"Not quite," Carey said. "Come on, there's more in the box."
"More?"
"Just a little bit," Carey said. "I hope you like blue." She watched as Grace pulled out a blue backpack. "For carrying your books to class."
"Oh, it's great," Grace said, "It even has wheels." She opened the hook and loop sections. "It's got a place for pens and other stuff. Hey it's even got a mirror."
"Yeah, well, worry more about having a pen that works than your makeup," Carey said. "Your last present is inside the pack. You should have seen me standing at the computer store trying to pick it out."
Grace's eyes lit up more, if that was possible. At least it seemed so to Carey. "An encyclopedia. Two CD set. Oh, this is the really good one." She flipped the case over and glanced at the back. "Yeah, this is the one with the built-in detailed atlases and world timelines. Oh look, it can do footnotes."
"So it's a good one, right?" Carey asked, not certain until that moment that she had bought the best one. The smile on Grace's face answered her question. "I'm glad you like it. All of it."
“Go ahead, open it."
"Thank you," Grace said, giving her father a hug before tearing open the envelope. "A credit card?"
"Debit card," he said. "I asked the man at the bank what the best way was to help you out and he suggested this. You use it like a credit card but it comes out of a special account I set up just for you."
"We learned about them in Personal Finance," Grace said, excited to see her name in raised silver lettering.
"It's easier than sending you checks each month," he said.
“Since you're turning eighteen and my child support will end, I suddenly have this extra money each week and I can't think of a better way to spend it than to help my girl get the education she deserves." He put his arm around her and pulled her close. "And once you say your good-byes I'm going to take you to Mohawk and we're going to get you some clothes and whatever else you need. Then we'll find you an apartment."
"B-but how?" she asked. "Dad, you don't have that kind of money."
"I can't buy you a car and make it so you don't have to work while you're in school, but I can take care of most if not all of the rent and give you a little something for spending money."
"But do you know how much clothes cost?"
"Graceful, you're my only daughter and if I want to spend my money on you, then I will. Consider it early birthday and Christmas presents if you want."
Grace's father closed the trunk but her attention was on Carey approaching them. "Dad, do you have any film left?"
"There's three pictures left," he said.
"Hang on," she said, jogging up to meet the dark-haired woman. "Can I have a picture?" she asked, not bothering to mention she had used up half the roll snapping shots of her during the day.
Carey smiled. "Sure. You're all set to go?"
Together they headed toward the rental car. "Everything's packed," Grace said, the pain of separation weighing heavily upon her. "This is hard. I don't want to leave you."
Carey stopped and put her hands on Grace's shoulders. “I know," she said softly. "I'm going to miss you too, but it's time for you to go out on your own and make your own life. I'm only a phone call away." Her smile eased the pain in Grace's heart.
"I'll call," the teen said. "You know I will."
"You'd better," Carey said. "I want to know what's going on with you. I care, Grace." She gave Grace's shoulders a quick squeeze. "Now let's get that picture taken so your dad can take you shopping."
"Dad, take the picture," Grace said, slipping an arm around the older woman's waist, pleased when Carey didn't make her move it. As soon as the camera clicked, she tightened her hold. "Wait, just a couple more, please? Just in case he didn't get that one right."
"One more," Carey gave in.
"Okay, Dad," Grace said happily. "Take another one."
"Satisfied?"
"Wait, there's only one picture left on the roll," Grace said. “It'd be a waste not to use it."
"Do you have any of you and your father yet?" Carey asked.
"No."
“Go stand by him," Carey said, walking the teen over to the lumberjack. "Mr. Waters, would you like a picture of you and your daughter?"
"Ayup, I'd love it," he said, putting his arm around Grace's shoulders and handing Carey the camera. "Just aim and shoot."
Carey looked through the viewfinder until she felt she had the best picture of the two of them, then clicked the shutter button. There was a click, then a whirling sound as the camera automatically rewound the film. "Here you go," she said, handing the camera back to him. "Mr. Waters, you do understand that you're taking a seventeen-year-old girl to the mall, don't you?"
"Sure," he said. "What's wrong with that?"
Carey tried to suppress a smile. "Have you ever taken a seventeen-year-old shopping?"
"No. Can't say as I have."
She put her hand on his arm. "You have my utmost sympathies," she said. "I'd rather take thirty-six girls on a five-mile run than one to the mall."
"Pshaw," he said, waving his hand dismissively.
"There's an ice cream place on the way if you want to stop," Richard said.
“If you want," Grace said, looking out at the endless fields and trees. "Nope," he said. "This is your day. I just thought you might like a nice double scoop of mint chocolate chip to get your energy for the mall."
Grace's eyes lit up. "You remembered," she said looking at him.
"Ayup, can't forget my daughter's favorite flavor," he said. "So it's settled. We'll get some ice cream, then you can tell me why you're so glum about leaving that place."
"I'm not glum," she said. "I'm happy to be free."
"Partially free," he said. "You have to stay in Iroquois County for the next six months and you have to see your probation officer once a week."
"Yeah, but, Dad," "She said, shutting off the radio. "If I want to walk down the street I can do it without having to ask permission, and worry about leg chains or having someone watching me. We're going to the mall. You know how long it's been since I've been to the mall?"
"That woman warned me about taking you to a mall," he said. "You're not going to run your poor father ragged, are you?"
"Oh no, we'll do it the easy way," she said. "We'll start at one end and work our way down. What did Carey say to you?"
"She gave me her sympathies and said she'd rather take a bunch of girls on a run than to take one to the mall."
Grace smiled. "She's not the mall type," she said. "When Carey wants to buy something, she hits the catalogs and mail order places. Did I tell you she bought me an encyclopedia for the computer?"
Richard smiled. "Twice."
"She went to the mall to find it for me," she said. "Hey Dad? I bet there's a photo place at the mall. Can we drop the film off there to be developed?"
"If you want," he said. "I want a copy of the one of us together."
"They usually have those free double sets," she said. "If we get those, I can send a copy of the ones of me and Carey together to her. Did I tell you that she said I could call her each week?" She looked out the window. "Not the same as seeing her every day, though."
"Well, I reckon I know why you're so glum," he said. "Better stock up on those prepaid calling cards."
"I planned on it," Grace said, looking back at him. "I gotta get stamps and envelopes too so I can send her letters."
"She's really special to you, isn't she?"
"Very," Grace said.
"This is the mall?" Grace asked skeptically when her father pulled the car into the large parking lot.
"This is it," he said.
"It's only got one floor."
"Ayup, how many do you need?" He pulled into a spot halfway down the parking aisle and shut the engine off. "Now before we go and spend some money, let's get some rules down." He reached into his front pocket and pulled out a thick wad of bills. "I'm not a rich man, Grace, but I want to do this for you. Here's forty bucks for your own pocket. I'm not buying you anything I think is foolish or too expensive."