“Thank you.”
Dr. Carter turned to Rochelle.
“You must be enormously proud.”
Rochelle’s smile tightened.
“Of course.”
“Four hundred eighty-seven applications.”
Nia looked toward her mother.
Rochelle said:
“She told me.”
“Only twelve finalists.”
“Yes.”
“And Nia had the highest preliminary engineering score in the state.”
Rochelle blinked.
Nia did too.
“What?”
Dr. Carter looked at her.
“You didn't know?”
Nia shook her head.
“The committee asked us not to release rankings until packets went home.”
Nia’s mouth opened.
Highest.
Not selected randomly.
Not lucky.
Highest.
Kayla whispered:
“Whoa.”
Nia smiled despite herself.
Rochelle looked toward the SUV.
“We’ll celebrate tonight.”
Dr. Carter did not move.
“There is another reason I needed to speak with you.”
Rochelle checked the time again.
“Can we schedule something?”
“I tried.”
The smile disappeared.
“What?”
“Three emails.”
Rochelle’s face changed.
Dr. Carter continued:
“And two phone calls.”
“I've been busy.”
“I understand.”
Nia looked between them.
Rochelle said:
“Can we discuss this privately?”
“We can.”
Dr. Carter looked toward Nia.
“But since the matter concerns her participation, she needs to hear part of it.”
Rochelle’s jaw tightened.
“What matter?”
“The program office has not received her family authorization form.”
Nia frowned.
“I gave it to Mom.”
Dr. Carter looked at Rochelle.
“When?”
Nia answered.
“Two weeks ago.”
Rochelle said quickly:
“I haven't decided if she can participate.”
The words struck harder than the discarded packet.
Nia stared.
“What?”
Dr. Carter’s expression remained controlled.
“The school believed the unsigned form was an oversight.”
“No.”
Rochelle shook her head.
“We have family scheduling issues.”
Nia whispered:
“You weren't going to let me go?”
“I didn't say that.”
“You just did.”
“I said I hadn’t decided.”
“The deadline is tomorrow.”
Rochelle stared at Dr. Carter.
“Why are you discussing deadlines with a twelve-year-old?”
Dr. Carter’s posture changed slightly.
“Because it is her scholarship application.”
“I am her mother.”
“Yes.”
Dr. Carter nodded.
“And you have legal authority to decline participation.”
Rochelle seemed relieved.
Then Dr. Carter continued:
“But before you do, you need to understand that declining also affects the restricted education funds supporting her application.”
Rochelle became completely still.
Nia noticed.
“What funds?”
Nobody answered immediately.
Nia looked at her mother.
“Mom?”
Rochelle’s eyes remained on Dr. Carter.
“Do not do this here.”
Dr. Carter lowered her voice.
“I asked for a meeting.”
“I said I was busy.”
“You canceled twice.”
“I work.”
“So do I.”
The words were not rude.
That made them stronger.
Rochelle glanced toward nearby parents.
“Not in front of the children.”
Nia whispered:
“What funds?”
Kayla looked just as confused.
Rochelle closed the SUV door.
“We’re leaving.”
Dr. Carter said:
“I need you in my office tomorrow morning.”
“I’ll check my schedule.”
“No.”