Page 35 of Beyond our Forever

“I was waiting to open them together.”

His response warmed my heart, and I kissed him again, grateful that he was sharing everything with me. It was his postgraduate degree, but the decision we were going to make would set the course of both of our lives. More than that, not just the two of us, we had to start thinking and planning for three.

“Berkeley and Michigan.” He proudly showed me the envelopes. He had also applied to Columbia University, but the lack of response from that prestigious school didn’t discourage him. These two universities were world famous and getting in was an honor in itself.

Bruce dropped onto the sofa, settling me on his lap, and with trembling hands I tore the first envelope open.

“Congratulations, Mr. Leighton,” I read aloud. “We hereby inform you that you have been admitted to the A. Alfred Taubman Institute to pursue a two-year master’s degree in architecture…”

The letter was brief, but the papers that came with it explained the study program, from the compulsory subjects to be followed, to the electives. In addition, they also informed him of the scholarship that they were offering him to defray the expenses, which was pretty good. But not everything was decided yet, I was still holding the other unopened envelope.

The University of California, at its campus in Berkeley, also congratulated him for being admitted and, in documentation similar to the previous one, they let him know the conditions of their offer.

“Well, Sir,” I said as I tangled my hands in the short strands of his dark hair. “Where are we going to go?”

“I was hoping we’d decide that together,” he said, looking me in the eye.

“I assumed you were determined to go to California.” Because that was what he’d told me, it was his golden dream.

“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “Taubman sounds pretty tempting, not only for the money, but also for some of the classes they have.”

He started talking about structures, soil mechanics classes, eco sustainable design, and other things I could barely understand.

“I think we should start by making a list of pros and cons, don’t you think?” I suggested.

I barely had a chance to hang on to him like a monkey as he got up to his desk to get a legal pad and a pen.

We settled back on the sofa and began to list the points for and against each proposal one by one.

“The weather,” I noted. “In Michigan I’m going to freeze to death, I don’t think I can bear the winter.”

“But you have me to warm you up, my gorgeous girl.”

To emphasize what he said, he tightened his embrace while I continued to write down on the legal pad all the factors to be taken into account, such as the distance, the attractiveness of the two cities, and other things like that. We both loved the west coast, but there were other things at stake.

“The money,” he added. Yeah,important point. “Mr. Reynolds is a Taubman alumni, and he told me a few days ago that he has contacts with some firms in the area that he can put a word for me to, so there is the possibility that I can work with them between classes, kind of like I do now.”

“If your boss is happy with your work that’s going to be a great recommendation,” I said smiling. I was becoming increasingly proud of him, and bearing his last name would be an honor.

“Also,” he added. “Detroit is about twenty-five percent cheaper than Northern California.”

“But wages are lower,” I countered.

We moved to the desk, as we needed to search the Internet for more specific information. He was sitting in the chair while I was on the table, with my bare feet resting in his lap.

“It’ll be more than two years before that’s relevant,” he argued. “I’m more concerned that we can cover the immediate expenses.”

Bruce put his hand on my still flat belly to emphasize his point. It was certainly a valid concern, and in the end it turned out to be the deciding factor.

That night we decided that the following year we would move north.

Michigan was our next destination.

Go, Red Wings!

???

I never thought that walking down that small aisle would be such a wonderful experience. Wrapped in my beautiful lace and chiffon gown I felt so happy, but nothing could surpass how I felt when my eyes met Bruce’s, which shone with excitement and happiness.

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