Sorry for the delay...I had trouble uploading to the site.
Chapter 34
Tom and Julie were waiting for their families at the arena. They were outside Gate four like they were supposed to be. They were sitting on top of a small concrete wall holding hands. They enjoyed their movie and a small snack. Julie wasn't too hungry, so they didn't stop for a meal.
"This has been fun."
Tom smiled. "It has. The whole day with you and a few hours just us."
"What do you think about Jack and the school?"
"It's pretty cool they are offering him a full paid scholarship. That will help him out a lot. He seems to like the school from what I can tell."
"This is Elizabeth's first choice. Do you think that will make Jack's decision for him?"
"That will play a part of it I think, but I also know he will make the right decision for himself. He always has a good sense with that."
"So does Bethie. So…?"
Tom leaned in and gently kissed Julie on the lips. That small, gentle kiss slowly turned into a more intimate kiss. That finally turned into a passionate kiss. It was pushing the limits of appropriateness in public. When the kiss ended because they needed to breathe, Tom looked into Julie's eyes.
"I'm sorry…I pushed a little too far."
"That's fine." She whispered as she tried to regain her breath. "That was nice."
"You're good at that." They both stated at the same time.
Their silly smiles were interrupted when they heard a car horn.
…
The van pulled into the private parking lot of Gate Four. Grace looked up and noticed Tom and Julie sitting on top of a small wall. She saw both of them lean in for a kiss. That kiss lasted a little too long and then became a little too passionate for a kiss in public. She also thought it was a kiss that was too passionate for private. She made a note to have a discussion with Juile…and soon.
After parking the van, Grace leaned over and hit the horn on the van. Tom and Julie looked in that direction. Julie saw the expression on her mother's face.
"Uh…oh…"
"They saw us, didn't they?"
"I think maybe only mother did. She has that look."
"I'm sorry Julie."
"It was a nice kiss, Tom. We may need to be a little careful moving forward with this."
"I agree."
"I'm not saying we don't kiss like that, but we need to be cautious about who could be around."
"I agree."
"Are you ready?" Thomas asked as the group approached Tom and Julie.
"Sure. Where do we go from here?" Charlette asked.
"Coach Brown said Gate Four. There should be someone there waiting on us."
"Mother." Julie stated.
"Julie." She returned the greeting.
"I'm sorry." She whispered.
"Julie…" She began as she gently took hold of her daughter's arm. "I'm ok with you seeing Tom, but displays like that, public or private, will not be tolerated. You're fifteen. You need to dial it back a little."
"Yes ma'am."
"I'm not saying you can't kiss, but that was a little too much."
"Yes ma'am."
"Just be lucky your father didn't see it."
"Yeah…" Julie knew through her short talk with Elizabeth earlier that he was struggling with his girls growing up. While she wasn't ready to stop kissing Tom, she did make a mental note to be more careful. She was earning more respect from her parents. She didn't want to give that ground back. "I'm sorry mother."
"Be careful, but you're good."
"Thank you."
…
Jack and Elizabeth walked in front of the group holding hands as they made their way to the gate. They took their time. They looked over the parking lot seeing the excited atmosphere. This certainly was much more than a high school basketball game. There were several individuals at the gate wearing official looking shirts. It seemed like the gentleman knew who he was looking for.
"Mr. Jack Thornton and Ms. Elizabeth Thatcher."
Jack squeezed Elizabeth's hand and spoke with a little bit of amazement in his voice. "They are really going all out on this, aren't they?"
"I always knew you were smart, Jack." Elizabeth giggled.
"Yes, that's us." Jack stated as he looked up toward the man.
The older gentleman smiled. "Mr. and Mrs. Thatcher…Mr. and Mrs. Thornton. It is great to see you. You too Tom and Julie. If you'll all follow me, I will show you to your seats."
"They really are pushing everything toward Jack aren't they." William nudged Thomas.
"They really are, but they are including Elizabeth in everything. He didn't just greet Jack, he greeted Elizabeth too."
"He did…do you think that's intentional?"
"I do. Maybe they are recruiting them both. Jack said that she has the grades that any school would covet."
"She does. This is odd."
"It really is." He stated as both men looked over the outside of the arena.
They followed the man to the elevators. He led them to a small area that had ten seats to it. While it had a door in the back, the front of the room was open to the crowd and the court. The seats were really nice for the whole group. They could sit and talk as a group unlike if they were in the seats in the stands. The gentleman handed Jack and Elizabeth two tickets.
