"Well, we went out to dinner but then Mr. Crenshaw wanted to go out for dessert."

"Who is Mr. Crenshaw?"

"Oh, he and his wife are friends of Tom's parents."

"And who is Tom? The guy you went out with?"

"Yes. He sits next to me in programming class. Is something wrong?"

"Wrong? What should be wrong? You're supposed to be studying, not out gallivanting around with God knows who."

"What are you upset about? Nothing happened."

"Only because you're lucky. Were you alone with him?"

"He picked me up and we met the Crenshaws at the restaurant. After the ice cream place they went back to their hotel and he drove me home. Nothing happened and he was the perfect gentleman. I didn't do anything wrong."

"You've never mentioned him before," Carey said. "How serious is this?"

"Oh, Carey, you sound like an overprotective father," Gage said from the kitchen.

"It's not serious. He needed a date for dinner with his folks' friends. That's all."

"So you're not going out with him again, right?"

"I'm going over to his apartment for dinner tomorrow." There was a pause. "He wants me to meet his boyfriend Stuart."

"Boyfriend? He has a boyfriend?" Carey glared at Gage as the diminutive woman began laughing hysterically. "Why didn't you tell me that before?"

"First, I didn't think it was important. Second, I didn't know I had to get approval from you to go out with someone, and third, you know how I feel." Carey heard the hurt in Grace's voice and felt guilty about upsetting her. "I'm not looking for anyone and I'm sorry if you were worried."

"I'm sorry, Grace," Carey said. "It's just that I called and she said you were out on a date and..." She leaned her forehead against the wall. "And I jumped to conclusions."

"It's nice to know you care."

"You know I care," Carey said. "I worry about you."

"I'm fine. Now, what are you doing up so late?"

"I'm um…Sue needed help grading essays," she said, earning a snort from Gage.

"Well, I won't keep you. When Mrs. Somers said you called twice I wanted to make sure everything was okay."

"Everything's fine, Grace. I'm glad you had fun tonight."

"I did. I'll write you all about it."

"Please do. I'll talk to you soon."

"Okay, good night, Carey."

"Night." Carey hung up the phone. "Don't say it," she warned.

"Say what?" Gage asked. "That you're acting like a jealous lover instead of a mentor?"

"He's gay. The guy she went out with. She was just covering for him with his parents' friends," Carey said. "She's not interested in him and he's got a lover."

"And you drove yourself nuts all evening for nothing," Gage said. "I did not," Carey said. "She's only eighteen, Sue."

"Legal in every state."

"That's not the point," she said. "I don't date teenagers."

"So what's the magic age for you?" Gage asked. "You'd better let Grace know so she has an idea how long she has to wait."

"That's not funny," Carey said.

"It wasn't meant to be. You're telling her you're not interested and then you freak out when she goes on a date. You're sending mixed messages, Carey."

"I didn't freak out," Carey said. "I'm her mentor, her friend. I'm allowed to worry about her."

"Keep telling yourself that," Gage said.


TWELVE MONTHS


Grace could not have been more excited. Spring break brought not only a week off from school but a promise from Carey that she could come visit since Sapling Hill was between sessions. Everything was packed and she was now waiting on the porch for the truck that would come, and more importantly, the woman driving it. "Come on, Carey, hurry up," she muttered, growing more anxious by the minute.

The second she saw the blue truck turn the comer she was on her feet and dragging her suitcase down the steps. "I thought you'd never get here," she said as Carey pulled the truck to a stop.

"Hello to you too." Carey unbuckled her seat belt and stepped out. "I told you I was coming," she said as she walked around the front of the truck. "You just have no patience."

"Hi," Grace said, a shy smile coming to her lips. "Can I get a hug?" At Carey's hesitation she added, "Friends hug, you know."

"I know," Carey said. "All right, a quick one and then let's go."

Grace paid no attention to anything said after she was given the go-ahead, wrapping her arms around Carey's waist and sighing happily.

"I've missed you so much," she said against the thick winter jacket.

"Going through another growth spurt?" Carey said, giving Grace a quick squeeze, then backing up and reaching for the suitcase.

