Downstairs, the door from the garage to the house banged open followed by her mom’s tired voice as she greeted her dad. Inhaling deeply, Holly decided that, despite the late hour and the fact that her mother was just now getting home from a long day at work, now was as good a time as any to drop the bombshell that studying criminology was exactly what she was supposed to do with her life.

She took one last look in the mirror, whispered, ‘You can do this,’ to her image and then headed down to break the news. Entering the kitchen quietly, she pressed her back into the counter and rubbed her neck nervously. When she realized she was bouncing on the balls of her feet and that her mom was now staring at her from the corner of her eye, she tried to stop. And when her mom turned her way, that knowing, steady stare of hers drilling in, Holly did her best to avoid direct eye contact.

Her mom shot one quick glance her dad’s way and then focused once more on Holly.

‘I’m guessing whatever it is you’re trying to work up the nerve to say, neither your father nor I are going to like. So, you may as well spill it and get it over with. Like ripping off a Band-Aid.’

Holly intertwined her fingers to avoid wringing her hands. Avoiding her father’s eyes, she finally blurted it out. ‘I’m not going to Cornell.’ Her gaze bounced from her father’s open-mouthed reaction before settling on her mother’s more startled, but less crushed face. She steam-plowed forward. ‘I already spoke to the admissions officer at UNM, and she doesn’t think there’s any reason I won’t be able to start in the fall with all the other freshmen.’

Her dad just barely managed to lift his chin from the floor even as the color faded from his face. ‘Baby, you worked awfully hard to get into Cornell. Why would you toss this opportunity out the window like that?’

‘Is this because of your brother?’ her mom asked.

Holly tipped her head forward and shrugged her shoulders. Then, realizing that seemed like she was still unsure of her decision, she straightened up. ‘Yes, partly. Well, not because of Isaac. But, yeah, because of what happened. But that’s not the only reason.

‘It’s also due, in part, to Jersey’s disappearance.’ She focused her attention on her mom, knowing the hurt in her dad’s eyes could easily derail her. ‘I’ve been trying to look at this from several different angles, like you would. And maybe Beau is as innocent as he proclaims. Maybe he’s not. Leigh Ann sent Sophie and me a text this afternoon, by the way, telling us what she told you.’ The tightening around her mother’s mouth was the only indication that she was affected by what Holly said.

‘The bottom line is,’ she continued, ‘I want to study criminology. And before you ask, yes, I’m sure. In fact, I’m more certain about this than any other career choice I’ve ever considered in the past.’ This time she turned pleading eyes her father’s way. She needed him to understand, to support her decision, to not be absolutely crushed by her choice.