"These are seats in the fourth row if you want to go and sit in the stands. This suite is really nice, but if you want the feel of the atmosphere, you will want to sit in the stands. There will be someone who will come by in a minute to see if you would like something to drink or a snack."
"Thank you."
Charlette turned to her son after the older man left. "So, what do you think?"
"This is way overboard. I can't believe they did all of this." He looked around the suite and then the arena. "And for me." He whispered to himself.
"I know."
…
The game was fun to watch. Bryan's lost by four points. Part way through the first half, Jack and Elizabeth left the suite and took their seats in the fourth row. They were happy they did. They enjoyed being in the crowd. They also enjoyed a little bit of time away from their families.
After the game, Jack and Elizabeth were allowed on the court to take a selfie on the logo in the center of the court since they both had lanyards that granted them access. Jack extended his left hand with his phone. He wrapped his right hand around the small of her back.
"You better not." She warned him.
"What?" He acted innocent by giving her his sweetest smile.
"You know what." Her voice was playfully stern.
"E-liz-a-beth…" He smiled his mischievous, dimpled grin at her as he elongated her name. His voice was so innocent and sweet. "One…two…three…" Just a moment before he touched the icon on the screen to take the picture, he slid his hand down her back and pinched her bottom.
Elizabeth was expecting it and didn't flinch. When he lowered the phone, she playfully smacked his bicep.
"I knew you were going to do that." She pointed her finger at his chest.
"You can't blame a guy, can you?"
She playfully glared at him. "Jack Thornton…you better hope my mother and father, or your mother and father didn't see that. You'll be grounded."
"They didn't." He smiled at her. "I love you, Elizabeth." His dimpled smile breaking through.
"I love you, Jack."
Jack and Elizabeth made their way back up to their families in the suite. They talked for a few minutes until the older gentleman came back to the group.
"Jack…Elizabeth…Coach Brown was hoping to have a moment of your time."
"Sure."
"Perfect, if you all will follow me."
The man led them down to the coach's office. He walked in five minutes later.
"Sorry we couldn't win while you were here."
"That's ok coach. You played pretty well."
"Just not well enough. Well, what do you think?" When he saw Jack's hesitation, he asked again. Jack nodded his head.
"Your point guard doesn't involve the others like he should."
"Yeah, he plays hero ball too much. He's too interested in his stats to distribute the ball like he should."
Jack nodded his head in agreement. He just didn't want to say too much. Elizabeth cleared her throat. When the coach nodded his head, she began to speak.
"Your center doesn't hold on to the ball long enough. He isn't making the defense commit to him or the others." Elizabeth stated softly.
"True." Coach Brown stated. "He's too concerned with setting people up for a three pointer. I've tried to get him to establish his dominance."
"Bring motion into the offense and set him up for a dunk."
Jack could only stare at his non sporty girlfriend. He was flabbergasted.
"What? I've heard you say that to Cody." She shrugged her shoulders looking at Jack.
"She's right. If we set him on the block and motion everyone to the top of the key and the other side of the court, that would force him to take his man to the rim." The coach thoughtfully said out loud.
Jack only stared at her.
"So, Jack…Elizabeth…what did you think of our school?"
"We liked it." Elizabeth stated as she elbowed Jack who was still staring at her. "Didn't we Jack?"
"Yes." He finally stated.
"Great. Do you have any questions about anything?"
"Just two." Jack stated. "If I get hurt or don't start, will I keep my scholarship?"
"Yes. You will only lose your scholarship if you don't make good enough grades, or you are kicked out of school based on school rules. If you can't play because of an injury, we would like for you to still be involved with the program in some manner."
"And I will actually get paid six hundred dollars a month?"
"Yes. You are not allowed to have a job while on scholarship during school months. The money is an offset for that rule. I know it's not much, but you will have all your school paid for by the scholarship, including your meal plan and all of your school fees."
"That's incredible. Are you sure I'm good enough for all of that?"
"I came to see you and I am the one offering you the scholarship. I think you are. Now, take what you've learned from this visit, talk to Elizabeth and your parents. I'm sure you will have other schools call you. I suggest talking to them if you want. It's good to compare schools to find the right fit for you. You will be there for four years. It needs to be a good fit. If you pick it because of a girlfriend or for any other reason other than you want to be there, it usually ends badly.