"I think so," Grace said. Did you miss me too? "Either that or my jeans are getting shorter." She picked up her backpack and hoisted it into the bed of the truck, letting it fall with a loud thump.

"Don't dent my truck," Carey said, opening the passenger door and stashing the suitcase behind the seat.

Grace found her to be too close to resist and moved in for another hug. "I really missed you."

"I missed you too," Carey said, gently but firmly moving Grace back after a few seconds so she could get out from between the truck and the passenger door. "And that's enough hugs right now."

Grace looked down. "I'm sorry." Gentle fingers lifted her chin, bringing her face to face with soft brown eyes.

"I'm sorry too," Carey said. "I don't want to hurt you, but I don't want to feel uncomfortable either."

"I'll be good, I promise," Grace said. She forced a smile to her face.

"Well, okay, let's go."

"My God, Grace," Carey said as she hefted the backpack. "What is in this?"

"Books," the teen said. "Economics, Accounting, both computer courses and my English Compo You don't think the professors would give us a week off without piling on the homework, do you?"

"Ugh," Carey said. "Just don't ask me to help you with it. It's all over my head." She carried the backpack in and set it next to the closet. "Are you hungry?"

"Starved."

"I'll get dinner started while you get settled," Carey said, kicking off her sneakers.

"Want help?"

"I'll get it," Carey said. "You relax."

"Carey?"

"Hmm?"

"You wouldn't be in the mood for some of that great coffee you make so well, would you?" Grace asked, batting her eyes.

"You think that's going to convince me?" Carey leaned against the archway to the kitchen and crossed her arms.

Grace smiled. "I'll...clean the oven."

Carey shook her head. "It's self-cleaning. Try again."

"Um…I'll mop the kitchen floor?"

"Already mopped."

A devilish thought popped into the teen's head. "I'll be your slave for life." The words had the desired effect, wiping the smile from Carey's face.

"I was thinking more along the lines of doing the dishes," Carey said, turning away from Grace and going into the kitchen. "Behave."

"Mmm," Grace said as she took a sip. "I've missed your coffee."

Carey smiled. "Did you?"

"The closest I've found is a blend at the Coffee Bean, but it's almost two dollars a cup," Grace said. "Oh this is good."

"Two dollars? You spend two dollars on a cup of coffee?"

Grace took another swallow before answering. "It's one of my few extras," she said. "Only once or twice a week."

"I'll have to send you home with some," Carey said. "Do you have a coffeemaker?"

Grace nodded. "Dad sent me one. I don't have that many outlets so if I want to make coffee I have to unplug the laptop. Mrs. Somers doesn't allow extension cords or power strips."

"Are you ready for another cup?"

"I'll get it," Grace said, rising to her feet and reaching for Carey's mug. "Cream, no sugar, right?"

"Right, thanks."

"My pleasure," Grace said as she headed for the kitchen. Her back to Carey, she smiled as she filled the two mugs, taking enjoyment from being able to do even the littlest thing for the woman she cared about so deeply. "It must be nice to have a break from work," she said.

"It is," Carey said. "Five months with only every other Sunday off is hard. We deserve this month off, even if half of it is spent doing paperwork and getting ready for the next session."

"Was the last group better or worse than mine?" Grace asked, smiling at all the papers stuck to the refrigerator with ICC magnets.

"A slightly different mix, but about the same," Carey said. "The usual characters, the usual situations."

"I got a letter from Jan Bowen," Grace said as she returned to the living room. "She's working at the mall in Mohawk. Management trainee."

"Good for her," Carey said as she took her mug. "How are things going for you at the diner?"

"It's okay," Grace said. "I hate being on my feet so long and having to bus the tables, but the tips are decent and dinner is free." She sat down on the couch and tucked her left leg beneath her. "The customers can really suck sometimes, though."

"Decided to let your hair grow out?"

"Too busy to get it cut," Grace said. "Do you like it?"

"As long as it's all one color," Carey said.

"I don't do that anymore," Grace said. "But did you like it shorter?"

Carey smiled. "Grace, what I like or don't like doesn't matter. It's your hair. Wear it the way you want to."

"But—“

"Shorter," Carey said.

Grace smiled. "You like short hair'?"

Carey nodded. "I'm partial to short hair," she admitted.