Taylor Logan Duncan, née Adams, briefly allowed herself a glance out the window at the changing colors of fall before returning to her studies. A few moments of relaxation were all she could reasonably spare with classes, papers, and teaching. If she wanted to be tenure-track, and not stuck in 1099 Hell, she needed to buckle down now. If she and Jay were going to have the family they'd planned, she needed to be on the tenure track. If she was going to get what she wanted, she needed to work hard now so that tomorrow would be easier.
The girl with the earbuds and the who-cares attitude had lasted until her junior year in high school, when for some reason her mother's example and slightly exasperated lectures had finally sunk in. She had remained addicted to her music -- almost compelled to listen -- but had placed work and responsibility first. If she was going to be the kind of woman her mother was, even after her Dad had died, she needed to start being the kind of woman her mother was.
It was around that same time that she'd realized that if she wanted a relationship with Jay, she needed to reach out and take it. The music had given her the confidence she'd needed to let the shy boy know she felt like he did and he could make a safe approach.
Some metaphorical shoving had been needed, but he'd gotten there.
He'd grown from the shy, awkward boy he'd been into the confident, assertive man she'd always known he could be. And she loved him even more for it.
Life was good when you identified what you wanted, took charge, showed responsibility, and worked for it. And for Taylor, who turned to her lesson plans, life was very good indeed.
For Karyn, life was Hell.
