“How come he gets to come and go as he pleases,” Raeanne asked, “while the rest of us have to follow the rules?”
“We have to celebrate somehow,” Sofia said. Her eyes sparkled as she shot out of her seat. “Group skinny-dip!”
Sanderson and Jeremiah laughed, but the women didn’t.
“Group balcony jump,” Sofia tried again, prancing on the tips of her toes. I assumed she was joking, but no one was laughing anymore.
“Calm down, dear,” Ruth said. “We’ll have the cake soon enough.”
Sofia shook her head for a beat too long. “We’re supposed to be more alive than everyone else, aren’t we? What happened to leading by example?” When no one answered, she threw up her hands. “Fine, I’ll celebrate Kit alone.” She took off for the door with surprising speed.
Ruth sighed, slumping in her chair. “Every day I break my back for you kids, and this is the thanks I get?”
“I’ll go,” Jeremiah said. Raeanne raised an eyebrow, but he ignored her. “I’m proud of you, kiddo,” he said to me as he jogged after Sofia.
An urge to hug him washed over me—but of course I wouldn’t.
I gestured to the kitchen. “I’m going to grab some food while we wait for Gordon. Thank you guys again.” I grinned at my new quirky family and left to grab a plastic tray. Pot roast again. I filled my plate and was about to head back to the staff’s table when a voice nearby called my name. I swiveled. April.
She was sitting with Georgina, waving me over. I paused by their table. “Maximized day,” I said, trying the phrase on for size. It sat awkwardly in my mouth but I was sure I’d get used to it.
“Eat with us.” Georgina patted the seat next to her. “We haven’t talked in forever.”
I gazed longingly at the staff table. They were deep in conversation, likely discussing plans for the newest course that Teacher wanted to create for advanced students—Increasing Your Pain Tolerance. Resigned, I sat next to Georgina and began to eat.
“What’s with the party hats?” she said. We’d been sitting in silence for at least a minute.
“I actually have some exciting news.” I grinned. “Tea— . . . Rebecca offered me a staff position.” Something told me the two of them would find it weird that I called her Teacher now. I shouldn’t have cared what they thought—fear of rejection was getting the best of me.
“Here?” Georgina said.
“Permanently?” April asked.
I nodded, my smile fading at the doubt on their faces.
“Congratulations,” April said.
“Yeah, congrats,” Georgina echoed without enthusiasm.
We ate in silence for another minute. I could hear April chewing the tough meat.
“So you’re just going to live here forever?” Georgina finally asked.
I shrugged. “As long as it’s working for me, why not?”
April nodded quickly. “I’ve learned a lot here too.” She hesitated. “What about patching things up with Nat?”
“I’ve been trying to get a handle on my own improvement before I rope her in.”
“What about your career?” Georgina said.
I snickered. “What career?”
“Getting married, then? Having kids? Sex?” The joke fell flat when I didn’t laugh.
I shrugged again. “I’m making a difference in people’s lives.” I pierced a chunk of potato with my fork, said to the spud, “I thought you’d understand.”
“If you’re happy, I’m happy,” April said. She reached for my hand. I jerked it away. These two were always forgetting the no-touching rule.
“We’re watching out for you. That’s all,” Georgina said.
No, they were trying to hold me back. This was a six-month lark for them, a story for the grandkids. They would forget everything they’d learned as soon as the ferry returned them to Rockland. Teacher had been right about these two.
“Some of us take this program seriously.”
“I never would have signed up,” Georgina said, “had I known taking the program seriously required lifelong confinement.”
April shot her a glare. I blinked rapidly, trying not to cry.
“Why can’t you be happy for me?” I stood and picked up my tray.
April startled. Georgina’s mouth fell open. For once she had nothing to say.
I headed for the staff table. “Enjoy the rest of your stay.”
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