Page 46 of Book of Love


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“I didn’t become a writer because I had a privileged life,” he said. “I didn’t use my parents’ money or contacts. I’ve always funded my own projects with advances and royalties.”

“I know.” She set the eraser back on the whiteboard shelf. “You deserve everything you’ve achieved. But there’s a big difference between being Lincoln Atwood, whose name everyone in publishing has known for years, and the son of a migrant farm worker who has the chance to be the first one in his family to go to college. I want my students to understand that paths aren’t always the same for people. Circumstances aren’t the same.”

“That doesn’t mean these kids can’t explore the world and seek out unconventional lives. There are a thousand ways to do what you want to do, and most of them have nothing to do with circumstances.”

“Lincoln, I just don’t want them getting fanciful ideas about their careers, that’s all.” She returned to her desk as the bell signaling the next class period rang. “I love imagination and dreams and wonderment…that’s just one of the reasons I teach literature…but life is practical. My students would be much better off majoring in economics at Stanford rather than looking for a sunken treasure. And really, that’s the point of the Real World Specialist program. To show the students how to apply their education in practical ways.”

The classroom started filling with students, preventing Lincoln from responding.

As the day progressed and he continued talking to Grace’s students about his life and career, he made a point of telling them that his experiences were outside the norm, that he honed his writing skills in college, that the road to publishing was tough, fraught with rejections, and often unstable.

Grace seemed pleased by the addition of his cautionary notes, though it didn’t affect the students’ enthusiasm about his stories.

He worked her comments over in his mind for the rest of the day. He appreciated her wishes and hopes for her students. Practicality went a long way in life.

So did dreams and imagination. He’d only started making up stories as a kid because it was a way to escape reality. And though he’d always been methodical about planning, he’d never have ended up in Bliss Cove if he hadn’t taken a leap of faith. Maybe for the first time ever.

But what about Grace? Had she stayed on a “viable, practical” path her whole life? Had she ever dreamed of doing something a little ridiculous or outlandish, even scary? Had she ever wanted to push her boundaries? Explore the world?

If she hadn’t…why did that bother him so much?

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