"Are you serious?"
"Of course I am,” Richard said.
"But Dad, you live in Alaska, she lives in Massachusetts."
"I'll move."
"But that will make her my step-mother." Grace followed the logic. "And Carey would be my step-sister."
"I love her, Grace."
Grace hesitated. "Are you sure about this?"
"Very."
"If she makes you happy, Dad." She covered the receiver with her hand when Carey walked in. "They're getting married."
"Who's getting married?"
"Your mom and my dad."
"Is that your dad?" Carey asked, pointing at the phone. Grace nodded. Carey snatched the phone out of Grace's hand. "It's about time you made an honest woman of her, you old reprobate. I was beginning to wonder if I was going to have to get my shotgun out." She heard laughing on the other end of the line. "Seriously, congratulations. I can't think of anyone that I'd rather have as a step-dad. My mother has very good taste."
"I guess good taste runs in your family."
Carey looked over at Grace and smiled. "No doubt about it."
"I'm planning on making the move to Boston, but I'm keeping my house here. We plan to spend part of the summers here."
Carey laughed. "You'll make a country gal out of her yet. So, have you two set a date?"
"This weekend, actually," Richard said. "We don't want a big affair. We've both been through that once, and once was enough. We thought we'd just fly off somewhere, just the two of us. Make it a combination wedding, honeymoon trip. We just need to settle on the destination. I think it's going to be Hawaii."
"Sounds romantic."
"I've got another call coming in, Carey, so I'll say good-bye now.
Say good-bye to Grace for me."
"Will do, Rich—Dad. See you soon." She hung up the phone and turned to Grace. "He told me I have good taste." Carey stroked Grace's cheek. "I have to agree."
Grace leaned over and put her head on Carey's shoulder, snuggling against her. "It's kinda strange thinking about our parents getting married."
"Why is that?"
"Well, technically that will make you my sister." Grace lifted her head and looked at Carey. "Doesn't that seem a little strange?"
"Well, it is unusual, but I don't think of it as strange."
"I guess," Grace said. "The important thing is that they're happy."
Carey pulled her close. "Yep. That's all that matters." She kissed the top of Grace's head. "I've been doing some thinking about what we talked about the other night. You know, moving up to the cottage."
"And?"
"I think we can swing it. I'm sure I'll be able to find some kind of a job. It won't pay as much as I make here, but it should pay the mortgage. And we only have two more years to pay on it. Then it's ours, free and clear."
Carey walked into the mess hall, her eyes scanning the room. Finally she spotted who she was looking for and walked over to Gage, who was chatting with a couple of the girls with Instructor Donaldson. She walked up behind them and tapped Gage on the shoulder. "Can I talk to you for a minute, Sue?"
Gage followed her over to an empty table and sat down across from her friend. "What's up?"
"I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about what's important in my life. I guess finding out you have cancer can make you look at your priorities in a different light."
Gage nodded. "I guess it can."
"I've turned in my notice, Sue. I'm leaving Sapling Hill at the end of session. I recommended you as my replacement, so if you want the job, it's yours."
Gage was stunned. She had noticed that her friend had been kind of introspective lately, but never expected this. "I don't know what to say."
"Nothing to say, really. My mind's made up. It's done."
"I'll have to think about it. Taking over running this place is a big responsibility. I'm not sure I'm up to it."
"I wouldn't have recommended you if I didn't think you were up to it, but I don't want you to think I'm pushing you."
"I don't, I'm just...I'm just surprised, that's all."
"You'll have the whole summer to find a replacement for yourself so there shouldn't be too much pressure. And you know if you have any problems, all you have to do is call and I'm here."
"Are you sure about this?"
The conversation came to an abrupt halt when Carey suddenly sprang to her feet and ran across the room to break up a fight that had started between two girls. One of them was howling because she had been stabbed in the hand with the other girl's fork.
"You're gonna pay for this, you fucking bitch!" The girl balled her hand into a fist and caught the other girl in the nose.
"All right, break it up," Carey said as she grabbed the girl with the bloody nose and pulled her away before she could return the punch.
"She started it!" the girl with the bloody hand shouted.
"I did not, you—“
"I don't care who started it. Both of you drop and give me twenty."
The girls just stood there glaring at each other. "Now!"
The girls dropped and started their push-ups and Carey motioned for Donaldson to come over. "Take care of this for me, will ya? When they finish get them over to the infirmary to check on those injuries." Carey walked back to the table and dropped into her seat. "I just don't need this kind of stress in my life anymore, ya know?"
"I know."
"It used to be a challenge that I enjoyed, now I just want to be able to spend more time with Grace."
"What are your plans?"
"We're moving to the cottage. I'm sure I'll be able to find some kind of job that will allow us a more normal life." She looked around the room. "Because this isn't it."
Gage reached over and covered Carey's hand with her own. "I wish all the best for you, my friend. But I'm sure gonna miss you."
"I'll miss you too."
Carey put her book down when she heard a car pull up. A storm had rolled in the day before and she had insisted that Grace stay in Mohawk with Tom until it blew over. She met her at the door and helped her off with her coat. "I missed you," she said, as she pulled her into her arms. Grace wrapped her arms around Carey and returned the hug. "Did you?"
"Desperately." Carey released her hold and led her to the couch. "I told Sue that I'm leaving Sapling Hill today." She sat down and pulled Grace with her.
"How did she take it?"
"She was shocked, but I think she was happy about the promotion."
"I'm glad they accepted your recommendation," Grace said. "I think she'll do great."
Carey nodded. "I do too. Oh, I almost forgot to tell you, we got a postcard from the folks. They're having a wonderful time in Hawaii." She got up and walked into the kitchen to retrieve the card. "Look," she said, holding the card out as she returned. "They had it custom made with their wedding picture on it."
"I can't remember when I've seen my dad look this happy," Grace said, her eyes misting over with tears. It was a nice shot of the two of them. They were standing at the altar, facing each other, and Richard was slipping a ring on Barbara's finger. She wiped a stray tear away with the back of her hand, and looked up at Carey. "I don't believe this." She glanced at the postmark on the card. "They got married on Monday, and Tuesday they already had postcards to commemorate the event in the mail."
"I guess they were anxious to share their wedding with us, and with digital cameras and computers, they probably had the postcards in hand before they left the chapel." Carey laughed. "It was probably part of the wedding package."
Grace sniffled and leaned into Carey, the postcard clutched to her chest. "Can you imagine what it would be like to stand at the altar like that and pledge yourself to the one you love?"
"To tell you the truth, I've never given it much thought," Carey said. "I think it would be wonderful." Grace looked at the picture and smiled. "They look so happy."