Briar Preparatory Academy

Au Revoir

Kate POV

"Yeah, Dad, I'm okay. We're all... we're all okay." I breathe out and wait for him to pepper me with more questions.

"And the Academy?"

I shrug, even though he can't see me. "It could be worse, I guess. No severe damage."

"How's Celeste?"

I glance towards the door across the hall, where my friends all sit surrounding Seth's hospital bed. "She's fine, Dad. She's had it rough the last few months but she'll be okay. We all will." I reassure him.

"Seth?"

I pause and grip the phone tightly, swallowing once, twice. My dad says my name twice before I finally respond. "Everyone's fine, Dad."

"You don't sound--"

"We're fine." I interrupt, leaning my head against the wall. There is silence for a few seconds.

"I want you to come home for the summer this year."

I bite my lip and twirl the phone cord. I won't lie, returning home to Georgia beats out all my other options right now. I need to get some time away from the Academy, and I miss my dad. "I would like that," I say quietly, "I would like that a lot."

A sigh of relief on the other end. "Good, good. I'm gonna need a lot of help out in the orchard. Harvest season will be here before we know it."

I smile at the memories of summer spent harvesting peaches in my father's orchard with him. I remember him teaching me how to pick them and which ones are ready to harvest and which ones aren't. I remember my mother holding my hand as a child as we would stroll down the rows upon rows of trees in the spring, surrounding by pink buds on the limbs.

My mother.

"Yeah," I say, "I'll come home. I miss Scout."

I hear my father laugh on the other end as I mention our dog, a golden retriever with a heart of gold. "He misses you too."

I glance up as the door to Seth's room opens and Preston steps through the threshold. "Hey, Dad, I got to go. I've got some stuff I have to take care of."

"Okay, honey. I'll see you soon. I love you."

"I love you too." I say, and hang up. Preston sidles up to me and offers a tired smile. "That your dad?"

I nod, crossing my arms.

"What's the plan?"

"I'm going home. I need a break from the Academy."

Preston nods and looks down at his shoes, stuffing his hands in his pockets. I watch him for a moment, and then quietly take his hands in mine.

They're a lot bigger.

"What are you gonna do?" I ask, still looking down.

"I've got no other choice but to head to D.C. I'm moving in with my dad since..." He trails off and lets me assume the rest. I can see in the eyes the pain he'll always hold over the loss of his mother.

"When is the last time you saw your dad?" I ask, stopping the silence. Preston shrugs.

"I guess... I guess over a year ago. Once he split with my mom I pretty much shut him out. It's gonna be weird going back."

"I'm sure he wants to see you. You two are related after all."

"By blood exclusively. That doesn't mean I want a relationship with him."