Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 131459 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 657(@200wpm)___ 526(@250wpm)___ 438(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131459 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 657(@200wpm)___ 526(@250wpm)___ 438(@300wpm)
But they all made a point to come.
It meant everything to Cadence.
And Mika.
And Tom.
However, now, Tom watched as Teddy whispered something in Mika’s ear.
Mika promptly shared it with Chloe, who immediately turned to look at the flowers Teddy had just brought in.
Shit.
What did that mean?
Mika got up and made her way to Tom.
He kissed her cheek and slid an arm around her waist when she got close.
She was proud but vulnerable. This was a happy day, and an excruciating one.
She was letting Cadence see the former of both.
She was giving the latter to Tom in private.
But now, he wanted to know about the flowers.
As usual, she didn’t delay in giving it to him.
“Those pink flowers that just came in?” she asked.
He nodded, wondering at the look on her face and worried they came from her dad, who had been invited to not only the actual graduation (to which they’d only had four tickets, so Mika, Teddy, Faun and Nora went while Tom let those closest to Cadence have that experience, and he and his kids took care of setting up for this party). Her father had also been invited to the party.
The man did not respond, and so far, had not shown or given any indication he knew his only grandchild had hit an important milestone that day.
Rollo’s parents, both still alive, now retired and living in Florida, sent a heartfelt card, a generous check and the tassel from Rollo’s high school mortarboard in a satin-lined box (a gesture which was sweet, and made both his girls cry).
But sadly, this came along with a bullshit apology of why they couldn’t attend.
A belated piece of news that, in the newness of them, Tom had not had the time to ask after, but he’d recently learned was that Rollo’s parents never got over his death, particularly the grisliness of it. At first, they were very supportive of Mika and thrilled she was carrying Rollo’s child. But once Cadence came into the world, and grew older, bearing such resemblance to their son, they backed off.
It was insane.
Tom couldn’t wrap his head around it.
Mika described the relationship as “exceptionally loving, but distant.”
Tom called bullshit on that, but he didn’t speak those words out loud (though, he did share his thoughts with Matt, who agreed with his father).
It just made him doubly happy his kids went out of their way to show up.
“They’re from Imogen and Duncan,” she told him.
Tom looked to the flowers, his throat suddenly feeling tight.
They had yet to intermingle the families. He hadn’t seen Duncan since that day they’d walked into his house and Genny then raced right out. Family texts were good. Duncan had politely declined a game of tennis when Tom knew he was in Phoenix. He’d joked in a text, thanking Tom for not saddling him with another cat as the kittens were dispersed.
But it wasn’t like it used to be.
Those flowers said that Gen and Bowie intended to put in the work to make them like they used to be.
“It’s a good thing,” he assured Mika.
“Yes,” she agreed. “I’m touched. Cadence will be too.”
Tom let out a breath he didn’t know he was unconsciously holding and had been for months.
“Oh my God, guys!” Cadence shouted to her friends. She was standing at the flowers, Teddy, as ever, hovering near. “Imogen Swan sent me these!”
She then rounded them with her arms like she wanted to hug them and gave them an exaggerated sniff.
Tom smiled and caught Chloe’s eyes.
She was smiling too.
* * *
Mika
Still May…
New York City
Day After Graduation
My heart was full.
And so was my table.
Chloe, Judge and Matt had come over for brunch at my place that morning, Cadence, Sasha and Tom had helped me make it.
Teddy and Faunus were there.
Nora had texted. She was going to be late, but she’d be there soon.
This day, just months ago, it would probably have been Nora, Teddy, Faun and me.
Lots of love, for certain.
Just not that many people.
Now, my daughter had a noisy table filled with people she loved, all of them there to continue celebrating her awesomeness.
We would always have had a crush during the open house yesterday, no matter what. That was our life. It was full.
But this…
This was family.
We’d never had a big one of those.
Now, we did.
This beauty cut through the low hum of melancholy that now, my girl’s life was hers to do whatever she wanted.
I stopped myself from laying a happy kiss on Tom to share my gratitude that he’d given us this bounty just as Nora swept in on a cloud of Boucheron perfume and a sway of the ends of her scarf collar, sleeveless Givenchy blouse.
“Finally! You’re here!” Cadence cried.
My eyes narrowed.
My daughter was full of life, and sometimes she let that out through her decibel level.
But what she just said sounded annoyed and accusatory.