Bennett — Age 19
Maven burst through the workshop door, waving a paper over her head. “Ben!”
I knew exactly what she held in her hand, and my heart sank.
Wally chuckled. “You’d better go speak to her. She looks ready to burst.”
Hesitantly, I handed him the bar clamp.
“Let me guess.” I placed my safety glasses on my head as I approached. “Mr. Rost submitted a resignation letter to the school in anticipation of this year’s senior pranks?”
She bounced on her toes, way too excited to take the bait. “I got in! On full scholarship!”
“That’s amazing!” I somehow rallied the excitement she deserved. “Though I didn’t doubt you would for a minute.”
“Wally,” she called, glancing around me. “How much longer do you need Ben?”
He paused his assembly of the cabinet we’d been working on, his wrinkled eyes glinting with humor. “Do the two of you have something to celebrate?”
Maven lifted the letter again. “I got in to the Cleveland Institute of Music.”
“On full scholarship,” I added.
She was beaming.
“Cleveland?” Wally’s gaze flicked to me, a touch of concern in his expression, but he quickly recovered and set his smile on Maven. “That certainly sounds like something that needs to be celebrated. You two go and have fun.”
I didn’t know how Maven always charmed her way into whatever she wanted, but I wouldn’t complain.
Not that I didn’t love working for Wally.
I enjoyed every minute, soaking up the lessons he’d gained over a lifetime of woodworking; but if I had an opportunity to spend time with Maven, I’d take it.
Every time. Without a moment’s hesitation.
“What did your mom say?” I asked when we’d stepped outside into the cool spring air.
“I haven’t told her yet. She was still asleep after her shift, and I didn’t have the heart to wake her.”
“And Carson?”
She grinned. “Do you need me to say that you were the first person I wanted to tell?”
“Carson didn’t answer his phone, did he?”
Maven scoffed, but with the way her lips pulled inward after, I knew she wasn’t telling me something.
I drew a step closer. “Want to show me your call history?”
“Fine. I tried to call him. Twice. But only because it took me like eight minutes to get here. That’s a long time, considering the news.”
I smiled, shaking my head.
“For the record, I didn’t lie. You were the first person I wanted to tell. I simply lacked the self-control.”
I wrapped my arms around her waist. “I’ll gladly take second to Carson. For now.”
She lifted onto her toes and pressed a kiss against my lips. “Thank you, Ben.”
My brow lowered, not sure what exactly she was thanking me for.
“I wouldn’t have applied if you hadn’t encouraged me to. I know four years seems like a long time, but it’s only a ten-hour drive, so I can come home for long weekends and breaks. And you can come see me whenever you want. Plus, we’ll still have the summers.”
“I’m not worried.” I couldn’t quite muster the same energy as before. “Do you know when you leave?”
“The middle of August.”
Five months.
That’s all the time I had before Maven and I would spend a majority of the next four years apart.
But it was going to be okay.
Because it had to be.
And with the extra time I’d have, I’d be able to really focus on learning my trade. As well as remodeling the house I planned to buy once I got enough for a down payment. Plus there was always the farm. Dad would never say no to an extra set of hands.
See? I’d have plenty to keep myself busy until Maven came home.
“So, five months,” she said, repeating my own calculation.
“Well, if that’s the case, there’s no time to waste.” I was going to ensure these were the most memorable months of Maven’s life. I needed her to miss Autumn Ridge as much as I’d miss her being here. “Starting with this celebration of yours. Where to first?”
“The Maple Bar for burgers, then Keller’s for sticky buns.”
“Obviously.”
She smiled. “Then we can head back to my house to see if my mom’s awake. And I’m sure your parents would also like to hear the news.”
“Undeniably.” I lifted a hand to her neck, tracing my thumb downward along it to the bit of collarbone peeking out from beneath her sweater. “Anything else?”
She gave a contended sigh and leaned into my touch. “Want to take a drive later and see where we end up?”
“You read my mind.”