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years of room and board?” I asked.
    “Now there’s an idea,” Tara said, but there was a smile in her voice. Even she had started to relax.
    “I really hope it’s that pony I’ve always wanted.”
    Liam’s eyebrow cocked up. “I had no idea you rode.”
    My eyes widened and I choked back a laugh. Horror flashed across his face when he realized what he said.
    “Be good,” he whispered, lightly pinching my arm, which sent a shiver running through me. Being good wasn’t easy around Liam.
    But the naughty thoughts vanished when I tore open the envelope.
    “This is a check for $60,000.” My voice was barely a whisper. I wasn’t even sure I had spoken.
    “It should cover the rest of your time at Olympic State and then some,” Dad said.
    “We’ve been paying your bills too long,” Tara added.
    “What your mother means,” Dad jumped in, “is that we trust you and we support you staying at Olympic State. We hope to alleviate some of your stress with that money in your bank account.”
    “You should create a budget as soon as you get back, so that you don’t...” Tara trailed off as my Dad shot her a warning glare.
    “Well, I have been planning a killer kegger,” I said.
    “Your sense of humor alludes me,” she said.
    “I’m kidding, Mom.” I paused awkwardly, looking for the right words. Liam squeezed my shoulder, and I realized all I needed to say were two simple words. “Thank you.”
    “Of course, you don’t have to stay at Olympic State,” Dad continued, ignoring that my mother was now glaring at him. “You’re a smart girl, Jillian. Do what’s best for you.”
    There were so many implications in that statement, I didn’t know where to begin. I couldn’t quite wrap my head around it. No more threats of not paying my tuition. No more demands that I return home. I could do anything I wanted now. I felt liberated and overwhelmed at the same time.
    “I should get breakfast in the oven,” Tara announced. It was clear she had mixed feelings about this present, and suddenly all her worrying and criticism this last week made sense. She’d known she was about to hand me my freedom, so she’d tried to condense another couple of years of Tara’s special brand of mothering into seven days. She’d said plenty of things that hurt me this week, but at least I understood where she was coming from now. Jumping to my feet, I lunged, wrapping my arms tightly around her.
    “Thank you,” I whispered.
    “I love you, Jillian,” she said in a soft voice, tearing herself away and excusing herself once more to the kitchen.
    She was never good at public—or for that matter, private—displays of affection.
    My Dad accepted my hug with more spirit, which brought tears to my eyes. My family wasn’t perfect, but who’s was? We stepped away from each other and the awkwardness I was more accustomed to set in.
    “Fire’s dying,” Dad said suddenly. “I’ll go get more logs.”
    The fire was still roaring with life, and I knew my dad well enough to spot an excuse. It wasn’t until after he left that it hit me that he was giving Liam and I a moment alone. Liam hadn’t said anything since my parents gave me the envelope, and now a slightly smug grin rested on his face.
    “You knew!” I wagged a finger at him.
    “Your dad told me,” he admitted, crossing the room to take me in his arms. “It was why I didn’t go ballistic on your mum this week.”
    “I can’t believe you kept it a secret.” Despite being mildly annoyed with him, I buried my face in his chest, longing for the feeling of normalcy I experienced when I heard his heart beat.
    “I’m good at secrets,” he said. “I even have one of my own.”
    I pulled away and stared at him. “A secret?”
    He nodded, his grin bursting into a full smile. Reaching over to the tree, he plucked a tiny silver box from its branches.
    “That’s why you were downstairs last night.”
    “I wanted to hide it until I could get you alone.” He offered