Page 36 of Falling for the Recluse

I blink. “My next installment? That’s not possible.”

She turns the monitor toward me. It’s definitely my record, but in the Amount Due box are the wordsPaid in Full.

“It’s not just your next installment,” she tells me. “Your tuition has been paid off completely. Including room, board, books, and all other fees.”

“For…for the semester?” I stammer, still not processing her words.

“For the rest of the year and your senior year.” She studies the screen. “There’s a stipulation that if you want to continue longer than four years or attend grad school here, that tuition will be paid as well.”

“I’m sorry, but there must be a mistake.”

“Not according to your record.” She shrugs and turns her attention to the keyboard. “I wouldn’t question it if I were you.”

She gestures for the next student in line to come forward. I grab my bag and walk out, still not understanding.

How can my tuition be paid in full? For the next two years and beyond? Did my parents win the lottery and not tell me?

The only other explanation makes no sense. Would Gavin pay my tuition? If so, why? Especially after the way we parted? And full out-of-state tuition to Stanford is a small fortune, so if he paid it out of his own pocket…

I shake my head and hurry to the biology lab. After sitting at the computer, I call my mother on my cell. Before we’re even finished exchanging greetings, I mention the tuition payment.

“Did you and Dad strike oil in the backyard?” I ask.

She laughs. “I was going to ask you the same thing about our mortgage.”

I sit back, stunned. “What about the mortgage?”

“We received a notice that it was paid in full.” She sounds both excited and baffled at the same time. “I mean, we’re thrilled and grateful obviously, but we have no idea how it happened, and frankly, it doesn’t make any sense. Is there some billionaire running around paying off mortgages and tuitions anonymously?”

“I don’t know, Mom.” I tell her I’ll call her later, then end the call. I put the phone slowly back into my bag.

Gavin?

I start to write him an email, then stop. If it’s not him, I’ll feel stupid for even asking. And if itishim, that opens up a whole other slew of questions. I’m almost afraid of what the answers might be.

I turn to the computer and bring up the data on the diving behavior of Adélie penguins. Despite this new shock, I have to focus on my work and upcoming lecture.

“Tonight’s the night!” My friend and fellow student Brenda comes into the computer lab. “Are you nervous? Excited? Nervous and excited?”

“A little of both,” I admit. “Which I guess means I’mner-vited.”

“You’re going to be great.” She sits in a chair near me, dropping her backpack on the floor. “What are you wearing?”

“A dress.”

She groans. “Come on, Josie. Glam it up a little. Tonight isyournight.”

“Tonight is the penguins’ night,” I correct.

“But you’re their biggest advocate.” She leans forward. “You need tosparkle.”

Though I feel anything but sparkly, I know she’s right. Tonight is the final part of my internship—I’ve been invited to deliver a lecture about the penguins at a high-end wildlife fundraiser at the California Academy of Sciences aquarium in San Francisco. I’ll be representing the Penguin Research Group and explaining my research and conclusions.

After the lecture, there’s a cocktail reception—and apparently, many of the guests will be powerful people who can approve future scientific funding and projects. It would be stupid of me not to try to interest them in my work, and dressing nicely won’t hurt.

“Okay.” I push away from the computer and turn to Brenda. “Will you help me sparkle?”

She grins. “I thought you’d never ask.”

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