"Renting sucks," Grace said. "You pay all that money every month to someone else and you don't get anything for it."

"And with a mortgage you know that every month you're paying toward owning it outright," Carey said. "So one of your goals is to own your own house."

"I can't just put a simple answer down," Grace said. "Gage wants not only the goal but the means to get the goal."

"So think about what kind of house you want, where it would be, how much it would cost. Where you live makes a difference too. In Iroquois County, the tax rate is higher than up north in Seneca County."

"So if I buy in an area with a lower tax, it'll be cheaper for me to live," Grace said.

"It should, but keep in mind that there are other factors. If not, everyone would live in counties with lower tax brackets and turn the bigger ones into ghost towns. Let's take Seneca County. Many of the properties up there are on the lakes or up in the mountains, not near any supermarkets, schools, or even emergency services. I have a cottage on Lake Bragg and going to the store requires getting in the truck and driving around the lake if I want to use the little market in Packard. There's no grocery store on every other corner. If I want to go to a supermarket, that's a good hour drive."

"You could use up the savings just in gas," Grace said.

"Actually with planning the trips would be minimal, so there is a savings," Carey said.

"So you own a house?"

"It's a cottage," Carey said. "Want to see a picture?"

"Sure," Grace said enthusiastically, moving to the near end of the couch.

Carey opened the lamp-table drawer and pulled out a photo album. She found the right page and handed the album over.

"Big cabin," Grace said. "It's on the lake?"

Carey nodded. "North side. Biggest bass I've ever seen."

Grace flipped the page. "Is this your boat?"

"Yes. You can't see it in the picture but there's an outboard motor on the end. I built the fishing seats myself."

"Wow," Grace said, turning the page. "If I had a place like this, I'd never leave it."

Carey chuckled, knowing that feeling well. "Someday I'll retire and when I do, that's where I'm going. I love it up there."

"So why not live there now?" Grace asked.

"My goals," Carey-said. "I want to retire when I'm forty-five. In order to do that, I have to have enough money saved up to be able to live comfortably. The cottage and lake are ideal for tourists and hunters, so I rent out the cabin and put that money away."

"And you'll be able to quit working then?"

Carey shrugged. "Maybe. I might have to wait until I'm fifty. Depends on how my investments are doing."

"Wow, you're lucky," Grace said.

"Not luck, Grace, planning." Carey took a sip of soda, then set the can on the coaster. "When my father passed away, most of his estate went to my mother, but he left me some money. I bought the cottage even though I was still on active duty so I'd have a place to go when I was discharged. I rent it out to vacationers and hunters."

"Active duty. You mean when you were in the Coast Guard?" Carey nodded. "So you went from the Coast Guard to Sapling Hill?"

"I thought we were supposed to be talking about you and your goals," she said, taking another sip. "I served six years in the Guard, then came here. It'll be four years this August."

"So you get money from the renting and your paycheck here. You must be rolling in it."

Carey chuckled again. "I wouldn't say that, Grace, but I'm careful with my spending. I have monthly expenses living here like my phone and electricity. I have insurance on the truck and I pay a management company to oversee the rentals. I put money into my retirement and money market accounts, and I'm paying extra on my mortgage each month. It'll be paid off by the time I'm thirty-five. Again, what I have is because I planned long ago for what I wanted in the future."

"Uh-huh," Grace said. "Your cottage sounds really nice. I bet it's beautiful inside."

"It is," Carey said. "But when I retire I'm going to put an addition on the east side for a home office. I'm tired of doing my paperwork on that tiny little desk in the bedroom."

"So why not get a bigger desk for here?"

Carey held her arms out. "And where would I put it? Economy of space was the key when they designed this cabin. So, back to goals. Sometimes a sacrifice is required to make the goal a reality. And I think break time is over, young lady." She jutted her chin in the direction of the kitchen. "Back to work."

"All right," Grace sighed, rising from the couch. "I really like that cottage. Do you have more pictures?"

"Some, but I want to see some homework done and I want to see more practice questions for the GED test finished before I even think about showing them to you."

"Grace, it's five thirty."

The teen groaned and rolled over. "Okay, I'm up."

