Sweet Montana Christmas (27 page)

Startled, he withdrew his fingers and pointed back to the book. “This is also important. Parents with difficult children need to make sure they have time for themselves.” He smiled at her, struggling to regain his professional demeanor. “You need to take care of yourself, too.”

She smiled at him, but the expression held uncertainty and didn't fully form.

He shut the book and handed it to her. “Bring him back to see me in a few months. If things get too difficult, we can talk again before that. I—I don't want you to feel alone.”

After scribbling on the charge slip, he handed it to her. “Just show this to the front desk.”

“
Sí. Gracias.
”

“Call me if you need any help in the meantime, Alicia. I'm not going to kid you. Luis will probably never be easy, but if you learn some of those strategies, it will help you both.” He stood and walked to the door.

For a few moments he stood outside the room, his hand still on the doorknob, intrigued by the young woman before him. She reminded him of himself at that age, making the first steps to create the life she desired.

He gave her another smile and turned away, wondering how her story would end.

• • •

Counting herself lucky, Alicia managed to snag a rare parking spot on the street as a battered maroon pickup pulled from the curb, but climbing the steps leading to the main college campus took the last bit of energy she had.

Maybe she should have used the college parking garage.

Pounding steps behind her made her grimace. Someone with a higher fitness level was showing off.

“Steep hill, isn't it?” A gawky-looking Anglo boy caught up to her. “My name's Josh,” he said, slowing his steps to climb beside her. “This is my first semester. How about you?”

The heat of the midday sun touched her shoulders. Maybe if she ignored him, he'd go away. She glanced at her watch. Only a short amount of time to get her registration complete and drive back to the store.

On the other hand, one of the reasons she was coming to school was to meet new people. “Yes, it's my first semester, too.”

“What's your name?” he asked as they reached the top step.

“Alicia Fuentes.”

“Nice to meet you, Alicia Fuentes.” He held out his hand and grinned. The expression transformed him from a geek into someone who had potential to be handsome, but not as good-looking as Luis's new doctor. That man had a smile like she'd never seen anywhere else.

“Nice to meet you.” She took Josh's hand.

“Are you here to register?”

She nodded.

“So am I. It's over there, I think.” He pointed to one of the squat cement buildings clinging to the side of the hill.

Josh continued his banter all the way down the sidewalk. “I'm doing two years here before I transfer to a University of California school. I kinda messed up my junior year in high school.”

“Oh?”

He laughed. “Not drugs or anything like that. I just got lazy. Figured I knew it all so I didn't have to work for my grades. By the time I figured out coasting wouldn't cut it, it was too late.” He shrugged. “So here I am. How about you? What's your story?”

“I only need to take a few classes, so this works.”

“In what?”

”Business.”

He held the door open for her. “You shouldn't limit yourself, then. Get the counselor to tell you what you need to take to be able transfer to the university system if you want to. That way, you'll always have a choice.”

Sometimes life makes choices for you.

She trailed him to the registrar's office. Maybe he was right. If she wanted the money she needed to take care of Luis, she might need to reach higher than a retail shop.

But it had worked for Elizabeth. Of course, Elizabeth's child had been normal.

As Josh walked off with his counselor, he waved. “See you around. Maybe we can have coffee sometime.”

“Sure.”

Not happening.
There was no place for a man in her immediate future, even casual coffee dates.

The image of the doctor teased her veracity.

Fifteen minutes later, Alicia had planned out her required program and registered for her first business accounting class.

“Which other classes do you want to take?” the counselor asked, returning to the web page that listed the available courses.

“What kind of classes would I need to take if I wanted a more advanced degree?” Alicia asked in spite of herself.

“What else are you thinking of? There are lots of possibilities.”

Alicia's practical self deserted her. She wanted something big, grand, and frivolous. She was tired of being fenced in by her mistakes. “I don't know. What do first year students take at UC Santa Cruz?”

The counselor laughed. “A lot of intro courses.”

“Like?”

“Oh, English 101, history overviews, sociology—”

“What's that?” Alicia had heard the term but had never quite gotten a handle on its meaning.

“Sociology tries to explain why humans act the way they do. We have several classes.” The woman clicked a few keys on her computer and another page came up.

The name of a course caught Alicia's eye.
Sociology of the Family
. “That looks interesting,” she said.

“Do you want to sign up?”

