Contessa (90 page)

“
Okay.
”

“
We have one more lie to address, though.
”

“
Jon?
”

“
Yes. What exactly did you tell him?
”

“
I just told him that I was sure you would help pay for him to go to Columbia. He
’
d worked so hard to get in. We have so much money
that
you wouldn
’
t miss it. And I
’
ve never asked for anything like this before–
”

“
You didn
’
t ask for it
now
, either. That
’
s where I was really caught off guard. When you start making your way in the world and earning your own money, by all means, you can do with it what you will. And it
’
s not like your mom and I don
’
t do charitable things–
”

“
I know, you guys do so much. That
’
s why I didn
’
t think this one little thing would matter.
”

“
This
one little thing
would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. A quarter of a million, easy.
”

“
That can
’
t be right.
”

“
It
’
s right. For four years, with supplies and housing, which I know he
’
d need help with.
”

“
Oh. I had no idea. But, I mean, you could just give him the first year, right?
”

He shakes his head.
“
This is probably a moot point. I
’
m certain that Jon will qualify for financial aid there. He
’
s mentioned he
’
s applied for it, and many other merit-based scholarships through his high school.
”

“
But what if he doesn
’
t get them?
”

“
Well, then, maybe he was meant to go to NYU.
”

“
He
’
s meant for Columbia, Dad. He has so much ambition and direction. He just
has
to go. And to think that money may be the only thing keeping him out? Money that we have way too much of?
”

“
Okay, well let
’
s envision you two are still together come fall, and we decided to pay for his first year. I
’
d worry that any gift he received from us would hurt his chances of qualifying for financial assistance for his other years there.

“
I mean, I know you love him, Contessa, but love isn
’
t always enough to keep a couple together. I know this from experience, remember?
”

“
Yeah, I know.
”
I hide my ring finger from my dad, just in case he notices I
’
m not wearing the ring anymore.

“
How awful would that be? He
’
d get a taste of Columbia for a year, and then wouldn
’
t be able to pay his way the following year?
”

“
That would suck.
”

“
Yes, it would.
”

My lips form into a small pout, unable to think of any other options.

“
Now, you know the Art Room does give a scholarship to a student every year,
”
he says.

“
Yeah.
”

“
Well, we don
’
t have a senior enrolled anymore. We
’
ve been discussing with the board to see if Jon would be a candidate for it since he spent so many years there. And now that we know the truth about why he left, we know he still meets the enrollment criteria.

“
It certainly wouldn
’
t pay his tuition for Columbia, but it would be helpful to him.
”

“
Do you think it
’
s going to happen?
”

“
I think it will. But I don
’
t want you saying anything to him about it, in case it doesn
’
t.
”

“
I won
’
t, Daddy!
”
I say as I hop up to give him a hug.
“
Thank you!
”

“
Thank the foundation,
”
he tells me as he wraps his arms around me tightly.
“
Thank your mom and Donna. It was their idea. But don
’
t thank anyone quite yet. Not until we know for sure.
”

“
I won
’
t. But I
especially
won
’
t say anything to him,
”
I add solemnly, sitting back down on the bed.
“
He doesn
’
t want to see me for awhile.
”

“
What he witnessed this afternoon was not pretty.
”

“
I know.
”

“
It
’
s not a side of you I care to see too much more of, either. You put him in a very awkward predicament, multiple times.
”

“
I know I did. I tried to apologize, but he
’
s really upset with me.
”

“
Just give it time. He
’
ll come around, if it
’
s meant to be.
”

My heart sinks in my chest. All of a sudden, I
’
m crying uncontrollably. Dad sits next to me on the bed and puts his strong arm across my shoulders, pulling me into him. I feel him kiss the top of my head.

“
Shhh, it
’
s okay, Contessa.
”

“
I just really hope it
’
s meant to be, Daddy. I love him.
”

“
I know you do.
”

He lets me cry for a few minutes until I can pull myself together. I take a few deep breaths. He never lets go of me. I look up at him to meet his caring, sympathetic eyes. I can
’
t believe I hurt him so badly today. This man, who–as my mom had promised–would do anything for me. I know this. I always have.

“
I love you, Daddy,
”
I say as more tears come. I hug him again with all of my strength, and he holds on tightly.
“
I am so sorry.
”

“
I know. I love you, too, Contessa.
”

“
You
’
re the best dad a girl could hope for.
”

“
Any dad would be happy to have you for a daughter,
”
he says.
“
But you
’
re
my
daughter, and I wouldn
’
t want it any other way.
”

“
Thanks, Dad.
”

“
I really hope you wouldn
’
t either.
”

“
I wouldn
’
t. I promise.
”

He kisses my forehead and wipes a few tears from my cheeks.
“
Are you hungry?
”

“
Starving.
”

“
Me, too. I took Jackson out for a burger, but I wasn
’
t hungry at the time. Let
’
s get some room service.
”

After dinner, I help my mom set up the pull-out sofa in the living room for Trey. He was dozing off while the rest of us were eating, so he goes to sleep without any fuss. My parents watch him for awhile, talking quietly amongst themselves while I unpack my own things in the smaller bedroom.

“
I
’
m beat,
”
I tell them both.
“
I think I
’
m going to go to bed, too.
”

“
Alright, Livvy,
”
Mom says, her hand wrapped around a warm mug of tea. I go over to them and kiss her on the cheek. Dad stands up and gives me another big hug.

“
Don
’
t worry about things,
”
he says softly.
“
Just try to get some sleep tonight. Everything will work itself out, okay?
”

I look him in the eyes, unsure that there
’
s any truth to what he
’
s saying. He may believe it, but I
’
m not sure I do.
“
I hope so.
”

“
Good night, Contessa.
”

“
Night, Dad.
”
I kiss him on the cheek, too, and ruffle my brother
’
s hair gently on my way back to my room. After changing into my night clothes, I dig my phone out of my purse and stare at it. Jon hasn
’
t even called. I thought he would have. I thought he
’
d miss me.

I dial Camille
’
s number. She answers on the second ring.

“
Are you grounded?
”

“
You know?
”
I say, a little taken aback.
“
I
’
m not sure.
”

“
You still haven
’
t talked to him?
”

“
No, we talked. And Mom and I talked. I apologized, and they both seem okay. There was never any mention of punishment, though. Huh.
”

“
Well, see? I told you that you were blowing it out of proportion,
”
she says smugly.

“
Right. I guess I
’
ll see what tomorrow brings. It could just be that they don
’
t want to fight with me anymore today. I know I don
’
t have the energy for it–not that I would fight them if they grounded me. Even I know I deserve it.
”

“
Have you seen Jon?
”

“
No,
”
I explain.
“
Mom and I went to the Ritz to meet my dad and Trey. We
’
re staying the night.
”

“
Fancy little Livvy,
”
my friend teases me.
“
You
’
re the only kid I know who gets rewarded for a huge argument with a night out at the Ritz.
”

“
Shut up, Camille,
”
I tell her with a laugh.
“
I earned this,
”
I joke with her.

“
So, you haven
’
t seen him. Have you spoken to him?
”

“
No. He didn
’
t call or text or anything.
”

“
Are you going to call him?
”

“
Should I?
”

“
I don
’
t know. I wasn
’
t there, remember? Maybe he needs a little time to let things settle. Why don
’
t you call him in the morning?
”

“
Yeah,
”
I say, yawning over my word.
“
I
’
m really tired anyway. I don
’
t think I
’
ll have any trouble sleeping tonight.
”