Keeley had much to ponder on the bus to Maryland. She brought a book but kept putting it down, unable to concentrate. Her thoughts returned repeatedly to Aaron's offer.

It would cost him several hundred thousand dollars to secure a lab for her research. She was nearing the end of her final trial; only about 100 pages of write-up remained. The gene therapy had proven effective in mice, making the research viable. But was it worth the immense cost and effort?

She recognized the guilt behind her hesitation. Aaron wanted her happiness and to pursue her dreams, a desire stemming from her past struggles. He also wanted her near him.

The offer was too generous. How could she accept such a significant gift, one that would more than compensate for their past and leave her perpetually indebted? She didn't want that.

Keeley cared deeply for Aaron and wanted him to be happy. The past month and a half had been the happiest she'd seen him; his emotions were open and evident, showcasing how much her presence meant to him.

She was enjoying herself, but it felt like a temporary escape from reality. This wasn't her usual life—a normal person pursuing a degree and navigating the world. If he funded her research simply to keep her, it would feel like cheating. She had worked hard, as had many others. Bypassing the system with money wouldn't be fair.

Yet, she admitted to wavering. While concerned about the selfishness of using his money, she considered the cystic fibrosis patients who could benefit from her research. A five-to-ten-year head start could significantly impact many lives.

Her mind raced. She was unsure what to think. Thankfully, Jeffrey and Keisha would provide a welcome distraction. At least this time, she wouldn't be asked to be a bridesmaid—she'd had enough of that.

Upon arriving at their house, Keisha and her two excited dogs greeted her warmly. Keisha hugged her, smiling brightly. "So good to see you! Come on in, Jeff's making dinner."

Keeley grinned, hugging back. "You sure it's going to be edible?"

A playful "I heard that!" from the kitchen elicited laughter.

"Seriously though, he's pretty decent. He was jobless for a month after graduation, so he cooked while I worked. Now we usually take turns."

In the kitchen, Keeley embraced Jeffrey. "Tell me about post-grad life! I need to know what to expect," she said dramatically.

Jeffrey playfully bopped her shoulder. "Work's exhausting, but no homework is a perk."

Keisha countered sternly, "That's not entirely true! I've seen you with paperwork at home."

"Only because it was important, and my boss was on my case! My point is, you have more free time. Once you're done, you're done. But job hunting sucks."

Keeley knew about his struggles—he'd searched since February, only finding a job in mid-July. She needed to start her job search immediately.

Oh wait. No, she didn't. She had Aaron's offer. Ugh, it was still overwhelming.

"Yeah, I'm wondering what to do about that myself," she admitted.

They discussed work versus school until dinner was ready. Jeffrey's eggplant parmesan was surprisingly good. Keisha was right; he was a decent cook.

She wondered if Lydia knew about Aaron's offer. They used to tease Jeffrey relentlessly. How was Lydia, anyway? Keeley needed to text her more often.

Adulting and maintaining friendships was challenging. She was grateful for this weekend with Jeffrey and Keisha; their last meeting was at Lydia's wedding in April.

Four hours doesn't feel like a long distance until you drive it. She could count her visits with Jeffrey since law school on one hand.

They laughed and talked for hours before Keeley brought up their Baltimore itinerary. "I know nothing about Baltimore; what's worth seeing?"

Keisha, a Baltimore native, replied, "Fort McHenry, the National Aquarium, and the historic ships in the Inner Harbor. We could do it all tomorrow, or spread it out—your call."

"Let's play it by ear," Keeley suggested. "The aquarium sounds fun. Someone in Dr. Kim's lab researched seahorse genetics; I got attached to the tank during my first year. I was sad when they removed it."

Jeffrey laughed. "Why am I not surprised? Did you cry when your mice died, too?"

"Only one died, and yes, I did," she sniffed. (One mouse from her fifth trial batch had unexpectedly died, slightly skewing her results but not negating the overall positive impact.)

Keisha intervened calmly. "The aquarium sounds fun. We'll see what we feel like after. Sound good?"

They nodded mutinously, like children caught arguing. This weekend promised to be fun.

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