Laney Ashford found herself in a bind. She was free-falling for an Irish working-class guy who even worked in her dining hall at Elliot House. She was supposed to marry a Harvard or Yale man, not someone from South Boston who didn’t seem to have much of a future. But as she got to know Johnny Sullivan, she realized she had been mistaken. The man was handsome, yes, but he was also intelligent and clever. He could fix most things, had charisma, and could charm even the biggest curmudgeon in Southie. She had discovered a rose hiding in a weed patch.
The problem was that her father, Judge William Ashford, and the rest of the clan would never see her suitor as she did. They wouldn’t take the time to get to know him and would do everything to stop him. The Ashfords wanted power and wealth; their lineage was crucial to their continued success.
The relationship with Sully heated up quickly, and Laney spent less time with her friends and more with her new lover. They had little idea she was exploring different pubs and cafes in South Boston while getting to know Sully’s colorful friends. Her parents knew nothing of Sully.
At his day job at M.I.T., Sully continued to chat with Luden whenever they met in the hall. Luden was more convinced than ever that Sully had a brighter future ahead of him than as a cleaning man. He was intelligent, curious, and seemed to learn quickly. Luden wondered if he was facing another Good Will Hunting situation while chuckling.
Recently, the professor has been discussing Sully's future and asked if he would be interested in M.I.T.’s program designed to help promising college students. Sully laughed at first, but recognized that Luden was serious and became serious. He hadn’t been a great student in high school, as he was distracted by friends, sports, and the declining health of his cancer-stricken mother, who passed away during his senior year. College had seemed out of the question.