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day was perfect.
    Angela knew about my relationship with my
family.  She knew it was a sure bet, if not a certainty, that my Dad would
forget my birthday altogether.  My Mom would call late into the night to
leave a message on my cell wishing me a happy birthday because of this dinner
or that meeting.  And that only Arthur and Elise would be home to
celebrate with me, as usual .  But, she went out of her way to make
sure I had the perfect birthday.  She was like that….sweet, thoughtful,
kind. 
    Placing the picture back on the nightstand, I
sigh.  Forcing myself up, I finish unpacking and wish for the millionth
time she was here with me.
    ***
    As we walk in to the chancellor’s office, Tommy
is walking out.  “Hello, Ladies.   Here to see Ms.
Chadwick?”  He’s still in his uniform but sans the shades.  His eyes
twinkle as he smiles down at me.  God, he is smokin’ .
    “Yeah, I have to get my schedule.”  I say,
trying to look up into his sparkling blue eyes, and failing
miserably.   My boot has become a sudden fascination.  
    “I came by to drop off the keys to the Towne car.”
He lightly lifts my chin up so he can see my face.   I freeze from
the contact, as the heat rushes to my face.  He slides his finger across
my chin before releasing it.  So casual, almost unnoticeable, but I feel a
connection lingering after he let’s go. 
    Man, I need to get laid...and preferably by
him.  Damn.
    The office chick gives us a snotty look and
says snidely, “Can I help you?” 
    “We are here for a three o’clock appointment
with Ms. Chadwick.  Can you please let her know we are here?” Aunt Patty
states, giving her an exaggerated, cold look.
    “Well, I’ll let you ladies go.  She
doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”  He smiles wide enough to show his
dimples.  “Amber, I was serious about showing you around.  Here’s my
number.”  He hands me a slip of paper, and I shove it in my jeans. 
    “Uh, thanks, Tommy.  I’d like that.” 
I smile shyly, still struggling to make eye contact.  I am such a nerd!
    “See you later, Lily.”  Tommy smiles and
waves at the blond ice princess.
    “Later, Tommy.”  Her lips curve into a
sunny smile.  Looking back at my aunt and me, all the warmth fades from
her eyes as she says, “I’ll show you back to the chancellor’s office.”
    As we walk back, Aunt Patty nudges me with her
elbow, smiling her encouragement.  Sighing, I roll my eyes.  But
inside?  I do a secret little happy dance.
    ***
    The meeting with the chancellor was quick.
 The meeting consisted of an introduction and getting my schedule. 
Ms. Chadwick tried to give me a hard time about my low GPA but Aunt Patty stood
up for me.  That was a shocker . 
    Lily is waiting for us as we leave the
chancellor’s office.  As we walk to the foyer, she stops and hands me
brochures and reading materials for the school, treating me to one last sneer
topped off with an eye roll.  She’s mildly polite to my aunt but
not overly so.  My aunt and I exchange glances and turn to walk out of the
office.
    As we walk to the exit door, my aunt leans into me saying, “Well, I sure
hope most of the girls at this school aren’t bitches like her.”  Aunt
Patty chuckles.
    “Yeah, I hope so, too,” I mutter.  We walk to the dorms in
silence.  As we walk up the stairs to the doors of Collin Hall, I ask,
“Did you ever wish you had gone back to school after you left your
husband?”  I never knew my uncle.  He was out of the picture when I
was still a toddler.
    Pausing as she reaches for the door handle, she says, “I would have like
to have gone back to college, but your grandmother was a stubborn woman. 
When she told me she was cutting me off, she meant it.  Even after I left
Larry, she stood her ground.  I didn’t have the money, and I had to
support myself.”  Her lips spread into a thin line.  “I was the black
sheep of the family - such a cliché,” she says, grimacing,