"Now, we can't officially sign you until mid January, but you can commit to us now. That's not official until you sign the scholarship. If you do sign, you are obligated to attend Bryan's. That's why I recommend making sure you are certain of your decision. Now Jack, we are committed to you. We want you here and I think you would be a good fit for our athletic program and our school."
"So, you won't pull the scholarship before I sign it?"
"Absolutely not! Some schools do that, but we don't do that here. I don't do that. I have offered the scholarship, if you want it, you will have it for four years. That's my word to you."
Jack nodded his head. Elizabeth could see this was a lot for him to digest. She moved closer to him, so their shoulders were touching.
"Thank you, Coach Brown." Elizabeth mentioned.
"If you have any questions, please call me or text me."
"Thanks Coach Brown."
"You're welcome, Jack. Now Elizabeth, if you have any more ideas, please call me and let me know."
Elizabeth shook her head no while laughing. "I'm not a sport's girl."
"You may just turn into one. I'll be in touch with you Jack."
…
Steven and Connie sat beside each other giving each other silly grins.
"So, what do you think about Cumberland?"
"It's not for me."
"It must have felt good that a school is asking for you to talk about playing for them."
"I was shocked." His voice raised in octaves. "I never thought a school would be interested in me playing. I never gave it a second's thought."
"Maybe you should."
"It won't be a big school."
"Who cares if it's a small school. It's playing basketball while you are in college. Steven, that's huge."
He leaned into her shoulder. "You know, you are the best girlfriend…ever."
"I wouldn't say that." She leaned into his shoulder a little more. "You are a great boyfriend."
"Let's just say that we are good for each other and together."
"Perfect." He stated as he tilted his head and gently kissed her lips. "What are you thinking about school?"
"If I get accepted into Trinity, I'm going there."
"Really?"
"Yes, my mother went there. I have loved that place since I was a child. It's the only place I want to attend. I applied to other schools, but Trinity is my dream school."
"My grandfather went there. He loved it."
"Have you thought about going there?" She asked hopefully.
"My grandfather wouldn't forgive me if I didn't apply. They have a really good sign language department."
"Sign language?"
"Yes. I want to learn sign language and find work in translating."
"Steven, that's really cool!"
He just shrugged his shoulders.
"What made you pick that?"
"When I was in the eighth grade, I helped with the fifth and sixth grade's field day. I was responsible for judging the race. I picked out the third place runner and made sure they made it to their table to receive their metal. A little girl placed third. When I called for her, she didn't respond. I walked up to her and touched her on the shoulder. A friend of hers told me that she was deaf. As we walked toward the table for her to give her name and receive her ribbon, somehow, we connected. I can't explain it. I just knew what she wanted to say, and she could understand me even though she didn't read lips."
"And that interaction gave you the passion to learn sign language?"
"It did. I have found some YouTube videos and watched them. I know the ASL alphabet and a few words."
"That's really cool."
Steven shrugged his shoulders. "I haven't told anyone."
"Why not?"
"I don't know."
Connie leaned in and gave him a soft kiss. "Your secret is safe with me."
…
Dinner was simple with the whole clan. Thomas and Charlette and William and Grace gravitated to the living room after dinner. The television was on, but it was muted. They were just chatting about anything and everything. The topic covered the school visit and the trip home tomorrow.
Julie and Tom decided to go for a short walk. They didn't want to hang with any of their parents or their siblings. They walked around the neighborhood a few times just enjoying each other's company. There were times of conversation and silence. There were also times of kisses. They just made sure they were on the other side of the Airbnb and wouldn't get caught again.
Elizabeth and Jack made their way to the back deck. Elizabeth texted a few pictures of the school to Nana.
"You're texting Nana?" Asked a shocked Jack. He leaned over just a little bit to see her phone screen when she turned it so he could see.
"Oh yes. She asked me to send her a few pictures of the school. She wanted to see it."
"Ok…a couple of questions…First, you're texting Nana?" He leaned away just a couple of inches. "My Nana?"
"Jack, I am. We text often."
"How often?"
"About three to four days a week."
"Really?"
"Don't sound so shocked. We text just to chat."
"She knows how to text?"
"Jack! She isn't that old."
"She knows how to open a picture in text?"
"I had to show her and send her directions. She's gotten pretty good at it."
