being able to finish the degree in seven years. What if you got sick yourself? What if there was a family emergency? What if things happened in the world that changed everything?”
Baby leaned forward. Maybe there was something in the will he didn’t know about, some way that would give him more time. “And?”
“Albert—Pop—had complete and utter faith in you. He said he didn’t care if it was World War Three, that you would figure out a way to do whatever it was you set your mind to. He believed in you without fail.”
Baby rested his head in his hands, leaning his elbows on his knees. Hearing this, knowing he wasn’t going to be able to succeed, made it worse.
“There were things Pop didn’t know. About me. Challenges. This isn’t a matter of not wanting to do it or not being willing to work hard enough. I can’t finish all three of the classes I have left in one semester.”
Literature, English 101, and Intro to Composition.
Clifford put his glasses back on. “Baby, in terms of the will, there’s no way around it. If you don’t finish the degree by May, then Oak Creek Garage goes up for sale. Now, you can buy it when it goes up for sale. Nothing against that. The price will be fair market value.”
Baby looked up at the older man. “It’s not that I don’t want to spend my money, I have some saved.”
“But Nation Value Automotive is going to be able to pay more than whatever you can afford. I know. They call here once a month, especially knowing that everything changes in May. They don’t know the particulars of the will, but they know the garage might come up for sale.”
A weight settled in Baby’s chest.
“Listen, completely off the record, not talking to you as a lawyer and all but a random person... All I need is a piece of paper in May saying you got your degree. How you finish these last three classes...”
Cheating. That’s what Clifford meant, even if he wasn’t saying it out loud.
He wasn’t wrong. Baby wouldn’t be the first college student to pay someone to write some papers so he could pass a class. Hell, before he dropped out of high school, someone did his homework for him all the time, though he’d never paid anyone. He’d been popular enough that people had offered. He hadn’t really thought of it as cheating then, but definitely didn’t have that luxury now.
“Look,” Clifford continued. “All I’m saying is that I know Albert wanted you to have that garage. This whole college plan was never meant as some sort of test for you to prove that you were worthy. Albert never had any doubt you could do it. He wanted you to run his garage and spoke highly of you and your love of Oak Creek. So, if you need to do something... untraditional to get those last few credits, then I’m not sure you should lose any sleep over it.”
Baby stood and shook his hand. “I guess either way, I’ll see you in May.”
A couple of hours later, Baby was sitting on a bench at Teton State College. He hadn’t gone back to the garage after his appointment with Clifford Reed. He’d driven around, and then found himself here, wanting to catch Quinn as she came out of her afternoon class.
He could see her from where he sat, although she hadn’t spotted him yet. She had her laptop case slung over one shoulder and was talking to two female students, one on either side of her. He watched as she stopped, got her computer out of her bag, and balanced it on one arm, answering whatever question they had.
Her hair was down.
Not natural and curly as he preferred, but at least not pulled back in the severe bun.
She nodded at the young woman on her left when the girl pointed to something on the computer and understanding lit across her features. Quinn smiled widely, nodding again, obviously delighted that the girl grasped what she was saying.
And in that moment, Baby knew he couldn’t do it. He couldn’t cheat and finish those classes in some unethical way. It wouldn’t have been what Pop wanted, and it wouldn’t be what Quinn wanted, either.
Hell, it wasn’t what he wanted.
He wasn’t kidding himself. The chances of him being able to pull this off himself was pretty much nonexistent. But the thought of telling Quinn or anyone else the secrets he’d kept buried for most