The choice was a fork in the road. One class decision shouldn't have mattered that much, but somehow, in her heart, she knew it did. It was the difference between a predictable life and one that was pregnant with possibilities.

She took a deep breath. “Yes. I think I do.”

After she finished registering, she hurried to leave the campus, feeling giddy, like she had when she'd first started high school. Some of her friends from Los Banos were going to Merced College in the town. Like her, they still lived at home.

Maybe she wasn't so different after all. It might take her a little longer, but she was going to accomplish something with her life.

Joy put a spring in her step as she walked to the top of the stairs.

The view of the bay caught her attention. The sun sparkled off the distant waters, and she forced herself to believe she saw dolphins looping through the waves while they played. A yearning for the shore overpowered her. It had been too long since she'd spent time there. No matter his protests, she'd take Luis this weekend. The doctor had told her to provide new stimuli. Maybe he become focused on the waves and leave her some time to experience the sun on her face.

“Hi, are you lost?” a sinewy older woman with faded red curls asked. The woman's smile invited trust, and her gray eyes hinted at wisdom.

“Just looking at the ocean.”

“Yes, it is beautiful, isn't it? There are so many places here that catch me unaware. I'm rushing about and then the beauty of where we live grabs hold of me.” She put out her hand. “Dr. Susan Walker. Most students call me Dr. Susan. I teach sociology. Are you a new student?”

“Oh! I think I just signed up for your class. Sociology of the Family.”

“Yep. That's me.” Dr. Susan gestured at the stairs. “Headed down? I parked down there today to get the exercise.”

As they descended the stairs, Susan continued to ask Alicia questions about her intended degree. “It's an occupational habit, I'm afraid,” the professor explained. “I'm so curious about why people do the things they do and the effect it has on others. Why did you decide to take my class?”

“I'm not sure, really. It seemed interesting.” Alicia shrugged. “I guess I wanted to do something irrelevant. Not that your class isn't good ...”
Damn.
She'd put her foot in it.

“You're not alone.” Susan laughed. “Plenty of people think sociology is irrelevant. They postulate that only courses that lead to a high-paying job are worth the effort. Bah!”

They reached the bottom of the steps.

“I look forward to seeing you again,” Dr. Susan said over her shoulder as she walked away. “I think you'll discover sociology is very important.”

Alicia unlocked the door to her car, mulling over the last hour. An Anglo boy, an unexpected decision, and a chatty professor—all were very different from the events of her normal day. Her lungs expanded with new air, as if a breeze had blown in from a far-off country to change her life forever.

To purchase this ebook and learn more about the author,
click here
.

 

For more from Casey Dawes, check out:

 

For more books by Casey Dawes, check out:

California Sunset

California Wine

California Homecoming

California Thyme

Praise for the California Love series:

“I always prefer romances which in which the relationship grows organically and this is something the author does very well. CALIFORNIA SUNRISE is an engaging romance, with interesting and flawed characters, solid writing, and a beautiful ending.” — The Bibliophilic Book Blog

 “This is a wonderful story. The characters are charming and witty and you can't help but fall in love with them . . . And the inevitable chemistry between Sarah and Hunter is adorable; there are parts that melt your heart.” —Author Alliance

“This is a beautiful story that faces two common issues we face these days and the way that they were combined was amazing. It made for a great and interesting read that will keep you wondering what happens next. Don't miss
California Homecoming
by Casey Dawes. I promise you won't regret it.” —Harlequin Junkie

“While certainly a romance story,
California Thyme
is filled with introspection from both characters, each of whom starts falling in love before they're willing to admit it and have personal obstacles to overcome before they can move forward. It's a lighthearted read, despite what the characters have been through, and once they let go of their hang-ups, it turns into a sweet romance.” —FIC Central

“This is my second book I've read from Dawes, and I have to say I'm definitely keeping this author on my watch list. I love the emotions, the great writing, and the way she keeps me invested in the characters. I need to snatch up the other books in this series...” — Storm Goddess Book Reviews

“Ms. Dawes has a soft approach to this touching romance. There is compassion and patience shown for wounded souls getting a chance at true love . . . the topic of mental disorders and counseling was deftly written and added an additional dynamic to the heroine.” — 4 stars, Julie Caicco,
InDTale Magazine

 

 

 

In the mood for more Crimson Romance?

Check out
The December Deal by Dana Volney
at
CrimsonRomance.com
.