glad you had fun tonight."

"I did. I'll write you all about it."

"Please do. I'll talk to you soon."

"Okay, good night, Carey."

"Night." Carey hung up the phone. "Don't say it," she warned.

"Say what?" Gage asked. "That you're acting like a jealous lover instead of a mentor?"

"He's gay. The guy she went out with. She was just covering for him with his parents' friends," Carey said. "She's not interested in him and he's got a lover."

"And you drove yourself nuts all evening for nothing," Gage said. "I did not," Carey said. "She's only eighteen, Sue."

"Legal in every state."

"That's not the point," she said. "I don't date teenagers."

"So what's the magic age for you?" Gage asked. "You'd better let Grace know so she has an idea how long she has to wait."

"That's not funny," Carey said.

"It wasn't meant to be. You're telling her you're not interested and then you freak out when she goes on a date. You're sending mixed messages, Carey."

"I didn't freak out," Carey said. "I'm her mentor, her friend. I'm allowed to worry about her."

"Keep telling yourself that," Gage said.