The Day Before the Second Graduation
Chapter 19 - The Day Before the Second Graduation
A year later, Henry stood in front of a mirror wearing a blue graduation gown.
He looked uncomfortable.
Noah adjusted the collar.
“You’re choking me.”
“I’m fixing it.”
“You’ve been fixing it for ten minutes.”
“Hold still.”
Emma watched from the doorway.
“Both of you are impossible.”
Henry smiled.
“You marrying into this?”
Emma looked at Noah.
“If he ever asks again.”
Noah froze.
Henry slowly turned.
“You haven’t?”
Noah cleared his throat.
“We had a lot going on.”
Henry stared at him.
“Boy, I refinanced a house to educate you.”
Emma burst out laughing.
Noah reached into his pocket.
“Actually…”
Emma stopped laughing.
“Noah.”
He dropped to one knee right there in Henry’s bedroom.
“No big hotel. No investors. No announcements planned by anybody else.”
Emma covered her mouth.
Noah continued.
“Just the people I want in the room.”
Henry quietly stepped toward the hallway.
Emma grabbed his sleeve.
“Stay.”
Henry did.
Noah looked up at her.
“Emma Caldwell, will you marry me?”
She nodded before he finished.
“Yes.”
Henry applauded once.
Loudly.
Then wiped his eyes.
The next morning, Westbridge Community College’s auditorium was packed with families.
Henry waited backstage with students young enough to be his grandchildren.
He rubbed his thumb against his index finger.
Noah noticed.
“You do that when you’re nervous.”
Henry frowned.
“I do not.”
“You absolutely do.”
A staff member called Henry’s name.
He stepped toward the stage.
Then stopped.
“What if I trip?”
Noah smiled.
“Then get up.”
“What if I forget where to walk?”
“I’ll be in the front row.”
Henry looked at him.
Front row.
The words settled between them.
This time, there would be no back wall.
No service entrance.
No hiding.
Henry walked onto the stage.
The audience applauded.
Noah stood first.
Emma stood beside him.
Dean Mercer, attending as a guest, stood too.
Henry received his certificate.
But before he left the stage, he looked at Noah and motioned him forward.
The room began to murmur.
Noah climbed the steps.
Henry removed his own graduation cap.
He held it out.
“No,” Noah whispered.
May you like
Henry smiled.
“Your turn to wear mine.”
