Chapter 8
On my last day at the program, I stood in front of a crowded room beside Lila and our group.
We presented our results without losing our place. When a judge asked how we had handled readings that didn’t match, I told her we had tested those samples again. We showed what we had changed and why.
Our project received an award for teamwork.
I laughed when they called our names. I had come expecting to be the quiet student trying to catch up. Now Lila gripped my hand as we walked to the front together.
Dad and the others were there. After the ceremony, Ava held our certificate and read every word aloud. Caleb took a photograph of all of us. Vanessa offered to take another so he could be in it too.
I packed my room with Lila. She gave me a postcard with her address.
“Write when you test upstream,” she said.
“I’ll send pictures.”
“And tell me when you get better at admitting I’m right.”
“You first.”
We hugged beside the empty desks.
At home, my room looked the same. Ava had kept her promise about my seat at the table. She showed me a place card made of folded paper, with my name and six stars drawn across it.
Dad had made my favorite dinner. Vanessa joined us with Caleb and Ava. I had agreed when Dad asked earlier that week. I wanted to tell them all about the final project.
Halfway through the meal, Ava asked whether she could apply for an art camp next summer.
Vanessa put down her fork. I saw Dad glance at her. For a second, I braced myself.
“That sounds interesting,” Vanessa said. “What do you know about it?”
Ava explained that her teacher had mentioned it. It was nearby and lasted a week.
“Let’s get the information together,” Dad said.
“I’d like to see it too,” Vanessa added. “Ava, tell us what you’d want to do there.”
Ava began describing a painting she wanted to make. I watched Vanessa listen.
After dinner, I helped Dad clear the table. He said Vanessa would take Caleb and Ava to her place for the night.
“They know the plan,” he said. “We’ve been keeping the schedule on the calendar.”
I looked at the calendar by the refrigerator. Each child’s events and visits were written where everyone could see them. My return day was circled.
Dad followed my gaze. “I should have done more of that before.”
“It helps,” I said.
Vanessa came into the kitchen carrying plates.
“Can Nia and I talk for a minute?” she asked him.
Dad looked at me. I nodded. He went to check on Ava.
Vanessa set the plates beside the sink.
“I saw your final presentation,” she said. “You and Lila worked hard.”
“Thanks.”
“I wanted to ask something. When you go back to school, would you tell me about your projects sometimes? I know I haven’t made that easy.”
I leaned against the counter.
“I can,” I said. “But I want to be able to say when I don’t want to talk.”
“Of course.”
“And I don’t want you to say something’s silly because it matters to me.”
She looked at me carefully. “I won’t.”
I needed more than a promise. She seemed to know it.
“I’ll have to show you,” she said.
For the next month, she did.
She came to one of my science club meetings because I invited her. She asked questions afterward, and she listened to my answers. When Ava changed her mind about the art camp, Vanessa asked why before offering an opinion. Caleb told her when he was upset about something she said, and she stayed in the conversation.
Dad and Vanessa continued meeting with their counselor. They remained in separate homes. Some evenings I could tell they were tired after talking, but they didn’t ask us to settle things for them.
One night, Dad found me checking the family calendar.
“Are you waiting for a change?” he asked.
“A little.”
“If a plan changes, I’ll tell you. You can ask me anytime.”
I pointed to Saturday. “You’re coming to the creek with me?”
“It’s on the calendar.”
“You might have work.”
“I’ve arranged it.”
May you like
I smiled. “Caleb said you’d complain about the mud.”
“I will complain,” Dad said. “I’ll still be there.”
