Page 74 of Give Me Strength

Her face lights up with pride. “As you should, Lynn! I’m so proud of you.”

I grin, the excitement bubbling up again. “Thank you! Now I have to figure out those pesky little adult-ing details, like where to live. I’m torn between staying in the dorms or finding a place off-campus.”

She nods thoughtfully. “Both have their pros and cons.”

“I’ve been leaning towards the dorms,” I admit, twirling a strand of hair around my finger. “It seems like the best way to immerse myself in the Bayard experience, you know? And I think it would be easier to meet people that way.”

She nods again, her eyes attentive and warm. “That makes sense. Even though having your own place would offer more freedom and quiet, living in the dorms could be a great way to build a community right away. You can make some real and genuine friends, not the kind that fixate on the size of your wallet. Or, other things.”

I glance down at my hands, a slight blush creeping up my cheeks. “Yeah. It’s a lot to think about, and Gilbert’s been really supportive about it. He’s... really understanding.”

She catches my tone and raises an curios eyebrow, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. “Supportive, huh? That blush tells me there’s more to the story.”

I feel my cheeks heat up even more. “It’s nothing,” I mumble, looking out the window to avoid her knowing gaze. The city’s bustle seems distant, the car a cocoon of privacy.

Aunt Bonnie isn’t buying it, though. She leans in, a teasing glint in her eyes. “You were always a bit vague about him whenever we talked on the phone, but now that we’re here, you can’t dodge the question.”

I bite my lip, caught between wanting to keep things private and feeling like I can’t hide anything from her.

Her voice softens, and she squeezes my hand. “So, is there more to this supportiveness?”

After what feels like an eternity, my eyes meet hers again, a shy smile tugging at my lips. “Yes, there is. And I’m happy. He makes me happy.” Amongst other things.

Her face lights up with a warm, knowing yet approving smile. “I’m glad, Lynn. You deserve to be happy.”

As the car slows to a stop in front of the gates to the mansion, I fidget slightly, feeling the weight of what I’m about to say next. “Just... please don’t make it weird because of the age difference, okay? It’s been a bit of a thing with some people, and I don’t want it to be a thing with us.”

Her expression softens, and she squeezes my hand again. “Lynn, age is just a number. As long as you’re happy and he’s good to you, that’s what matters.” She pauses, a nostalgic smile tugging at her lips. “My first wife was 40 years older than me, and we had a beautiful life together, despite what anyone else thought.”

I blink in surprise. Aunt Bonnie rarely talks about her first wife, the Mrs. Walsh who passed away before I was born. “Really? I didn’t know that.”

Her eyes go distant with memory. “Yes. She was a wonderful woman. We had our share of challenges, but the love we shared, though short-lived, was worth everything. Don’t let anyone else’s opinions get in the way of your happiness.”

Her words resonate deeply, and I smile, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. “Thank you, Aunt Bonnie. That means a lot.”

We step out of the car, and the chilly spring breeze air greets us. As we make our way inside, we’re greeted by Melissa, whose face lights up with a warm smile as she sees Aunt Bonnie.

“I was beginning to think I’d have to retire again before you showed your face around here,” she teases, her voice full of genuine affection.

Aunt Bonnie returns her smile, stepping forward to give her a quick hug. “Yeah, well. Too busy saving the world, but it’s good to be back. How have you been?”

“Oh, keeping busy as always,” Mrs. Harris replies, glancing at me with a fond smile. “Ash has been doing well, but I’m sure she’s missed you.”

I grin, nodding in agreement. “Definitely. It’s not the same without you around.”

Elizabeth chuckles softly. “Well, I’m here now. At least for the next few hours, but then I really want to sleep in my own bed.” She gives me a pointed look. “It’ll be months before my next trip anyway.”

We head upstairs to the private living room, a cozy, sunlit space filled with comfortable chairs and bookshelves lined with novels and family photos. In the last few months, I added more family pictures of Mom, Rachel, and Aunt Bonnie to the space. And one of Dad.

Aunt Bonnie and I settle into the plush armchairs, and I pull out the papers Mr. Greenfield wanted us to go over. Standard stuff, mostly to do with the initial terms of the settlement. She chuckles as she reads through the new amendments that Mr. Greenfield wanted her to double-check.

“Looks like Gilbert got under Clement’s skin. Good for him!” She glances up from the papers. “What was Clement thinking, accessing your therapy records without your permission? Even if it’s from five years ago, he had no right.”

“Gilbert owns Aspen Groove. Maybe he wanted confirmation that those sessions weren’t a sham.” Why am I playing devil’s advocate for the man who ruined my life?

“Right.” Aunt Bonnie sarcastically drawls. “He must have missed the part where Gilbert was out of the country at the time. Or the medication you’ve been taking for the last five years.”

I shrug. “Or he probably thought he should’ve been entitled to know how his money was spent.”

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