Sister Circle✔️

63. Chilly Chill

Lark POV

Her father FaceTimed her and she was nervous. She had so much going on with school, MAX, step show BSU, working at the theater box office, and now her big decision about graduate school. She talked to her mother often, but her father never initiated a call since Winter Break. She figured it was her father's way, letting her handle her own finances, and have her mother check if she was doing okay.

"How are you doing?" Her father looked good, he was calm and did not seem upset.

"Good Dad. Everything is good."

"Grades? Staying on top of things for graduation?"

"Yes. All As this semester." A first for her and a good way to end her undergraduate studies.

A little pause before he went on. "Lark, I'm just going to cut to the point...your mother and I are proud of you. You've handled this...well, this semester of school, with me not financially helping out well. And you're doing better in school than you have ever done in the last three years."

True. She made the honor roll last semester with a 3.8 and now she would get her first 4.0. It seemed the more things she had on her plate, the better she did in school. The challenge of balancing everything and doing great at it was refreshing.

"I want to say, I was wrong about you joining a sorority." Her father let out a sigh. "It was not for me to say."

Wow! This from her father? She was shocked.

"As you know, your little sisters have been on me about how I have treated you. Imagine being schooled by some seventeen-year-olds." He chuckled at that. "Anyway, I want to reimburse you for whatever money you came up with to pay for school. I told you I would pay for your college, and that's what I should have done."

"Dad I..." She was speechless. She received a short-term loan from Emergency Student Financial Office with Zavrina helping her, and paid back most of the loan Kenyon gave her. She would pay for the rest, by herself, with her job.

"And I'm sorry about how I reacted to you and Ross breaking up. Although I think he's a nice guy, it's not my decision to make."

"Thanks, Dad. I appreciate you saying that." She was always close with her father, but in the last few months, she knew they had drifted apart. She did not know if they would ever repair their relationship, but for now, he was still her father and she loved him. "I don't need the money dad, I have the rest of the semester covered."

"Oh..." Her father seemed sad by that.

She smiled. "But I wouldn't say no to a nice monetary graduation gift."

"Of course my sweet girl. Your mother and I are so proud of you! I can't wait to see you walk across that stage. And the offer to come work side by side with me still stands."

"About that..." Now was a good time to tell him about graduate school. "Dad, I'm not coming home. I'm staying here. I'm going to graduate school...I mean, I hope to."

"Really?"

"Yes. I think it can help me, and I want to build the foundation of my business while I am here. My own independence. I have some ideas for a consulting firm so that I can help others start new businesses."

"I love it! I knew you could do it."

"Really dad? You believe in me?" The idea came to her in a class project, but the more she fleshed it out, the more she wanted to actually start a consulting firm.

"Of course I do. You won't let me or anyone else stand in your way. And I like that you will still be there, you know your sisters are suddenly impressed with ISU, they may see you there."