Chapter 27
DOVE
“In conclusion, the strongest contenders to counteract the detrimental effects of this fungus are raised beds, cross-breeding with more resistant species, or as a last resort, complete soil replacement.” I shift to the final slide of my presentation.
“Replacement remains the least desirable option as it’s the most costly and does not preclude the possibility of leftover ribosomes, which would start the cycle all over again. ”
My final slide shows the three options in bubbles around a brown peach tree in the middle. I stand, staring at the image, my heart heavy in my chest.
It’s my unofficial last day of school. I’m presenting my final exam thesis in front of the small graduate committee Dr. Smithfield helped me assemble in January. They’re all aware of the situation I’m facing at home—which is not to say they’ve cut me any slack.
I’ve worked my ass off in this independent study, learning everything I could about mycology, specifically plant diseases caused by fungi.
I’ve met the goals I set for myself when I came here. I’ve found solutions. I’ve also learned how long these solutions require to take effect and how much they cost to implement.
Time and money. Two things in short supply back home.
“Thank you, Dove.” Dr. Smithfield steps up beside me, holding his hand toward the door. “Now, step into the hall so we can talk about you.”
Polite laughter follows his remark, and I manage to give him a warm smile. I’m not worried about what they’ll say. This small committee has been more than generous to me with all of their knowledge.
They know what’s driving my research. They work with farmers all the time, and their compassion is genuine. It’s just so far away… like everything it seems.
Hockey season grinds on for the guys. The playoffs started mid-April, and they’ve been going nonstop ever since, advancing, moving forward, getting closer to the Cup.
Gina explained how it works to me, since it’s the first year I’ve paid attention. For most of the teams, hockey season ends mid-April. Only the best sixteen teams keep going through elimination rounds until it gets down to one final winner.
It’s a lot to follow. She threw a bunch of numbers at me, twos, sevens and fours, eliminations, bowls…
I had to let a lot of it go, as I’ve been focused on my own work—analysis of the literature and clinical studies leading up to today, my final presentation. In addition to the slides and speech, I had to turn in a written analysis that took weeks to write and edit.
All that to say, Mav and I have been two ships passing in the night over much of the last month. We’ve kept up our texting like always, but the tone has changed.
We both know I can’t stay, and we both know he can’t go.
So I’m at the end of my time here, and while I’ve found a lot of answers, I feel like I’m going home with no solutions. It feels like the world is holding its breath, waiting.
Maverick
I’ve got a break this weekend—save a night for dinner?
Sitting on the bench waiting, I slide my thumb over the tiny circle holding his face on my phone. It’s a picture I took of him at the wedding. He’s smiling, his dark hair pulled back, square jaw popping, hazel eyes so full of emotion.
I swoon a little whenever I see it.
Dove
Of course! Tell me when.
I don’t say my only plans this weekend are packing. Mostly because it’s sad enough that I’m going home. I’m going to miss all of this, being here with my friends, Kelani… him.
Also because it’s not going to take long to pack up my belongings. I haven’t been here long enough to accumulate much. I have his jersey. I have an air horn. I have a picture of us dancing under a peach tree Maddie drew for me.
Maverick
Full disclosure, Haddy set up the interview with Susan on Saturday. If Sunday works, I’ll have more time.
My lips twist, but I’m not angry about his interview. Even if this journalist knows way too much about him. And likes to stand way too close to him. And clearly has way more on her mind than an interview.
Dove
Sunday is saved for you. I’ll be here all weekend.
Maverick
The rest of the gang is joining us, but I won’t be late on Saturday. Don’t worry.
Dove
I won’t.
It’s no use to try and call it quits. I thought we could do it when we came back here, but all we’ve done is steal kisses, which leads to stolen touches, which leads to fucking against the kitchen table, against the washing machine, against the bathroom sink…
I slide my thumb over his picture again. My time here might be over, but my heart can’t stop.
I’m walking down the stairs and almost miss the bottom step when Haddy dashes out of the kitchen.
“You’re back!” she cries, running up to meet me. “We’ve been waiting.”
Gina is right behind her with Kelani hop-running after her. “Did you pass? Tell us!”
My hand is on my chest, and I start to laugh. “You almost made me fall!”
“Tell us what happened!” Gina grabs my hand, giving it a shake.
While I’m sad to be leaving, I do feel the weight of the semester lifted. I think about the smiles on the faces of Dr. Smithfield, my committee, and I’m proud of my accomplishments.
A smile curls my lips, and I nod, adopting a scholarly tone. “Dr. Smithfield et al are pleased to sign off on my coursework, and they highly recommend me for continued study, should I choose to pursue it.”
“Of course, they do.” Haddy walks over, throwing an arm around my shoulders. “Dove is as brilliant as she is beautiful.”
“Will you be my PR director now?” I nudge her side with my elbow.
“Absolutely, I will. What do you need? A Save the Trees campaign?”
My lips twist, and I tilt my head to the side. “You know, that’s the one thing I hadn’t thought of. It’s possible the town might get behind a Kickstarter.”
“I’ll help you set it up!” Haddy takes out her phone, but Gina takes my arm.
“We’ll discuss it over drinks. Now it’s time to celebrate, and I have the recipe for purple drink!”
