Everything inside her was singing, not just the trees.
It was finally really, truly, irrevocably real.
'I need to tell Mom. Want to come?' she asked Grandpa.
He hesitated. 'Love to, but I can't. We had another emergency—some alum has sold his photos to an obscure tabloid. We're maneuvering to buy the tabloid.' Since June, the Old Boys had had their hands full pulling strings, leaning on the media, and planting information to try to bury the truth of what had happened. 'Sometimes I wish I'd never left the flower shop,' Grandpa said, making a face. Lily knew he didn't mean it. He was the new leader of the knights, and Lily had never seen him so happy. He whistled all the time, often starting at six a.m., which was less than charming, especially since her new bedroom was next to his. 'Tell your mother that I'll come on Sunday.'
'Will do,' she said. She hugged him.
He frowned at her. 'Put on your coat. Your mother would never forgive me if I let you freeze.'
Obediently, Lily fetched her coat. She kissed his cheek, and then she grabbed Tye's hand and headed across campus. He laughed as she dragged him faster down the sidewalk and through the 1879 Hall arch.
Both of them waved up at the monkey gargoyles, and the monkeys waved back. One of them skittered down the brick. Tye paused to scratch him under the chin, which made a sound like scraping stone. Lily waited for him impatiently.
They crossed the rest of campus in less than three minutes.
Together, they plunged through the gate. Tye waved up at the gold eagles. 'Hey, guys. Guess what?' He pointed to Lily's letter. She grinned as the eagles screeched approval. 'You go ahead,' Tye said. 'You should tell your mom the news without interlopers.'
'You're not an interloper,' Lily said. 'She likes you.'
'I'll report to the council,' he said.
'Thanks,' she said. This time, she pulled him closer and kissed him. Above, the gold eagles whistled. Both Lily and Tye laughed as they moved apart.
She headed into the forest. Touching the bark of an evergreen, she felt its song whisper through her. The ferns and underbrush spread away to create a path for her. Lily broke into a jog and then a run as the path opened before her, leading to Mom's grove.
Mom was waiting for her. She looked as beautiful as a green goddess. Her pale green hair wreathed her head like a crown, and flowers clung to her skin and her dress. Ivy vines were twisted around her arms and calves, and tiny rosebuds filled her pockets. 'Lily, is anything wrong? The trees told me—'
Lily barreled into her and hugged her. 'It's real! I'm in! Look!' She waved the acceptance letter in front of her.
Mom laughed.
Without knowing exactly why, Lily began to cry. She hugged her mother, and her mother hugged her back and laughed and cried, too.
'Your father would be so proud of you,' Mom said.
Lily wiped her eyes. 'You remembered more?'
Mom's smile lit the grove like a mini sun. All around, leaves burst out of the trees in defiance of winter. 'Oh, yes,' Mom said. 'I remember him perfectly.'
'Tell me everything,' Lily said.
Tapping the ground with her foot, Mom caused a tree root to buckle up through the earth. She sat down on it and patted the spot next to her. Lily sat. 'Your father was a wonderful man,' Mom said, 'for a human.'
'Mom!'
Her mother laughed. 'He had your eyes and your laugh, and he loved you so much. One time, when you were just a baby ...' Around them, the forest fell silent, as every tree listened with Lily.
