Page 69 of Meant to Be

“Cate. You had a different path. You’re self-taught and self-made. You’ve traveled the world. Shit, you speak fluent French. That’s more impressive.”

“More impressive than what? A Harvard degree?” she said. “I don’t think so….”

“Well,Ido,” I said. “And I know my mother. Can she be a snob? Yes. Absolutely she can. But she knows substance when she sees it. And more than anything, she values strength of character and authenticity, and you are drowning in both.”

Cate gave me a small smile, looking dubious, then said, “Okay. But there’s something else I need to tell you….”

“What’s that?” I said.

She bit her lip and took a deep breath. “It’s really embarrassing.”

“You can tell me,” I said softly. “Whatever it is…”

She swallowed, then met my gaze, her cheeks an even deeper shade of pink. “Well, in addition to, um, not going to college…I actually…didn’t finish high school….”

“Oh,” I said. It wasn’t at all what I expected—and I had to admit, I could see why she was so embarrassed—but I did my best to reassure her. “That’s okay, honey. Who you are matters to me—not how much formal schooling you’ve had. You can be educated without degrees.”

She shook her head, looking so miserable, like she might cry. “I don’t know, Joe. I really don’t think your mother will see it that way.”

“Yes. She will. She knows that some of the world’s most successful people…didn’t finish high school,” I said, stumbling a bit as I did my best to avoid the wordsdropped out.

“Name one,” she said. “From this century.”

“I can’t come up with examples like that…but there are plenty…. Pretty sure John Travolta’s one…. And my mom loves that guy. She sawGrease,like, ten times. It’s the first video she bought when we got our VCR.”

“So because your mother likesGreaseshe’s going to be okay with me being a high-school dropout? I don’t think so,” Cate said, but at least she was smiling. “Your family represents pedigree and good upbringing to the vast majority of people in this country. I hardly think your mother is going to be okay with this.”

“Look. You left home for a bigger opportunity, right?”

“Well…yeah…among other things…”

I wanted to ask about those other things but assumed it was money and didn’t want to make her more uncomfortable. “Well, how is that different from Travolta?”

“He’s a tad bit more successful than I am.”

“He’s more famous. Not more successful.”

“Oh my God, Joe. Be serious,” she said with a laugh. “Yes, he is!”

“Okay,” I said, trying another angle. “Do you regret your career in modeling? All the experiences you had because of it?”

She hesitated, then said, “Well…yes and no…”

“Hey! The answer better be no!” I said. “We wouldn’t have met if you weren’t a model.”

She nodded, then said, “I know. I’ve thought of that…and I really was able to see the world because of that job. Places I never otherwise would have gone. But still…everyone should graduate from high school.”

“Okay…so go get your GED,” I said with a shrug. “It’s never too late to go to college, either, if that’s what you want. And if you don’t, that’s fine, too. You have a great career and you’re smart as hell. At the end of the day, it’s really just a piece of paper….”

“Again. I really don’t think your mother will agree.”

“Yes, she will. It’ll all be fine.”

“Are you going to tell her?”

“I don’t think it’s necessary to make some big announcement. But if it comes up, we tell the truth. And if she doesn’t like it—”

“Which shewon’t—”

“Then her loss,” I said, raising my voice a little.

“You don’t mean that,” she said.

“Yes, I do,” I said. “I absolutely do.”

She stared at me for a few seconds before thanking me in a whisper.

I shook my head, then said. “You don’t have to thank me. That’s just basic shit…. Loyalty 101.”

“Maybe,” she said with a small smile. “But I can still thank you.”

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