Page 48 of Protective Assignment
She sank down on the couch with an impatient sigh and pressed the letter into her legs, looking down at it again.The Chapel Hill logo was on the top right corner, and she was sure this was it, the letter that would either confirm or deny she’d made it in to the university of her dreams.
Heading to town earlier in the day to pick up some supplies,she had stopped in at their post office box and found it waiting for her.She knew Cade was away doing some training with guys from the lodge, so she promised herself that she wouldn’t open it until he was there with her to see what the letter said.She was regretting that promise right about now because all she wanted to do was rip the envelope open.
What if she had been rejected?She couldn’t help but wonder how she would feel.She had put so much stock into this moment, into getting accepted by the school, that she could hardly believe it was finally here.Today she would find out one way or another what the next phase of her life was going to look like.
Terrifying?Completely.But she had long since learned that she could take a lot more of the scary stuff than she had ever imagined she could.
She had managed to get her GED, and had spent the better part of the spring writing endless essays and filling out applications to every university in the area.She wanted to become a Licensed Professional Counselor, and even though it was going to be a long journey, she had to start somewhere.Chapel Hill had been her first pick from day one, but she had never really let herself believe she would actually get accepted.Staring at this letter that would decide her fate, she found herself wondering how she would feel if, just maybe, she had actually done it.
Finally, she heard Cade arrive.Good.She needed him by her to get through this.
“What’s going on?”he asked, as he went to make himself a coffee.
River held up the letter.“It’s from Chapel Hill,” she explained.
His eyes widened.“Did you get in?”
“I haven’t opened it yet,” she admitted.“I wanted to wait until you were here.”
“Well, what are you waiting for?”he demanded, grinning widely.“Go for it!”
She had been so excited, almost bouncing off the walls, but now she hesitated.She didn’t know if she could.Now that she’d had time to think about it, the fear was starting to creep in.
“You open it,” she told Cade, handing the letter over to him.He took it from her, and she chewed her lip and watched his face as he slowly opened it.
A smile spread over his face.“You got in!”he exclaimed, and she let out a shriek.
“You’re serious?”She snatched the letter from him, skimming through it.Sure enough, he was telling the truth—they had offered her a place to study psychology, starting in the fall.She clapped a hand over her mouth, hardly able to contain herself.It was such an amazing feeling.She wanted to run and tell everyone she’d done it.
“I knew you would,” Cade told her, scooping her up into his arms and kissing her firmly on the lips.
She laughed and hugged him back.“I need to call Haven to tell her the good news.”
“Absolutely,” He replied.“You do that and I’ll go rustle up some grub from the cafeteria so we can have a celebratory dinner tonight.”
“Sounds like a plan,” she said, planting a quick kiss on his mouth.“Thank you.”
She talked to Haven for the next half hour via video chat, sharing her good news and just catching up.Even though River had yet to make it to New York because of school, getting her GED, working on college applications, and everything going on around the lodge, she and her sister spoke every day.Sometimes her mom joined in too.
Their first conversations were so emotional it had taken several calls to just get through the basics of what had happened over the years and not cry every other word.But how wonderful it had been to see her mother and sister and to meet her niece!Now they spoke regularly and made plans to visit each other soon.Just knowing that her family was safe and they had a wonderful life meant the world to River.
The next day Cade had planned a hike with their friends from the lodge.They packed a picnic and hit the trail that ran into the woods and up to a viewpoint over the town below.It was a beautiful day as they set out together.
Hannah walked with her and Cade nearly the whole way.“You’ve done so well, River.You should be so proud of yourself.I’m so glad you’ll be staying here and doing classes remotely—double win!”
“Me too,” River replied, grinning widely as Cade gave her hand a squeeze.They’d both agreed that doing her university coursework while living at Warrior Peak Sanctuary would be the best of all possible worlds.
“Sad that you won’t get in your wild partying years?”Hannah asked playfully.
River laughed and shook her head.“Not when my other option is staying here with Cade.I’ll take that over partying any day.He’s all I want.”
He looked over at her fondly and winked, and then glanced over his shoulder, seeing the guys fall behind.
“Hey, keep up, guys!”he called to them, and he dropped back to match their pace, leaving Hannah and River alone.
“You want to wait for them?”River asked.
“No, let’s keep walking,” she replied, looking downward.
