I turned off the computer and checked my phone.
Tyler had texted me four times.
I called him when I walked out.
“Hey, sorry I was in the library.”
“No, I just wanted to see if you wanted to meet up for dinner?”
I smiled. “Yes, Camryn will be joining us is that ok?”
His silence made me nervous.
“That’s ok right?”
“Yeah, sorry. I got a text from mom. I’ll see you there.”
He hung up. I made my way to the dining hall, still frustrated I couldn’t figure out the story of Elizabeth’s family. Camryn waited at the doors; her jacket unbuttoned.
“Aren’t you freezing?”
“No, I’m dying actually. The workouts were brutal today. Besides, it is March. That is the time of Spring Break!”
“It’s March tomorrow, and people don’t come to Caldwell Idaho for Spring Break.” We found our table and dropped our stuff and headed back to the food line.
“Where’s your lover boy?”
I rolled my eyes, “He got a text from his mom, he’s on his way.”
We sat down with our plates, and Tyler arrived. “Hey babe.” He smiled at me and kissed the top of my head. He went to get food, before I could ask him about his mom’s text.
Camryn started telling me about practice and her PR, which I wasn’t sure was a big thing, but luckily Tyler sat down right at moment.
“You PR’d today? That’s awesome Cam! Shot or disc?”
“Shot.” Camryn smiled mischievously.
“Damn, you’re a bad ass.” He took a bite of salad and kept talking. “I never understood how girls could throw like that.” Camryn glared at him, “No, that’s not what I mean. I mean, I know guys who can’t throw that far. You guys are awesome.”
Tyler was in a really good mood, I noticed.
“Hey, so how’s your mom?”
“She’s awesome. She found everything she needed. She meets with our attorney tomorrow. They will file all the papers, and honestly it should be a done deal,” his smile radiated over his whole face. I realized at that moment how stressed he really had been. This was the smile from early in the year.
“I’m so glad. Really.”
“Yeah, she kind of earned her keep, didn’t she?” Camryn nodded to me with a wink, and Tyler laughed.
He took the comment to heart, “Yeah, she’s a keeper for sure.” And he reached over to kiss my head again.
After dinner, we headed to study for a while. Tyler asked if I was open to hanging out in our basement. I agreed, sure that for once we would be alone.
We did try to study, for a little while, but Tyler’s kisses kept distracting me. Finally, I gave in, thankful that his grandfather had truly passed on.
The dorm hallway contained Brock again, but I had learned how to drop the curtain as soon as I saw him. He wasn’t going to mess with me anymore. He was alone and miserable, and that was just the way it should be.
The next day I met with Dr. Eyebright. I bounced to our appointment. Her door was slightly open, so I pushed it further.
“Hang on Eve.” Dr. Eyebright was on the phone.
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” I ducked out of the door and waited for her to finish.
“Miss Mills, come on in.”
I walked in, sitting dutifully in the chair, “I’m sorry, I saw the door open.”
Dr. Eyebright waved her hand, “It was fine, we were just finishing up.” She leaned in, “So how are you doing?”
I bubbled over with all that had happened. I couldn’t wait to tell her about all the details. “The only problem is, I can’t find out any information about Elizabeth. I have searched books, the internet, nothing. The families who lived in the house are listed as residents, but nothing else is really said after that. I found burial records of two in a local cemetery, but nothing about Elizabeth.”
Dr. Eyebright thought for a moment. “Honestly. Local history hasn’t ever been my forte, but I know that the college used to have a historian. He retired a few years ago, but he had an assistant who is now in the natural history museum. You could reach out to her. Miss Coolie may be able to help you.”
We chatted for a bit more.
“Oh, and I do leave on sabbatical in March.”
“It is March.”
She smiled sweetly, “I leave at the middle of the month. I will be observing the spring equinox abroad. I won’t be back until fall.”
“I didn’t know you could leave in the middle of a semester.”
She laughed, “Well, I only have a few graduate students this semester. We will be done with our part, and the rest of the time, they will be compiling their thesis materials.”
“So, this is it for us meeting?” My face fell a little.
“Oh, Miss Mills, I will be back, but for now, yes this will be the end of our time. Please don’t fear however, I feel we have made great strides in getting your gifts in order and in check. I am very pleased at how things have come along, aren’t you?”
I nodded, “Yes, but I really enjoy this. Sorry, I’m being selfish.” Tears started to leak. Oy with the emotions already.
She reached across the desk and touched my hand, “I do not believe our journey is over, this is just a pause in our path.” She patted lightly, “Now stand up and give me a proper hug.”
I did and felt guilty that the tears showed spots on her top as I pulled away.
We said our goodbyes and I headed back to the dorm.
I had learned a great deal from her, and I knew I would see her again, it was just