"I can't believe you text my Nana." He shook his head. "You know she's my Nana?"
"Yes, and you should text her more often." Elizabeth warned him. "Hey, let me ask you, Rabbit and Cowboy don't call her Nana?"
"Nope."
"And why not. They were your best friends. They said they would visit her often. So, why don't they call her Nana?"
"She loved them and would always feed them when they would come over, but they weren't family. Rabbit called her Nana and I thought she was going to have his head on a platter. He only did it one time."
"She asked that I call her Nana the first day I met her. Actually…she asked me to do that in the first few minutes of meeting her." Elizabeth whispered the words. It was so soft that Jack wasn't sure if he was supposed to hear her or not.
"I guess she loves you."
Elizabeth's smile grew at his words. She really did love Nana and greatly enjoyed their chats through text. Nana would take a little longer to text back. She scooted closer to Jack. Their legs were touching. Only the arm rest was between them.
"I have to ask…how did you know that about the team's center?"
"Well, you talk, and I listen. It's what you told Cory early on in a practice when he was doing the same thing. It was kind of easy to see. That guy would be so quick to pass the ball, or he would never look at the rim."
"I guess I can't say my girlfriend isn't a sports girl anymore." He chuckled.
"I'm not a sport's girl, I'm a Jack's girl." Jack smiled at her statement.
"So, what do you think about Bryan's?" Jack asked.
"It was all I imagined. Maybe even better in some ways."
"Have you made your mind up about going there?"
"Maybe, but I do have a couple of applications to other schools. What about you?"
"I like what Dr. Callahan said about the program. That was really impressive. I love the smaller class size."
"Me too."
"I'm still shocked about the full scholarship."
"That is really a godsent. All your hard work is paying off. It will get you through school without it costing your family anything. No student loans or any debts when you are done."
"I know…it's very difficult for me to wrap my mind around it. Can you believe they offered me all of that?" His doubt obvious in his tone and body posture.
"I can. Evidently, the coach thinks you are worth it. He really wants you there."
"Yeah…I just can't imagine it."
"Well…what do you think? Would you want to attend here?" She asked hopefully. She loved the school. It exceeded all her dreams. It was much more than what she hoped for. There wasn't anything about Bryan's that she didn't like, except for the fact that maybe Jack wouldn't be there. She knew it was her school the moment her foot touched the pavement in the parking lot. While she did want him there with her, she wasn't going to push him in that direction. She understood that his parents couldn't afford the private school. She didn't want to make him feel bad or push when nothing could be done about it. She was just praying for the scholarship to come through. When it did and Coach Brown gave them the details about it, she struggled not to jump up and down in pure excitement. Jack could attend without the financial burden on his family. She still didn't want to push him, but she was struggling not to do so.
"The scholarship really opens the door for me being able to attend and I keep that scholarship for four years." He squeezed her hand three times. "Ma and Pa couldn't afford it. I loved the school, and it feels like a good fit. The academics are really good. Coach Brown seems like a straightforward and honest kind of guy, and I like that. I like the fact that he will give me an opportunity to play."
"That's all great, but you really didn't answer my question about attending here." She brought the conversation back to the true essence of the question she really wanted to know the answer to.
"And you?" He asked.
"I guess I'm a lot like you…"
"What do you mean?"
"I have my answer but I'm afraid to tell you."
"Because you don't want to influence my decision."
"Yeah…we are a lot alike, aren't we?"
"We are. I guess that's why we click so well."
They sat in silence for a few moments. Then Elizabeth got an idea.
"Wait right here. I'll be right back." She jumped up and released his hand without waiting for a response. She was back in just a couple of minutes.
Elizabeth gave Jack a piece of paper and an ink pen she found on the kitchen island.
"Now, you write down the answer to this question and I will do the same. That way no one is answering the question first and potentially influencing the other."
"So, we can't push the other person in any direction?"
"Exactly." She stated. "The question is, are you planning on attending Bryan's University in the fall?"
They smiled a silly grin at each other. They squeezed each other's hand three times at the same time. Then they turned their attention to the small piece of paper in front of them. They wrote their answer on it and folded it in half. Elizabeth gave Jack her piece of paper and Jack gave Elizabeth his.
…
Rosemary looked up when Lee walked into Abagail's. They were meeting for an early dinner and then meeting some friends to go to the movies. This was another one of their no date dates. That is what Rosemary called it. She knew it didn't make sense, but it was a way of keeping things from getting too real. It was a definitive line for her.
