GOOD SURPRISE

“This is definitely one of the best ideas you’ve ever had,” I told Josh a week later, cuddling back into his arms under the shade of our favorite oak tree at the center of the Easton Academy campus. I tore off a bit of the croissant I was holding and reached it up over my shoulder. He opened his mouth and snatched it from my fingers with his teeth.

“Agreed.”

Laid out in front of us was an old-fashioned picnic basket, overflowing with more croissants, fruit salad, one thermos of orange juice, and another of coffee. It was the morning of graduation, and all across the sunlit campus seniors strolled with their parents in suits and dresses, taking pictures in front of dorms and pointing out places of interest. There was this odd sense of finality in the air, mixed with the overwhelming, airy feeling of new beginnings. Flowers bloomed along the stone walks and bees buzzed from bud to bud. Birds chirped merrily overhead as a warm breeze tickled my bare arms. As much as I knew I would miss having Josh here with me next year, I couldn’t help feeling happy, hopeful. I didn’t want that feeling to ever end.

“I have a surprise for you,” Josh said, shifting his weight behind me. I turned my head to look up at him.

“Yeah?”

He extricated a piece of folded paper from his back pocket and handed it to me. I traded my croissant for the heavy paper stock, my pulse giving a little thrill. I had a feeling I knew what this was, and as soon as I unfolded the page, my hopes were confirmed.

Dear Mr. Hollis,

Welcome to Cornell University! We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted off the wait list and we have reserved a space for you in this fall’s freshman class.

“You did it!” I cried, throwing my arms up. My cast caught his chin with a crack.

“Ow!”

“Oh God. Sorry!” I circled my arms around him anyway and kissed the spot I’d bruised. “I’m so happy for you!”

“I know, but you don’t have to beat me up over it,” Josh joked, hugging me back. He buried his face in my shoulder and kissed the tip of my collarbone. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“Actually, you probably would have gotten in the first time if not for me,” I said pragmatically.

Josh pondered this, then clutched the back of my hair with one hand. “Possibly. But life would have been a lot less interesting.”

We both smiled and he leaned in to kiss me. I touched my fingertips to his face as we moved in to each other, savoring each and every last touch and sigh and breath. Everything felt crisper this morning. More real. More significant. I suppose that’s how everything feels at ends and beginnings.

Then someone cleared his throat nearby. Seriously nearby. Josh and I both looked up. Headmaster Hathaway glowered down at us. His skin looked almost gray, and his normally coiffed hair had a scraggly look about it. It was the first time I’d laid eyes on the man in a week, and Sawyer had been absent from campus all that time as well.

“Pardon me for interrupting.”

“Headmaster Hathaway,” I said, because I couldn’t think of anything else to say, couldn’t imagine what he wanted.

“I came over here to say I’m sorry. For what happened with Graham.” He lifted his eyes and looked out across campus toward the Billings construction site. “I had no idea he was so troubled.”

“What’s going to happen to him?” I asked.

“We’re not sure yet,” he replied. “Possibly jail time, definitely treatment . . . it’s too soon to say.”

“I’m so sorry, sir,” Josh offered. “For everything that’s happened to your—”

The depth of pain that flashed through the headmaster’s eyes as he looked at Josh stopped my breath. I put my hand on Josh’s arm and he stopped talking. Clearly, talking to Josh reminded the headmaster of Jen, and that was the last thing he needed to be dwelling on right now.

“We just both really hope that things get better for you,” I said, hoping it didn’t sound trite. “You and Sawyer . . . and Graham.”

“Thank you. Considering the circumstances, that’s very kind of you,” the headmaster said. “Obviously we won’t be back here next year.” He cleared his throat and turned to face me fully. “I wish you luck, Miss Brennan. With all your . . . endeavors.”

In the background we all heard a crash, and the headmaster flinched. I held my breath, but no shouts or screams came. Apparently it was a run-of-the-mill construction noise, nothing more.

“Thank you,” I told the headmaster.

“Well, then.” He tried for a smile, but it came out as a grim frown. “Have a good day.”

Then he turned on his heel and speed-walked away. I wondered if he was going to attend the graduation ceremony that afternoon. From the looks of it, probably not. He was practically leaving a fire track behind him as he hoofed it for Hull Hall. I was sure he couldn’t get out of here fast enough.

“Is it just me, or have we gone through a lot of headmasters?” I said, trying for levity as I leaned back into Josh’s waiting arms again.

“Three in two years? Yeah, that’s not normal,” Josh agreed, handing my croissant back to me.

“I wonder who it’ll be next year,” I said, taking a small bite. “If tradition holds, it’ll be someone who’s offended by my very existence and will do everything in their power to make my life miserable.”

“Nah,” Josh said with a smirk. “Fourth time’s the charm.”

I laughed and followed the headmaster with my eyes until he had disappeared inside Hull Hall. If he wasn’t coming back next year, that meant Sawyer wouldn’t be here either. I felt a pang of loss deep inside my chest and let out a sigh. So many people had come and gone out of my life lately. . . . It was getting old. But it also reminded me of who was truly important.

I tilted my head up and looked Josh in the eye.

“What?” he asked quietly.

“Nothing. I just love you,” I said.

Josh smiled and softly kissed my lips. “I love you, too.”