Page 67 of This Love
Ava and Vinnie both took photos, although Vinnie insisted that when it was time for me to walk across the stage, she needed to enjoy the moment and let him do the snapping.
I knew she’d never do that.
And sure enough, when I glanced out at the seats after they called my name. I spotted her hair around the camera lens. Gram and the others whooped it up.
I turned in time to shake some random administrator’s hand and take my empty diploma case. Life would get easier without classes on top of everything else, even though I’d only been taking one or two courses a semester.
I had three interviews lined up in early January, part of the recruitment set up by the college.
Ava and I weren’t kids anymore, not by any definition. She had her photography degree. I had mine. Real jobs. Real lives.
If only she’d agree to marry me. I didn’t know how or when to broach the subject again. The legal standing would make me feel more secure that I could handle anything her condition sent my way.
After the caps filled the air and made their pointy descent on the crowd, I pushed through the throng to my little group. It was easy to spot Big Harry. He towered over everyone, especially my diminutive Gram.
Ava threw her arms around my neck. “You did it! You’re all done!”
Marcus shook my hand. Maya and Gram hugged me from either side.
“I thought we could head out to the Oasis for dinner,” Marcus said. “We should get there in time for sunset.”
“How lovely,” Gram said. “I don’t think I’ve been there since Tucker’s grandfather was alive.”
When everyone was still alive. I remembered that dinner. Stephen was in kindergarten. I was a second grader. We’d annoyed the more serious diners by running along the decks.
“What’s the Oasis?” Ava asked.
I unzipped my graduation gown. “A huge restaurant overlooking Lake Travis. It’s known for its sunset views.”
Gram took my diploma and cap. “The food is all right, but it’s definitely a destination spot in Austin. It will be delightful.”
Marcus drove Harry and Maya out while I took Ava, Vinnie, and Gram. I was surprised when we arrived to find Bill and his new girlfriend Samantha, as well as Fuentes and some woman I’d never met.
“I invited your friends,” Gram said.
“That’s great, Gram.” I shook Bill’s hand. “Glad you came.
“Congrats, you slowpoke,” he said, his arm around Samantha. “About time you got out of there.”
Fuentes clapped me on the back. “My man. Now, you’re too good for Jiffy Lube.” He dragged his arm around a woman in a tiny, low-cut red dress. “This is Diana.”
The woman clung to his arm, eyes on Fuentes. “Congrats.”
“Thanks.” I took Ava’s hand. “Let’s head in.”
Ava was quieter than usual as we took up a large table on one of the many decks of the restaurant. Fuentes was the loud one, regaling everyone with stories from the garage, cars we’d worked on, problem customers. Half of them were made up, but he was entertaining.
Vinnie took pictures. Marcus kept the appetizers coming.
As the sun set, I walked Ava over to one of the balconies.
She exhaled slowly, leaning over the rail as if to escape everyone. “It’s a lot of people. I forget how hard that can be. Was I always like this?”
“More or less. I didn’t realize we were coming here. I might have suggested something smaller.”
“No, it’s pretty. And you know how Dad is when he gets an idea in his head.”
“Like father, like daughter.”