She knew she liked Lee. He was funny and very kind. He was patient with her. She knew she was dragging her feet with him, but she just couldn't jump into a relationship after what happened. While he was patient, he would call her out when she was being too deliberate.
He loved her theatric expressions. They would often make him laugh. She was funny and smart. Unfortunately for Lee, he had already fallen for Rosey. He was trying to go slow and not show her too much affection. He knew what she experienced last year. He also knew she was still working her way through all of that.
"Hey." Rosey smiled.
"Hey." Lee answered. He sat on the opposite bench then she was sitting. She found that unusual. He would always sit beside her in the same booth. She thought he did that because he liked her. Then she remembered that they were always with other people. He had to sit somewhere.
"Are you hungry?"
"Rosey, I'm a teen guy…I'm always hungry."
Rosey laughed. "You know, you're always eating."
"I do, but I work it off so fast that I don't gain weight."
"True." She slowly mentioned as she noticed his biceps. "I bet you'll get something at the movies."
"Absolutely. But I always share with you."
"You do and I am thankful for it."
After ordering their drinks and food, Lee's phone buzzed. He had sat it down on the top of the table after texting his mom that he was at Abagail's. Rosey noticed that he rolled his eyes.
"What?" She asked.
"It's Lily. She won't stop texting me."
"Lily…from school?"
"Yeah. I have history class with her. She's been texting me the last couple of days."
"What does she want?" Rosey sat a little taller in her seat. The news of a girl texting Lee got to her. She immediately wasn't happy about it. It didn't help Rosey's jealousy that Lily was a pretty girl.
"Yesterday she just wanted to say hi. She got my number from a mutual friend. She sent me a couple of texts talking about our project in history that is due just before Christmas break. Then she just chatted about this and that." Lee stated offhandedly. For him, it was nothing.
For Rosemary, she felt that another girl was hitting on her boyfriend. When she realized what she was just thinking, she leaned back and looked at Lee for a moment. He didn't notice. He was looking out the window. She really did like this guy. He was everything she had wanted in a guy before that horrible date that turned so bad. He checked every box on her list she made. Lee wasn't perfect, but he was just right for her. Lee sighed again when his phone buzzed.
"You don't want to talk with her?"
"Not really. She's a nice girl and all, but I don't want to date her."
"Did she ask you out?"
"Yeah…" Lee didn't look up. If he had, he would have noticed that she sat taller and had a determined look on her face. She wasn't happy.
"Give me your phone." She stated with determination when his phone buzzed again.
"Why?"
"Just give me your phone!"
Lee stared at her for a moment. He didn't know why she wanted his phone. He slowly reached for it and unlocked the screen. Then he passed the phone to her.
Rosey read the five most recent texts and huffed. She glanced at Lee and then turned her attention back to his phone. She began to type out a text.
Hey, this is Rosemary I'm Lee's girlfriend I know you two are working on a project but these recent texts have nothing to do with a project He is dating me he can't go out on a date with you
Lily – I'm sorry I didn't know Lee has a girlfriend he hasn't said that he did
Lee – We just started dating
Lee sat back and watched as she typed out a message. He noticed a little smirk on her face as she typed.
"What are you doing?"
"Hold on, Lee. I'm almost done." When she finished typing out the last text, she handed him his phone.
Lee kept his eyes on Rosey for a few moments. Then he looked at his phone. His smile grew as he read the texts she typed.
"So…are we dating or are you just saying that to get her to back off?"
"Lee, I don't share my boyfriend with other girls."
Lee nodded his head as his smile grew.
"We still need to go slow with this, but I would like to date you."
"Perfect!" His smile only grew as her words sank in.
…
Jack and Elizabeth held onto their pieces of paper as they walked into the Airbnb. Their parents were sitting at the kitchen table chatting about something.
"What are you two up to?"
"We were talking about Bryan's. Are you busy?"
"No. Have a seat. What have you two decided?" Charlette asked.
They held up their hands with the paper between their finger and thumb. "Well, we have been talking about it and this is our answer."
"What did you two decide?"
"We wanted to talk to you before we looked?"
"You haven't looked…you don't know?" Grace asked.
"No mother. I haven't looked."
"You haven't looked? You're nosey."
"Mother, I'm not that bad." Elizabeth shrieked.
