Chapter 308
After Advent Sunday wrapped up, final exams loomed on the horizon.
Even Avery had to squeeze in some study time.
By the end of January, when the dust settled from the finals, she had once again aced all her classes, nailing perfect scores across the board.
Once the grades were in, she requested a leave of absence from school, saying she wanted to work under Professor Day, preparing to dive headfirst into research at her physics lab right after the New Year.
Normally, she devoted at least half her year to working at the physics lab and the astronomical observation base her mentor had set up for her.
However, since returning to the Carter family over the past two years, she had spent less time at the lab because she wanted to be there for her family.
"Oh, family really does affect your career," she sighed, a touch of sadness in her voice.
Then she clapped her hands together, her mood lifting with a smile. "But having a family you love is such a blessing. That happiness fills you with energy and motivation, sparking creativity, and in the end, it makes everything easier. I just know that when I get back to the lab, I’m going to tackle some tough challenges and make real progress on my mentor’s work."
During the Christmas celebrations, Penny and the others kept up their tradition of spending the holidays at the Carter family home. As the saying goes, familiarity breeds comfort; after a few gatherings, everyone felt at ease, and there was no trace of awkwardness between them.
This year was a bit different, though. On Christmas Eve, Avery revved up her modified motorcycle for an exhilarating ride, zooming through the night and arriving in Valemont City in just an hour. She showed up in front of Alexander with a big grin, announcing, "You don’t have to go to Rosemont City to see me tonight!"
The two of them held hands and wandered around the chilly night, soaking in each other’s company until they grew tired and decided to catch some sleep in the car.