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"Oh. I thought he was out of school already?"
"The way Bain talks about him, I thought so, too. Turns out, he isn't," she says shrugging.
"So, what's his name? I'm sure I know him," I tell her.
She looks up at the ceiling and thinks. "You know, I don't know if Bain has ever called him by his name. He always refers to him as his son. Hell, I don't know what he looks like." she chuckles.
"How can you be marrying a guy, and you don't know his son's name? That is just weird," I say and turn to finish touching up my mascara.
"I'm not marrying his son, Ryan…and it's not like he's a child. I guess we will both meet him really soon." She grins.
"Fine. I still think it's weird, but whatever." I roll my eyes playfully. "Yeah, I'll ride with you, I guess, but I'll be leaving with Beau."
"Great, Bain will be here in about ten minutes." She saunters off, leaving me, and I shake my head, smiling. Unbelievable…
Hurrying to finish getting ready, I meet my mother at the bottom of the stairs once I'm done. Bain is standing with her as they wait for me. "I'm so sorry to keep you waiting," I tell them both.
"It's perfectly okay, Ryan. I've been around enough women to know perfection takes time…as they all seem to say." Bain chuckles.
"Well, I'm not looking for perfection, Bain. I just don't want to look like the walking dead." I laugh.
"Well, I may be a little biased." He looks at my mother and smiles warmly. "But you look like your beautiful mother, so it's impossible for you to look like the walking dead."
My heart melts at his words and the way he looks at Mom. I don't say anything more for fear of breaking the little spell between the two love birds gazing into each other's eyes. Instead, I head for the door and slip out to wait for them.
The auditorium is packed already, but thankfully, Bain has pull and has our seats reserved up near the front. I'm anxious to see Beau receive his diploma. He deserves it after holding off on graduating early and continuing schooling just to be able to see me. That may not sound romantic to some, but it does to me. I swear, he's turning me into a mushy girl.
"So, Bain, what is your son's name anyway? I hadn't realized he went to school here." I look around my mother in order to ask him.
"Oh, my son's name is…"
Pomp and Circumstance, the graduation song, starts playing over the speakers, cutting off Bain's words. The graduates start their walk, and we all stand up. Beau is about a third of the way back, and I try waving as he walks by, but he doesn't see me. His eyes are scanning the crowd, searching for me. I just know it, but they never land on me.
As we sit and listen to all the speeches and then the handing out of the diplomas, I'm startled when Bain joins me in cheering as Beau walks across the stage and is handed his diploma. My mother and I look at one another and then at Bain as he wears a huge grin. That's when it hits me, and my heart starts to crack.
No, this can't be! Life cannot be this cruel to me!
Does Beau know? No, he can't know, or else he would have told me…right? Maybe Bain is just cheering him on because I am. Yeah, that has to be it. I'll also do the same when his son walks across the stage. That's what families do, right? They support one another.
I let my rapid heartbeat slow down as I come to this conclusion. However, my mother continues to wear a worried look throughout. The more time that passes, the more my fear starts to build once again. By the time the last name is called, and Bain remains in his seat without cheering, I'm in absolute panic mode.
The students disperse to come find their families, and I bolt. Unfortunately, I run smack into Beau in my escape, and he has to steady me, so I don't fall. His smile turns into a frown the moment he looks at me.
"What's wrong, Ryan?" His brows furrow.
All I can do is shake my head as the tears start to fall. I yank free and back away, trying to take in every last bit of him before I turn and run out. It's a lot of good that does me because Beau gives chase. Of course, he would. What did I expect?
"Ryan! Wait up… What the fuck?" He wraps his hand around my upper arm and spins me.
"Don't…" I tell him, trying to yank free again, but his grip is firmer.
"Talk to me, baby! Why are you running?"
I want to hate him, but I know none of this is his fault. I doubt he knows, so instead of lashing out at him, I simply ask, "What is your father's name, Beau?"
"What? Why?" He's confused, and I don't blame him, but I still can't stop myself from raising my voice.
"His name, Beau!"
