Page 82 of Colton’s Inferno

Ted stared at her for a moment. Then, he slowly nodded his head. “I can.”

Lucy held out her hand for Ted to shake. He gripped her palm.

“Then…” Even she heard the tremor in her voice. “We have a deal.”

Chapter 21

Tuesday, September 13 Early morning

Aiden woke in the dark and stretched out his arm. The back of his hand brushed the cool sheets and nothing else. He sat up, the blankets pooling around his waist. The bed was empty. Lucy was gone. He glanced at his phone, which was hooked to a charger on his bedside table.

5:14 a.m.

It was early to be awake—even for Lucy. But the glow from an electric light surrounded the cracks in his bedroom door. Without question, she was already up. Yesterday evening, after she had agreed to sell the Five Steers Ranch, Aiden had urged her to talk about her feelings. She’d told him that she was numb and didn’t know what to say.

He knew enough not to push.

Was she ready to talk now?

After getting out of bed, he pulled on a pair of jeans. Running his hands through his hair, he walked barefoot across the room and pulled open the door. Lucy sat at the small kitchen table. Her laptop was open, and her fingers danced across the keyboard.

“Hey.” His voice was hoarse with sleep. “Everything okay?”

She looked up from her work. Dark circles surrounded her eyes, but her cheeks were rosy. “Actually, for the first time in a long time, everything is okay.”

He moved past her and into the kitchen. Pulling out a can of coffee grounds and a filter, he started making a pot of coffee. As the first drops fell into the pot, he asked, “What are you doing?”

She turned the computer so that the screen faced where he stood. “You were right. The school is test optional. My old high school has an online form to request transcripts. I can still enroll in classes, so long as I get my application in today.”

“So, you’ve decided to do it? You’re going to college?”

“I will if they accept me,” she said.

Aiden took two mugs from the cabinet and filled them both with coffee. He set one next to Lucy. “Fuel for filling out the application.”

She picked up her cup and took a long drink.

“Read this,” she said, nodding toward the computer. “I’d like your opinion.”

He brought his own mug to the table and dropped into the seat next to hers. He sipped his coffee and looked at the screen. The heading read: Application Essay Prompt. Discuss a life event that shaped your desire to attend University of North Dakota at Red Grove and your intended course of study.

A text box was filled with Lucy’s essay. Aiden took another sip of coffee and cleared his throat. Reading out loud, he said, “‘My life changed on a Tuesday evening at 6:22 p.m. My family was gathered around the table for dinner—everyone except my brother and only sibling. I was asked to get Derek and did what I’d been told. My brother had been distant for weeks, preferring to spend time with his friends rather than with the family. And if I were being honest, I suspected that he’d started taking drugs. What I didn’t know was the depth of his addiction. I knocked on his door several times and he didn’t answer. So, I entered his room. Derek lay on the floor. He was unresponsive. Later that evening, at the hospital, he died from an overdose.

“That single incident changed everything. My parents divorced and both have left the area. My grandmother died of a broken heart. I started having panic attacks and withdrew from my friends. In the decade since Derek’s death, my grandfather and I have struggled to keep our ranch afloat. But we have decided to move on.

“I would like to attend the University of North Dakota at Red Grove and major in psychology. My personal experiences will help me to help others who are dealing with addictions.’”

Aiden sat back in his chair.

“So,” she asked. “What do you think?”

He said, “They’ll be lucky to have you.”

“Really? You think so?”

He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. “I know so.”

She squeezed his hand before letting go. Reaching for the computer, she said, “I have about thirty more minutes to finish up everything. Then, I’ll make breakfast.”