“Nothing’s wrong with farming. But it’s wrong that you’ve never been given another choice besides that.” Vance heaved a grumbly breath. “I knew you’d be difficult. Why’s everything always have to be this way with you? With us?”

“I don’t mean to be. It’s just . . . this isn’t something you should have done without talking to me.”

“All I did was fill out the application. The rest is up to you. I will say that my father made some phone calls, and you’re in for the spring semester if you want.”

“There y’all go, getting in my business again.”

“You didn’t have a problem with me doing it for Peg.”

Dang it, he had me there. I leaned on the wall beside the phone mount and tapped the back of my head a few times to find some reasoning. “What if things aren’t in a good place for me to go then? Ain’t that like two hours or more away from here?”

“It’s only an hour and a half. And if the spring semester doesn’t work, then we can talk to admissions and have it moved to the fall semester.” His confidence made it sound so easily doable.

“It’s going to be hard on Pa and the young’uns when he gets home.” I twirled the cord around my fingers, nervous yet excited all at once. College had been something I’d never allowed myself to want, but now? Now I wanted it more than just about anything.

“You’re right, but Dave will need to adjust to doing things without relying on you. Austin, you can’t always be the buffer. It’s time to step out of the way.” Vance sighed. “Same for your siblings. The entire church is committed to helping you, aren’t they?”

“Yes, but . . .” I couldn’t figure out a but.

“Besides, you can come home every weekend to help out.”

The man made it sound so easy, and I was terrified that it might just be. Now I knew why Peg was so torn about leaving, but I couldn’t expect him to set a good example for the rest of our siblings when it came to pursuing their dreams and passions if I wasn’t willing to do it myself.

“We’ll just have to play it by ear,” I finally conceded.

“Good enough,” Vance agreed quickly. “Now how about coming to the lake to see me. I miss you.”

“If I go see you, I can’t promise I’ll ever leave.”

“That doesn’t sound so bad to me.”

“Vance . . .” I sniffed the tears and swallowed. “You have no idea how much I want to —”

“I know. The timing isn’t right. But the timing is right for college and for going and acting like a teenage girl.”

I snorted. “I’m almost twenty-two.”