55 My Naïve Youth

(Judy)

“I love you, Judy. Come with me.”

“I love you too, Gus. But my studies, plus Mom is sick. You know that.”

“You can study in Europe.”

“And throw away almost four years here? No. I’d have to start again.” I’d never give up being the top student in college.

I have a lot to prove to my father. Traditionally in our family the greatest achievement a woman can make is to marry the richest man she can find. Well. I have that covered with a Brennan and Gus was the heir apparent. But I want to be successful in my own right.

I shake my head. “Can’t you wait a year? You know my mother is under treatment for ovarian cancer. I want to stay with her in case…” My voice breaks a little. I can’t think about a world without my mother.

She gave up all her dreams for me. She has a mind as sharp as a tack, but when she got married to my father, her job was to make babies and look good. He made it clear there would be no career. A male heir was what they needed.

But the only baby Mom carried to term