Mar 31, 2025
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little family
Kellan loaded up on coursework to catch up with Etta and me, and we graduated together with distinguished degrees from the University of Britechester. Etta graduated with honors in Archaeology, Kellan also got his degree in Archaeoloy, and I earned a degree in Photography.
From here, Kellan and Etta are going to Selvadorada with Mom to do some field research, while I'm planning to really pursue my photography career in San Myshuno. It's going to be strange to have our family spread so far apart when we've always been so close, but it's time.
A REFRESHER:
Caimile has made a career of authenticating artifacts, she's learning to throw pottery, and she's planning a field research trip to Selvadorada with Etta and Kellan.
Nine has decided to switch career gears and become a romance consultant, which makes absolute sense for his personality. Also, it will be gentler on his hearing.
Etta is halfway through her archaeology degree with a B+ average.
Hendrix is in his first term doing a photography degree and playing soccer for Britechester.
Kellan is awaiting results to see if he was accepted at university. (Note: I posed him in Camille Adams' class when he met Etta, but he wasn't actually a student, so we're playing catch-up on that front.)
Ayana is killin' it at preschool, and her fashion game is strong.
Nutmeg is Nutmegging.
Although Mom and Dad never truly believed they stopped being married--even when Mom was living as Camille Adams--they decided to get remarried...just to be safe. We all traveled to Sulani and stayed at the same rental where they were married the first time. Zizi and Grandpa Soji were their witnesses back then, but this time Hendrix was Dad's best man and I was Mom's maid of honor.
If I learned nothing from my parents (which is a silly thing to say because I've learned so, so much from them) it's what real love looks like. I'm not saying that I'm in love with Kellan Maxwell after just one date, but he's got keeper written all over him. He's emotionally mature, wears his heart on his sleeve, isn't insecure about me having had a child with someone else, and is looking forward to meeting Ayana. Also? I have a love/hate relationship with whoever taught him how to kiss because he is soooooo good.
Dr. Adams' teaching assistant was at the podium as everyone filed into the lecture hall. There was nothing unusual about that—she let him give a lecture now and again—until he said, "I just wanted to let you all know that I'll be taking over for Dr. Adams until the end of the term. She's decided to take a sabbatical, and her courses for the remainder of the year will be covered by Dr. Northrup."
"A sabbatical in the middle of a term?" I said to the guy next to me. "I hope she's okay."
"Me, too," he said. "I transferred from Foxbury because of her courses."
"I'm Etta, by the way. Welcome to Britechester."
He smiled, and I felt my heart thump extra hard in my chest. "Thanks. I'm Kellan."
The TA began speaking, so I quickly turned my attention to the lecture, but Kellan leaned toward me.
"Hey, can I get your number?" he whispered, pushing his phone toward me.
I tapped in my digits and slid it back. "Text me so I'll have yours, too."
A moment later, my phone vibrated on the desk beside me. I turned it over and saw his text:
I think I'm going to like it here.
Boldly, I responded:
I think I'm going to like you here, too.
Since my parents had two weddings, Kellan and I decided we didn't need a wedding at all, and eloped right there in the middle of the courtyard. It was still raining, but we didn't even care.