Time After Time (Sweetbriar Cove #14) - Melody Grace Page 0,57

Ball, hung out with everyone. Aunt June dressed up as Dolly Parton,” she added. “She treated us all to a song.”

“Did you see Aidan?” Matty asked, giving her a sideways look.

Stella felt her cheeks flush. “Yes, I did.”

“So… Are you guys, like, together now?”

“I don’t know just yet,” Stella replied carefully. “But I like him, and I’d like to see more of him.” She glanced over. “What would you think about that?”

Matty shrugged. “He’s cool, I guess.”

He fell silent, texting on his phone and listening to music until they’d almost reached Sweetbriar Cove again.

“So, Bryce and Laurie were telling me about the future astronaut club they have at Hillcrest,” he said, speaking up suddenly. “They have real-life astrophysicists video in and give lectures, and they’re working on designing robots that will work in space. Next year, they’ll even get to go to space camp, with NASA.”

“That sounds great, honey,” Stella said, merging on the highway.

“And Laurie is on the debate team,” Matty added. “She says colleges really like that kind of stuff. To show how well-rounded you are.”

“You could join the team at your school,” she reminded him.

“Yes, but nobody takes it seriously, it’s just an excuse to miss gym class and gossip.” Matty slumped lower. “And there are hardly any AP classes, or college prep, and nobody’s gotten into an Ivy League school in like, years!”

Stella stifled a smile. He was worrying about colleges already? “Your grades are great, honey, and we’re still a few years out from college,” she pointed out. “When the time comes, we’ll figure out a plan. Make sure your applications are just as well-rounded as Laurie and Bryce.”

“I know, but… What if I went to Hillcrest, too?” Matty asked, his voice rising with a hope that made Stella wince.

“You know we can’t afford it.”

“But, there are scholarships, and special grants—”

“Which would only cover a portion of the costs.” Stella cut him off, before he could get carried away. “I’m sorry, sweetheart, I know how much you miss your friends. But do you know how much tuition costs at a school like that?”

“No.” Matty answered in a small voice.

“Probably half of what I make in a year, plus living expenses, and uniforms, and trips…” Stella couldn’t imagine the final bill, but she knew it was way out of her league. “You just need to hold on, and focus on your grades for a few more years, and we’ll get you into a good college, I promise.”

“I don’t want to hold on,” Matty said stubbornly. “I want to go to Hillcrest.”

“And I’ve already said, it’s not possible.” Stella tried to keep her cool.

“But I never ask for anything!” Matty exclaimed. “I do my chores, and all my homework, and I don’t bug you for new sneakers even when the rest of the kids have them, and I’m the only one stuck wearing last year’s trend! When Paulie Lucca got straight As for a whole semester, his parents bought him a car!”

Stella felt a pang. She hated this. She’d tried to shelter him from all their financial trials; the years when she was still studying, and it had been impossible just to make ends meet. The evenings she’d stayed up late, trying to make the long list of numbers add up to anything good; all those sleepless nights when she’d prayed the furnace would last another winter, or the truck wouldn’t need fixing until after her next check cleared.

She’d wanted to spare Matty the stress of knowing just how precarious their lives had been, but now she wondered if she’d made a mistake. Sure, things were more stable now her business was thriving, but it had only been a few years ago she’d been shopping for them in thrift stores, and gladly accepting hand-me-downs. She couldn’t forget that, not yet.

“You know comparing your life to anyone else never works out,” she tried to comfort him. “The Johanssons can afford different things for Bryce and Laurie, but it doesn’t mean they’re any better than us. We just have to be more careful with our money, that’s all.”

“But—”

“No.” Stella insisted more firmly, as they pulled up outside the farmhouse. “I won’t argue about this. The subject’s closed.”

“You don’t understand!” Matty exclaimed angrily. “I hate it there! I could have friends at Hillcrest, I would fit in! Instead of people looking at me like I’m some kind of freak, just because I read a fucking book!”

“Matty, language!” Stella said, warning him, but Matty was already wrenching open the passenger door.