Until Now (Not Yet #2) Read Online Free Page B

ran faster, holding on to my bag of food from Sylvie. I was gasping for air as I ran into the doors of IU’s Early Education Center.
    “Hi, Grace!” One of my favorite faces, a smiling round one with bright pink glasses bounded up to me.
    “Hey, Amy! How was Finn today?” Amy hooked a thumb over her shoulder, and I looked where she was pointing to see Finn sitting cross-legged on the multicolored rug stacking blocks.
    “He was great. He always is.” Amy grinned again. “How are you today?”
    “Hanging in there. I have a bunch of homework tonight, so it’ll be a late one.” The longest part of my day was yet to come. Dinner, bath, stories, bedtime, cleanup, and then I could start my homework. Balancing Finn, a job, and classes left no time for anything else.
    “Need any help? I can come over to play with Finn while you work.” Amy’s normally happy face was concerned. She had been the teacher’s aide in Finn’s preschool and daycare class last year and this year. She was one of the most caring, gentle, and responsible people I had ever met.
    “You know, I might take you up on that. I have a huge paper due in a few weeks. The only problem is, I don’t have a car to pick you up.” I could feel my face burn. I didn’t pity my situation, but saying the words out loud made the realization that much more intense. I couldn’t afford a car payment or insurance. Finn and I walked or took the bus.
    “My parents and I live super close to campus. Mom can drop me off.” Amy walked over to Finn’s cubby and gathered his lunch bag and tote. Her father was a visiting professor at IU, so she told me her parents had rented a house in a neighborhood close to the university. “Remember,” she handed the bags to me, “I got a daycare certificate for the work-study I did at Clemson.” Amy pointed to a framed document on the wall, her smile beaming.
    She should feel proud. Amy had been born with Down syndrome. It was rare for any person with intellectual disabilities to leave home and live on a college campus. Amy had done just that for two years. Once she completed her schooling, she was able to assist in early childhood classrooms.
    “How did you learn about the work-study at Clemson University?” I asked, watching Finn play on the rug.
    Amy shifted closer to me. “I never told you about that?”
    I shook my head. Her smile turned proud as she pulled out a chair and sat at the craft table. “My senior year of high school I was an aide for the new, young teacher at my school. Miss Harris—I call her Emma now—was good to me. She talked to me and my parents about a program at Clemson for people just like me.”
    I had looked up her program at Clemson, curious why IU didn’t have one like it. Clemson’s curriculum was incredible. During the two-year course, life skills and job training were taught to individuals with developmental disabilities.
    “Are you still close with Emma?”
    Amy nodded. “We get together whenever we are back home in Indy. She lives in California now with her boyfriend, Landon.”
    Finn looked up, and I waved. “Yay!” he called out after noticing me and jumped up, running over to where we were talking. Finn wrapped his small body around my legs. “I missed you when you were gone.” He kissed my kneecaps, and I laughed away the happy tears that always formed when I saw Finn at the end of the day.
    “I missed you too.” I set my bags down and wrapped my arms around him.
    “Squeezy hug!” he shouted, and we held on tightly to one another.
    “Are you hungry for dinner?” I whispered into his ear as I knelt on the floor.
    “My belly says, ‘Feed me, now. I so hungry!’” Finn used a deep voice to give his best four-year-old monster impression.
    I stood up and adjusted my backpack on my shoulders. Amy hung Finn’s tote sideways across his body and slipped his lunch bag inside. I was then able to hold the food bag with one arm and Finn’s hand with my other.
    “Bye, Amy!” I