Chapter 81: Heading to School Together
"Thanks," Jimmy mumbled as he listlessly picked at his fries. Whether it was the hangover from last night's drinking or the sting of having the house extorted by Frank, he wasn't feeling his best.
"As for you and Fiona, I'm still skeptical. But if you can do one thing, I won't stand in the way of your relationship," Frank said.
"What is it?" Jimmy perked up, his interest piqued.
"Go back to the University of Michigan, finish your studies, and get your degree," Frank replied.
Jimmy met Frank's words with a knowing look, suspecting an ulterior motive. He believed Frank was still trying to separate him from Fiona.
The University of Michigan was in Detroit, far from Chicago. Jimmy, currently a sophomore, would need two or three more years to graduate.
Everyone knows that the two biggest threats to a relationship are time and distance. If Jimmy returned to school, a long-distance relationship of several years was unlikely to survive.
During the Canada incident, Jimmy and Fiona's cold war lasted less than two weeks before Fiona moved on with Officer Tony, leaving Jimmy feeling betrayed.
Although Fiona and Tony's date happened after she and Jimmy broke up, technically it wasn't infidelity, but the experience stung.
Regardless, two to three years was a long time. Jimmy doubted his ability to maintain the relationship, and he wasn't confident in himself either.
Moreover, Jimmy's field of study was medicine, specifically cardiac surgery, a demanding discipline requiring extensive knowledge and dedication.
The saying "persuade someone to study medicine and be struck by lightning" reflects the immense dedication needed for this field, due to its critical nature and the vast amount of knowledge required.
If Jimmy were to return to his studies, most of his attention would focus on academics, potentially neglecting Fiona, who was far away.
Being a financially stable and charismatic young man, combined with the college environment, Jimmy feared he might stray before Fiona did.
To Jimmy, Frank's proposal seemed like a calculated effort to drive a wedge between him and Fiona.
"I'm serious. Can you really keep doing this? Sure, stealing cars is lucrative now, but is it sustainable forever?"
"I could easily capture evidence of your thefts. If the police decide to act, they'd catch you immediately, and you'd serve years in prison."
"Do you want Fiona to wait for you to graduate, or wait for you to get out of jail?" Frank asked pointedly.
Jimmy wasn't surprised that Frank knew about his car thefts.
Frank had shown Fiona evidence of Jimmy's activities, prompting her to warn him to be careful. Fiona had effectively sold Frank out, demonstrating how daughters often side with outsiders as they grow up.
Jimmy remained silent, aware that stealing cars wasn't a lifelong career. It was a transitional phase, but he hadn't thought about what to do next.
Returning to his studies and becoming a doctor wasn't on his radar.
Possibly due to family pressure, Jimmy had rebelled against the idea, despite pursuing a medical degree.
It's a classic case of defiance: the more you're told to do something, the less you want to.
Unless Jimmy had a change of heart, the more people pushed him towards medicine, the more he resisted.
Frank observed Jimmy's demeanor and understood his mindset.
Jimmy was only in his early twenties, just two years older than Fiona, and younger than John's son, Dean.
Thus, Frank didn't press Jimmy further about returning to his studies or becoming a doctor.
"You know Fiona's been studying, right?" Frank redirected the conversation.
"Hmm? Yeah," Jimmy nodded.
"I'm planning for Fiona to complete her high school credits and graduate properly, not just get a GED. After that, I want her to go to college," Frank explained.
"You mean..." Jimmy seemed to grasp Frank's plan.
"If your relationship is strong enough, Fiona could apply to the University of Michigan. Then you could go to school together," Frank suggested optimistically.
Jimmy's eyes lit up with hope.
"But if Fiona goes to the University of Michigan, what about the kids?" Jimmy asked, concerned.
Having spent considerable time with Fiona, Jimmy knew her well. She would never abandon the children. If she went to college, there would be no one to care for them.
Given the choice between education and caring for her siblings, Fiona would undoubtedly choose the latter.
Due to the unreliability of her parents, Fiona had been responsible for her siblings from a young age. The role of caretaker was ingrained in her.
Even knowing that college could benefit her future and that her siblings might not appreciate her sacrifices, Fiona would still choose to stay and take care of them.
"You don't need to worry about that. I'm still here," Frank assured him.
"But first, Fiona needs to graduate high school and get into the University of Michigan," Frank continued.
Although the University of Michigan might not have the same prestige as Harvard or MIT, it was still a top-tier institution, not easy to get into.
It's like saying, "If Peking University and Tsinghua are too hard, just try Fudan," but in reality, Fudan isn't that easy either.
"You can help Fiona study for Michigan. Even if you don't want to be a doctor, at least get your degree and find another job. Of course, you'll need to help with Fiona's tuition," Frank concluded, laying out his plan.