Chapter Twenty-Nine
Amy
As I hurried into my father’s study my heart raced. Luke was back. Why? And why did he want to see my father?
Dad looked up from one of his books and frowned as he swung his feet down from his desk.
“Luke?” he asked.
“Doctor Jensen,” Luke said as he stopped in front of the desk. Then he pulled a folded piece of paper out of the back of his pocket and put it in front of my dad. He didn’t actually slam it down. But it was close.
Dad took the paper as he leaned forward to scan it. His brow furrowed as his eyebrows rose. I knew that look. My father was surprised. A rare occurrence in my world.
“What’s this?” he asked.
“What does it look like?” Luke said with a hint of smugness.
Dad pursed his lips as he looked from the paper to Luke then back down. “To me, it looks like an acceptance letter from Washington State University in Spokane.”
My heart jumped. WSU had one of the best veterinarian schools in the country. How had Luke gotten in there? I kept looking back and forth between the two of them as I fought to understand. I felt like a cat chasing a laser light across the floor. Every time I thought I understood, someone moved the goal.
“Yes, Sir,” he said as he stood up a little straighter.
“How?” my dad asked. Obviously bewildered.
Luke smiled just a little. “It seems an online high school diploma, a really good SAT score, and an interesting story is what they are looking for. It appears my troubles with the judicial system makes me interesting. … They called it a ‘Diverse point of view’.”
Dad nodded slowly as he looked back at the paper again, as if unable to believe it was true.
My heart soared at the idea that Luke would reach his dream. I realized we were over and that he was just here to prove my father wrong. But I’ll be honest. I loved the idea of my father being shown to be the fool. Especially when it came to this.
Mom stepped into the room and put an arm around my shoulder. I could feel her surprise mixed with hope for me. I was tempted to push back. No way could I let my thoughts go there. No, I had learned to accept that we were over.
“How are you going to pay for it?” Dad asked Luke. My stomach clenched up. I knew Luke, he’d never let his mother go into debt.
He smiled slowly, “I’ve worked every extra shift I could grab and made enough to pay for the first year of college. Plus, I have a job set up for next summer. They are always looking for extra help. I’ll work get a job in Spokane flipping hamburgers or delivering pizzas during the school year cover living expenses.”
Dad froze for a second then slowly nodded. “So, you have it all worked out?”
“Yes, Sir.”
I stood there like a forgotten afterthought. Neither of them showed any awareness as to if I was in the room or not.
A deep frown broke out on my dad’s face as he glanced over at me. Then he looked back at Luke. “Why are you telling me this? Is this about Amy? Are you demanding that I say it is permissible for you to date my daughter?”
Luke slowly shook his head, “No sir.”
My heart fell. I had tried so hard to keep my secret hopes buried but I had failed. Deep down I had desperately wished that Luke had come back because of me.
“No, Sir,” Luke repeated. “Not demand, request. But I’ve got to be honest. Amy turns eighteen in a couple of weeks. And regardless of what you say. We are going to be together. There nothing on this earth that can stop that.”
He twisted to glance at me, raising an eyebrow in a silent question.
My heart melted as I rushed into his arms. I didn’t worry about what my father thought. I didn’t care. All I knew was that Luke wanted me. Me, Amy Jensen. The boy of my dreams wanted me.
Luke’s strong arms wrapped around me and I sank into him. My soul merging with his. Home. I was where I belonged. Safe, secure.
After what seemed like half of forever, I pulled back just slightly to look at my dad. Mom had come around to stand behind him, one hand up covering her mouth, her other hand rested on his shoulder as a tear slowly slid down her cheek.
Dad slowly shook his head. “She is going to university in Seattle.”
I laughed. “Dad, I can’t go to school in Seattle if I’m living in Spokane.” He could be so silly at times. “Of course. There is no law that says I have to go to college.”
My father coughed as if something had gone down the wrong way. I noticed Mom’s fingers tighten on his shoulder.
“You are going to school. And that is final,” Dad said with a scowl.
“Yes, in Spokane,” I said, holding his stare.
Our eyes fought for a long moment until finally, his shoulders slumped in defeat.
“Very well,” he said reluctantly.
I squealed and threw my arms back around Luke to give him a hug. I felt his body relax and realized just how worried he had been. Our eyes held each other’s for a second then he smiled at me and I knew my world was right again.
“I’ve got to go home and tell my mom I’m back,” Luke said.
My heart lurched. “You came here first?”
He nodded as if it had been an obvious choice.
“Can I go with you?” I asked as the sudden fear of losing him again flashed into me. No way was I letting him out of my sight until I really believed he was back.”
He smiled then looked over at my father. My dad shrugged his shoulders and said, “Don’t ask me. It seems I don’t have any say in the matter.”
Both Luke and I laughed.
He nodded to my Mom and Dad then took my hand and led me from the room. As we stepped out of the house a sudden thought popped into my head. I slapped him in the shoulder and gave him my best frown.
“What?” he asked.
“Why didn’t you let me know. Why didn’t you write?”
He frowned and stopped for a moment as his cheeks grew a little red.
“I couldn’t risk it,” he said. “If I failed, I … I didn’t want you thinking your dad was right.”
All I could do was stare at him in disbelief. I knew deep down I was supposed to be furious with him. But I couldn’t. I just couldn’t stay mad at him This was Luke. My Luke. The boy who made my knees wobble. My Dark Knight. The man I would love for the rest of my life.