Haddy puts her phone on the table throwing up her arms and shouting, “Purple draaaank!”
“Where’s Lucy?” I frown.
“Spending the night with Mee-maw and Pops!”
Gina snorts a laugh. “If she calls Aunt Raven Mee-maw, you are going to be in so much trouble!”
“As if!” Haddy waves her cousin away. “Lucy could call her poo-poo, and she’d think it was the most adorable thing.”
We lock arms and head into the kitchen to pull down the blender and mix up the grape Kool-Aid, ice, and vodka, even though the original recipe calls for Everclear.
Haddy officially made the “LA modification,” saying we can afford vodka now, and our livers will thank us.
Two purple drinks later, I’m lying on the sofa upside down, with my head touching the floor and my knees over the back, watching Gigi dance around the room singing “Beauty School Dropout” at the top of her lungs—only instead of go back to high school, she changed it to go back to grad school.
Haddy dances around doing the backup singing and laughing, and thankfully Maddie is still on spring break with Heather, back home in Eureka visiting her grandparents. I’m afraid we’re not being very good examples this evening.
“Wait a minute!” I hold up a hand from my ridiculous position. “Are you saying I have bad hair?”
Gina puts her hand on her chest, pretending to be shocked. “Of course not! I’m saying you’re a much better scientist than stylist.”
“Unless she was a hooker!” Haddy yells, and we all explode with laughter.
I roll to the side, and my legs roll off the back, sending me crashing to the floor. “I’ll do hooker hair. I’m very ecumenical!”
Gigi drops to her knees, scooping up Kelani and crawling over to sit beside me with her back to the couch. “I don’t want you to go back to Louisiana, Dove.” She lifts Kelani’s little paw and pats me with it. “Stay here with us.”
“Stooop,” I whine. “Not Kelani. It’s too cruel.”
“It’s just like the end of every summer all over again.” Haddy joins her, putting the pitcher of purple drink on the coffee table and sitting on my other side. “We would all be together, and then I’d have to come back to LA with Mom and Dad.”
“I thought you loved it out here?” Gina looks across me at her.
“I did.” Haddy’s shoulders drop. “I do! But y’all were all together in Newhope, and it felt so far away.”
“That’s exactly how I’m going to feel.” I wobble my head around to look from one to the other. “Now y’all are all out here together, and I’m so far away.”
“So stay with us!” Gina puts the puppy down and holds my hand.
Her voice is so pleading, I want to cry. “I would if I could, but they need me.”
“We need you.” Haddy rests her head on my shoulder, and I reach up to roughly pat the side of her face.
“Y’all are just going to have to come visit me like we used to do when we were kids. Every summer or during the holidays.”
“Will that be enough?” Gina sits beside me, tracing her finger down the side of my arm.
“Enough?” My brow furrows.
“For him…?” Her voice is quiet, and she blinks round green eyes up at me.
The YouTube Grease karaoke mix has moved forward to "Hopelessly Devoted,” and the night we spent in Harristown bears down on my memory. Will it be enough for me?
We’re all quiet, and I don’t have an answer for her or me.
Everything between Maverick and me is hanging in this crazy limbo state. He threw down the gauntlet, but no details have been added. It’s just lying there, and I’ve been too afraid to pick it up.
I reach over to put my hand on her arm, giving it a squeeze. “I don’t know.”
We’re quiet a little longer, until Kelani jumps into my lap. She licks me straight in the mouth, and I snort, grabbing her growing puppy-body.
Haddy exhales a sigh, shifting around to face me. “It’s not enough for me.” Her tone is serious, and she holds out her hand, palm up. “No matter what, we’re all getting together. At least once a year. Here, there, wherever. We’re not losing touch like we did ever again.”
I put my hand on top of hers, and Gina puts her hand on top of mine, saying, “It’s a deal. Here, there, or wherever!”
“It’s a deal,” I add, firmly. “Now let’s take this dog out before she pees in my lap!”
It’s late when the girls leave.
We ended up ordering pizza and binging as much as we could of the latest season of Drag Race. Gina informed us all Owen has a great-aunt, who is a gorgeous black drag queen named Monay.
Obviously, she isn’t his biological aunt, but she moved back to Eureka with his actual aunt’s little sister when he was a boy. We all decided on the spot one of our “wherever” destinations would be Eureka.
I’m curled up in my bed asleep, when I feel a large, warm body slip under the covers behind me. It’s what Maverick started doing when he’d get home late or early in the morning after traveling.
His strong arms go around my waist, and he pulls my back flush against his chest. My eyes are closed, but a smile curls my lips. I turn my face to find his, giving him a kiss, wanting more, but he pulls away, kissing my nose.
“I take it you passed.” His voice is soft, but I can hear the smile in it.
It floods me with warmth, and I smile, nodding. “I did. Then I passed out.”
“I never doubted, and I see you had a celebration.” That part is said with a soft chuckle that warms my veins. “I’m sorry I missed it.”
My hand slides down his forearm, and I pull his hug closer over my body. “It was good to be with the girls.”
His lips press against the top of my shoulder. “I know. Get some sleep. We can talk more in the morning.”
And as much as I want to talk more now, as much as I want to do more, I fall asleep, locked in heaven, safe in his arms.