"Excuse me." Jack stated.
"Enough from you." She sassed as she playfully elbowed his side.
"Alright son, don't pick on my girl. Jack, what did you want to talk about?"
"Coach Brown said that the scholarship is a guaranteed four year scholarship that can't be revoked unless I am kicked out of school or fail academically. Everything is paid for, and I will receive six hundred dollars a month during the months I'm in school. I can get a job during the summer months."
"Yes, that's what he stated."
"Would you be ok if I attend or don't attend Bryan's?"
Elizabeth slightly flinched when he mentioned not attending.
"The scholarship removes the financial aspect of the decision. It is your choice. You are the one who will be there for four years. You need to be happy with your decision."
Jack quickly looked at his father. "Own your decisions." He smirked.
"Yes son, you own your decisions. What about this school do you like?"
"The teaching program is top notch. I feel like it's a good fit. I loved the campus. Dr. Callahan was nice, and I liked what she spoke about. Plus, the scholarship is huge."
"It is, but that's not everything."
"True, but it is very helpful."
"It is."
"And you?" William asked, looking at his daughter.
"I liked the program too and the school was nice. I have looked at it for a while now. It has met all my expectations and more."
"So?" The four adults asked.
"Give us a moment." Jack and Elizabeth stated at the same time. They stepped back out onto the back porch. They wanted to tell each other before telling anyone else. They were nervous and excited about the potential outcome. They thought they knew what the other person would do but wasn't certain.
"Ok…on the count of three, we look at our paper."
"Deal." Jack agreed.
"One…two…three…" Elizabeth counted.
On the three count, they took their eyes off each other and unfolded the paper. Their smiles overtook their faces at the same time.
…
Tom and Julie were sitting on the front porch. Julie was on her phone looking through memes and short videos on TikTok. When she found one that amused her, she would turn the phone to show Tom. He was doing the same thing.
"What do you think about their college?"
"Bethie has always loved Bryan's. She has wanted to go there since last year. It's a perfect match for her. I saw it on her face as soon as we arrived at the school."
"Jack never heard of the school before, but as he researched it, he has begun to really like it."
"I do believe Elizabeth will go there if she is accepted."
"I think Jack is leaning in that direction. He was looking toward a state school, but this school is right up his alley with the teaching program. I also think he will like the basketball program. The scholarship will be the kicker I think."
"I believe Elizabeth wants to attend with Jack."
"I know he wants to be with her. I think he will attend there if she does."
"I agree, Julie."
…
"We're going to Bryan's!" Jack and Elizabeth stated as they walked back into the house.
"Congratulations!" Everyone stated. They were truly happy for their children.
"That is if I get accepted." Elizabeth broke into the excitement.
"Nonsense dear. You will get in without any question. Dr. Callahan was already talking like you were already in. It's just a formality." Grace stated.
"But it's an important formality."
"I guess, but I'm certain you will get in. Is this what you both want?"
"It is." Both young people stated.
"Is this because she is going there?" Thomas asked.
Jack smiled. He knew his father would be the one who would question him. He wasn't being mean, but he always wanted Jack to defend his decisions. His dad wanted him to truly know his heart and his mind.
"Not all of it. The scholarship is huge. It takes that burden off you. It's a prestigious teaching program and that's what I want. I get to play basketball and receive an education because of it."
Thomas nodded his head.
Jack continued. "The school is nice. It felt like a good fit. Everything is state of the art. I really like it and I feel like it could be home."
Charlette smiled. She loved his reasonings.
"And you?" Grace asked.
"Bryan's has always been my first choice. The school has met or exceeded all of my expectations."
"I knew your decision the moment you stepped on the campus."
"Yes father. I think that's when I knew."
"And you didn't tell him?" Grace nodded toward Jack."
"No. I didn't want to influence his decision."
"That's why we wrote our decisions down first. We didn't look at our pieces of paper until after we spoke to you."
"Fair enough."
"Pa, can we go back to the school tomorrow and inform Coach Brown? I would like to tell him in person."
Thomas smiled. That was just like his son.
"We are heading back home tomorrow. I think we can find time to make a quick stop."
"Great. I'll text him and see if he'll be there around eleven."
"Perfect."
…
Rosemary dropped Lee off at his home after the movies. They enjoyed their time together with friends, and with each other. Things were a little different since they were officially dating now. Tonight was the first time they held hands. Lee couldn't wipe the smile off his face even if he wanted to.