"Are you sure?" came the lightly teasing voice. "I don't hear any movement."

"I'm moving, just real slow," Grace said, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. "I'm not sure which I want more, the coffee or the bathroom."

"You're not making a puddle on my kitchen floor," Carey said. "Go. I'll make your coffee."

When Grace returned, a fresh mug of coffee was waiting for her on the counter. "You think you're ready?"

"As ready as I'm gonna be," Grace said, taking the mug and enjoying the first sip. "Either I know it or I don't."

"The GED isn't as hard as the SAT," Carey said. "You'll do just fine."

"What if I tank it?"

A reassuring hand squeezed Grace's shoulder. "You won't. I have faith in you."

"That makes one of us," Grace said, taking a sip. "So who's giving the test?"

"Instructor Donaldson," Carey said. "You'll be taking it in her classroom." She walked to the kitchen sink and rinsed her mug. "Look on the bright side, either way you're getting out of PT today."

"I'm not sure which is worse," Grace said. "I hate these kind of tests."

"I've got to go. You might want to break out the iron before you go to formation," Carey said. "Those creases looked a little weak yesterday."


FOUR MONTHS


“Ten hut!” Carey shouted. "All right, girls, it's pretty hot today, isn't it?"

"Yes, ma'am!"

"I bet you'd love it if we didn't have a run today, right?"

"Yes, ma'am!"

"We have a surprise for you girls today," she said, waving her hand to signal the other instructors. "For those of you who think only in terms of Schedule A and Schedule B, today is the fourth of July. For some reason the state doesn't think giving us a box of explosives is such a good idea, but hopefully what we have planned will make up for the lack of fireworks." Donaldson, Gage and Mitchell wheeled out large canvas bins, parking one in front of each of their squads, then headed back behind the building, returning a minute later with the last bin which they put in front of Bravo Squad. Carey made a show of wiping her brow. "Boy, it's really hot. Think we should do calisthenics?"

"No, ma'am!"

"But we need to get your PT in somehow," she said. "Well, I guess we'll have to do something different. Alpha and Bravo Squads, line up at opposite ends of the formation area facing each other. Charlie and Delta Squads, I suggest you move back...way back."

The girls took position and Instructor Gage stood between them. "Here's the rules. When the whistle blows, get your ammunition and fire. Direct hit and you're out. Ready?" Gage backed up out of range, then blew her whistle. "Go!" The girls ran for the bins, squealing with delight when they saw what their ammunition was. Red and blue water balloons went flying. The instructors scrambled to avoid being hit while calling out those who were soaked enough to be called out. They were only partially successful since a few were "accidentally" thrown at them. "Campbell, Rosetti, you're out," Carey called just before a balloon exploded against her back. Turning to see who the Culprit was, she found a horrified Grace looking back at her.

"It was an accident, ma'am," Grace said, dodging a red balloon aimed at her.

"It's all right, Waters," she said as the teen started heading back to the bin to get more balloons. "We have a little surprise for you later."

Bravo Squad won the first round while Delta defeated Charlie in their battle. Instructors Donaldson and Mitchell wheeled out two new bins, this time filled with large water balloons. "First one to empty their bin wins," Gage said, blowing her whistle. Since it was hard to reach the bottom of the bin, Bravo Squad took the rules to the letter and hoisted Latisha into the bin. What balloons she didn't break with her feet were handed to the others to throw at Delta Squad, allowing Bravo to handily defeat their opponents.

"All right," Jan said, giving Grace a high five. Together they helped Latisha out of the bin. "Girl, you are soaked."

"You think I am? Take a look at Scary."

"Damn, talk about the high beams being on," Jan said, causing Grace to turn her head and look across the formation area to where the instructors were standing. Carey's top was completely soaked, her sport bra and nipples visible even from the distance.

"Earth to Grace."

"Huh?"

"What planet are you on?" Jan asked, wringing the bottom of her shirt then tucking it back into her shorts. "Come on, Charlie still has some balloons left."

"Uh, yeah sure," Grace said, tearing her eyes away from Carey, or rather, Carey's bosom. Please let there be more water games later. She took two steps before she was pelted in the side of the head with one of the small water bombs. "Damn!" There was nothing gentle about the toss