Chapter 12 #2
“Yes, well, that’s very inspirational, but money makes the world go around.
You’re old enough to understand that now,” Aunt Sherry argues, some of her usual uptightness seeping through the cracks of the mask she wears with Joe.
“Money is precisely what I wanted to discuss with you. Joseph, you’re aware of how expensive an aviation career is.
Certainly too expensive for your sister to cover. ”
“We have a plan,” Joe blurts before I can say anything.
“And what would that plan be?”
“There’s a flight school in Vermont that trains pilots for commercial airlines. I’ll get my private pilot license after high school and go from there. I’m already studying for it. Ivy and I have looked into some private grants too.”
“We have also considered loans,” I pipe in.
Loans are the last thing I want to get involved with, but it’s better than the alternative. My three years in New York City helped me save enough money to pay for his private pilot license, but I’m nowhere near the full tuition cost of flight school.
“There’s no need for any of that,” Aunt Sherry says dismissively.
Joe frowns. “What do you mean?”
“I’m willing to cover the entire cost of your flight school and anything else you might need for your higher education.”
My entire body turns cold, that bad feeling I had earlier multiplied tenfold.
Next to me, Joe’s shoulders are perfectly still. He doesn’t seem to be breathing anymore.
“You would do that?” he asks in a small, unsure voice.
“Of course I would. Your education is of utmost importance to me, and aviation is a respectable career.” She steals a quick look at me before glancing away again, and I know the blow is coming.
“I would be happy to pay for it since your sister is clearly unable to do it no matter how many jobs she takes.”
The stab-like pain of her words is nothing compared to what the hope in Joe’s eyes does to my heart.
“I only have one condition,” she continues. “That you move to Boston with me.”
“What?” The question is out of my mouth before I can stop it.
She wants to take Joe away from me.
“But I haven’t finished high school yet,” Joe argues, glancing nervously between Aunt Sherry and me.
It’s she who explains, “You would transfer to a private high school, of course. Winthrop Academy is the best in the state. Aviation is a very demanding career, and you need to be as prepared as you can. You couldn’t possibly think you would get the quality education you need in an inconsequential small town in Vermont.
What better place than Boston’s best high school?
I would cover your tuition there as well. ”
I want to strangle her.
And then I want to strangle her a bit more for good measure.
Aunt Sherry pats his hand in a way that couldn’t look more condescending.
“Think about it, Joseph. You don’t have to give me an answer now, but my offer stands until Christmas.
If you want to enroll in Winthrop Academy, you must do it as quickly as possible to catch up to your peers.
The headmaster’s wife is a dear friend of mine from the country club, and she assures me there is a spot with your name on it if you’re smart enough to make the right decision about your future. ”
Each of her words is a wave of hopelessness threatening to drown me. But it’s the fact that Joe doesn’t seem put off by the idea that isn’t letting me breathe.
“Think about it.” She gets up from her chair under our disbelieving stares. “You have my number. Call me when you make a decision.”
“I don’t have your number,” Joe says quietly.
I’m fully expecting the death glare she sends my way. “Your sister does. If you don’t call me by Christmas, I will come back to hear your decision in person. Now, if you’ll excuse me, my driver is waiting.”
She grabs her purse from the back of the chair, where I hadn’t even noticed she’d put it, and doesn’t look me in the eye as she plants two air kisses on my cheeks. After squeezing Joe’s cheeks again, she says, “We’ll be in touch.”
And just like she let herself in, she lets herself back out.
A thick layer of silence that isn’t entirely comfortable falls over the house. Neither of us have stood from the table, too confused by what just happened.
I’m the first one to speak. “If you want to move in with her—”
“I don’t want to go anywhere with her,” Joe cuts me off.
“We can talk about this,” I tell him anyway. “I promise I won’t get angry if you want to move to Boston with her. I know how important flight school is for you. You know you’re my priority, so whatever’s best for you—”
“And you think living with her and going to a stupid school for rich kids is the best thing for me?”
“Joe—”
His chair scrapes the floor as he gets up. “I’m going out.”
I stand after him. “I get that you’re upset, but you can’t just leave like that. That’s not how it works.”
“I don’t know how anything works,” he spits out, his brows pulled into a frown.
I take a deep breath through my nose, hating that Aunt Sherry walked in uninvited and ruined our evening with a ten-minute conversation.
“Why do you want to leave all of a sudden?” I ask him calmly.
He runs a hand through his hair, the same dark shade as mine. “I just want to be alone.”
“I’m leaving for work in a bit. You’ll be alone then.”
“I need fresh air. I’m just going to grab my bike.”
“You have to study for tomorrow,” I remind him.
“I already did. I was reviewing everything before Aunt Sherry came.”
Not wanting to clip his wings, I concede, “Okay, but don’t leave town, and text me when you get back home. Don’t stay out past nine, all right? You have an exam tomorrow.”
“I know,” he half grunts before heading for the door.
“I love you,” I call out after him.
“Love you too.”
When he shuts the door behind him, I take another deep breath and remind myself that I don’t have time to cry—I have a job to do, and I’ll be late if I don’t hurry and finish getting ready.
So what if Aunt Sherry wants to take Joe away from me? So what if she made me feel like the most incompetent guardian Joe could have in just a few short moments?
I will do whatever is best for Joe. Everything I do is for him. If he wants to move to Boston to have her pay for his flight school, I have no say in that. As much as it’s ripping my heart out, I will respect whatever choice he makes.