When Rosey parked the car in Lee's driveway, she turned off the engine.
"I've hand fun with you." She whispered.
"Me too. I enjoyed being with you."
"Lee, I know we are dating…"
"Rosey, I would love to kiss you, but we move at your pace here. I remember what you went through, and I believe the deal is still valid. I don't push and you don't project him on me."
"Thanks Lee."
"Now with that stated, I hope you are alright if I do this."
Lee reached for her hand and pulled it to his lips. He gently kissed her hand and never broke eye contact with her. In his mind, he quickly thanked Cory for his advice of not pushing and only kissing her hand.
Lee's actions stole Rosemary's breath. He was so kind to not pushing her for too much too soon. She appreciated his actions.
"Thank you, Rosemary. I'll text you tomorrow."
Rosemary was still out of breath with his actions. All she could do was nod her head in agreement.
…
Jack and Elizabeth stepped out of the van and lead the group of family toward the coach's office in the sports complex. There weren't too many students walking around this Sunday morning. They took their time on the walk. They wanted to soak in the school. Especially since they will be attending here in the fall. They pointed out buildings and areas that were shown to them yesterday during their tour. They also noticed areas that were new to them. The walk was slow as they tried to memorize everything.
The parents were also paying better attention to the school. They were grateful the school wasn't too far away from home. They were also impressed with the school and all it had to offer. Jack's and Elizabeth's reasonings to attend were valid. They were well thought out decisions. They still knew it was partly because the other was attending. With the strength of their reasons for their decisions, they were ok with them attending together.
Coach Brown and Dr. Callahan were sitting in the coach's office. They were discussing the potential reason for the visit on the day they were to be traveling home. They both felt like yesterday went well. They answered all their questions and both sensed that jack and Elizabeth enjoyed the school.
"I think it's a good sign." Dr. Callahan stated finally breaking the silence.
"I sure hope so. He will be a good fit for both of us. He's a good basketball player and better student."
"Elizabeth is the type of student we want here. I think she will excel here."
"I think Jack will too."
"They should be here any minute."
A moment later, there was a knock on the door.
"Good morning. Come in." Coach Brown stated. Dr. Callahan and Coach Brown all stood and shook hands with everyone.
"So, this is your meeting. What's on your mind Jack? Do you have any more questions?"
"No sir. I just wanted to let you know that I am accepting the scholarship if I'm admitted to the school."
"The offer of the scholarship is part of the offer to attend. You are already admitted. Are you sure? You don't want to take more time to think this through. You know we want you here. I just want you to be certain."
"I am certain, Coach Brown. I want to attend here."
"Perfect." He excitedly shook Jack's hand. "Jack, I think you will like it here and will grow as a person and basketball player."
"Thank you, sir. I look forward to it. What do I need to sign?"
"You officially can't sign the offer until the middle of January. That is basketball's signing day. Until then, you can visit any other schools you want. I just hope you let me know if you do."
"Coach, I'm committed to attend here. I will not be visiting other schools. You have my word."
"You have my word the scholarship will be waiting for you. I look forward to you coming here Jack."
"Me too. I think you will be a good addition to the teaching program."
"Thank you, Dr. Callahan."
"And you, Ms. Thatcher. Have you had enough time to think this through?" Dr. Callahan asked.
"It is my dream school. I would love to attend here, but I haven't been accepted yet."
Dr. Callahan smiled. "Elizabeth, this is for you. It landed on my desk late yesterday. I was going to send it out tomorrow, but I brought it with me since I was seeing you today."
Elizabeth accepted the envelope. She looked at it for a long moment and then opened it. It was a letter from the school's admission's office.
"It's an acceptance letter." She softly stated.
"Yes Ms. Thatcher. You will be a great addition to our program. I hope you give us serious thought about accepting Bryan's as your university."
"I accept." She stated quickly.
"Perfect." Dr. Callahan and Coach Brown stated.
"Congratulations sweetheart." Grace stated with a hug. Then her father stepped up with his praise and hug. "I knew you could do it. Congratulations."
After her parents hugged her, Jack gave her a hug. "Congratulation Princess Beth."
"Jack, that's not my name. I thought we were passed this." She glared at his smirk.
"Congratulations Elizabeth." Tom and Charlette stated with their own hugs.