Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 102834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
“And what did he have to say?” Mam asked as she came around the table holding a cup of tea.
“Well, he mentioned a preparatory course that Milly could complete in London before applying to study medicine in the UK.” Aunt Nell met my gaze. “There are many more opportunities over there, not only for completing your training but also for when you graduate and start looking for a job. I’d be willing to pay for the preparatory course, as well as the eventual degree, and you could live in my penthouse, which is empty half of the year anyway. It’s an option to consider.”
Just like that, my out-of-body feeling of failure dissolved as a little hope filtered back in. “You’d do that for me?” I asked in disbelief.
“You’re my niece and goddaughter, Milly. Of course, I would. I’d do anything to help you achieve your dream.”
At this, Mam began to well up, and I wasn’t far behind her. Happy tears trickled down my cheeks as I stood and went to throw my arms around my aunt, hugging her tight. Sure, I could’ve stayed home and repeated my Leaving Cert in the vain hope I might achieve enough points next time around, or I could go to London and actually start studying to become a doctor for real.
“Thank you. You have no idea what this means to me,” I gushed as she returned my hug with a big squeeze.
***
Later on, I was in a much better mood as I got ready for my night of celebrations with my friends. I never normally went out and usually hated this sort of thing, but after the day I’d had, not to mention an entire year of studying, I felt an unusual urge to let loose. Forget my social anxieties and just enjoy my time with my friends for a night. Everyone was meeting at Tara’s house, which was closest to the train station, and then we’d take the train into the city.
I wore a tight, dark blue dress that was a little outside of my comfort zone, but I wanted to show off my holiday tan. I’d gone shopping with Nuala, and she’d convinced me it was “the one.” A while back, we’d developed this little joke that if we could just find the perfect dress, we’d be able to seduce the boy of our dreams. She had no idea the boy of my dreams was her brother.
Sometimes I’d think of Derek and how he often looked at me and wonder if I even needed to look sexy to seduce him. Those looks, so heated and intense, made it seem like I could be wearing a bin liner paired with ratty, just woken up hair, and the liquid fire intensity in his eyes would remain.
The hardest part of moving to London would be leaving him. I hadn’t told him yet because I wanted to tell him in person rather than saying it in a text or over the phone. I mean, I loved my family with all my heart, but they were a constant. No matter if I went away and came back, my parents would always be there. But Derek. I felt like if I left then that would be it. Sure, we could continue our friendship with calls and texts and social media, but was it worth it?
I adored him, but I could never truly be with him, not unless I wanted to betray my aunt. My aunt who’d just offered me the solution to my troubles, who was prepared to pay for my college education and let me live in her apartment rent-free in London.
Aunt Nell had been there for me my entire life. And in return for her love and care, I would deny myself Derek Balfe. It was my cross to bear.
“Quit tugging at your skirt,” Tara scolded on our walk to the train station. “You look incredible. Own it.”
“I agree,” Nuala put in. “I don’t know how you manage to have such amazing legs when they’re so short, but you do. They need to be shown off.”
“Hey! I’m five-foot-four,” I protested. “I’m hardly a hobbit. Plus, these shoes bring me up to a respectable five-foot-seven.”
“The magic of heels,” Celine said with a big grin, the shine of vodka in her pretty hazel eyes. She’d gotten amazing results today, which would allow her to study Theoretical Physics at Trinity. We were supposed to go there together, and we’d commiserated back at Tara’s house when I’d arrived and informed them of my new plan to move to London with Aunt Nell. There’d been a few tears shed, and Nuala, in particular, seemed like she was going to miss me a lot. We’d only been friends for a year, but she’d become an intrinsic part of our little group. Nuala was going to study Irish and French as part of an Arts degree, while Tara planned on going to culinary school because she’d always wanted to become a chef.