“Where does he get water?” she asked.
“There’s a manmade freshwater lake about a mile from here.”
“Just for him?”
“Yup. We keep it brimming with water all the time, and a vet comes by every so often to check up on him. As far as I know, he’s doing very well.”
“Good for him.”
Lou reached and stole the bananas from her other hand before she could offer them.
“Oh my gosh!” She put a fist over her heart, which was suddenly racing with surprise and thrill.
Gavin patted the young elepha
nt. His face peaceful, his lips curved slightly as he ran his hands along Lou’s somber face and massive shoulder.
This was a Gavin that Amandine had never seen before. His entire demeanor was relaxed, not a trace of tension in him. He looked serene…happy. He hadn’t been like this even at their wedding. He’d been tense until she’d said, “I do.”
I want to be the one to make him happy. Make him smile like he has nothing to worry about.
Amandine sucked in a breath at the sudden thought. Where had that come from?
Gavin turned. “What?”
“Noth—” She swallowed the answer. It wasn’t nothing, but she didn’t know if it was something she could share. So instead she said something else she’d been mulling over since her conversation with Victoria. “Well. I’ve been thinking…”
“Yes?”
Come on. Just say it. “I want to go to college.”
His face slackened. A frown wrinkled his forehead. “You do?”
Her stomach twisted. “What? You don’t think I should do it?”
“It’s not that. I thought you weren’t interested.”
“I never had a chance to go. My family couldn’t afford to send two kids to college.” It had made more sense for Pete to go. He was the smart one.
Gavin didn’t hesitate. “If that’s the case, I’m all for it. I’ll have Hilary hire a consultant.”
“A consultant…?”
“To help you get into the best college possible. If we consider the location, UCLA is the most convenient, but I don’t want to limit your options. Stanford is definitely doable… I can buy a penthouse in Palo Alto and work out of there while you go to school.”
Her mind reeled. “Stanford?”
“Uh-huh.” He frowned. “Why? You don’t want to go there?”
“I—”
He scratched the tip of his nose. “I suppose we could go to the east coast if you have your sights set on an Ivy League school.”
Oh my god. An Ivy League school? Was Gavin insane? She raised a hand. “Just…hold on.” She gathered her thoughts. “First, I don’t know if I can even get into UCLA. So there’s no point aiming for Stanford or the Ivy League.”
“What? That’s ridiculous.”
“Second, I don’t want you to run interference and try to get me into a school I don’t qualify for.”