AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Where’s Hayden?” Sé asks.
“He’s coming with his family. He’ll meet us there,” I tell him. I look down at my phone. “Okay we should make our way over there, or we’re going to be late.”
We hurriedly exit our apartment and pile into various cars before we make our way to St. James University one more time.
“Hayden Albrecht,” the announcer calls and I jump up cheering, along with his family in the stands. He grins as he walks across the stage—his black jeans and checkered skate shoes peeking out beneath the graduation gown. When I saw him wearing normal clothes, the same thing he’d wear on any other day, I smiled because it’s so him. His mom told me she bought him a special outfit and Hayden insisted it didn’t fit him. His mom looked at him like she knew he was lying, but there was affection and amusement there too. She knows her son and loves his quirks.
I settle back in my seat, knowing we have a while to go until we get to the ‘R’s’. I jump up and cheer for Elliot, and then again for Madeline. When it’s finally my turn, they all cheer for me. My brother somehow snuck a foghorn into the auditorium and blew it, scaring everyone half to death. Once everyone recovers, the announcer lets everyone know that anyone else using any overly loud noise makers will be escorted out by security. I’m sure our mother has already smacked him with her shoe, maybe even her purse also.
When our school dean officially announces our graduating class, we throw our caps into the air. There is joyful screaming and happy hollers then someone shoots off a small confetti gun over us all. Time feels like it stops. I look up smiling as the colorful little papers flutter and fall around us in slow motion. The excitement and feelings of accomplishment surrounding me are infectious and I find myself letting these feelings embrace me. Arms wrap around my waist, tugging me to a warm and familiar body. I sink into that body, turning my head up to find Hayden smiling down to me.
“We did it, baby,” he yells over the loud crowd. I turn in his arms and wrap my arms around his neck.
“I’m so glad I got to do it with you,” I say. That beautiful shade of pink covers his cheeks as he smiles and leans down to kiss me.
FIFTY-ONE
NOW, SPRING
“Ana, go home,” Evan yells as he passes my office. “It’s almost six.”
I laugh and wave him off. “I will, I will. I’m just finishing up this email.”
Evan pauses in my doorway. “It’s nice to see that on your face again.”
I look up in confusion, “What?”
“Happiness,” he says sincerely. He only got ‘happy Ana’ for a short time the summer we started working together before Hayden died. He’s dealt with the shell I’ve been since then, sticking by my side. I give him a small smile.
“It feels nice too,” I whisper, and he winks at me before leaving.
I sigh, finishing the email before my phone rings, again. I internally groan, letting the call go to voicemail again. I’m still not ready to have that conversation.
But the call finally ends and I get a text sound, I wince thinking that I’m going to have a text from the same caller. But it’s not, it’s from David.
David: I made arroz con pollo and ACCIDENTALLY made too much. Want to come over for dinner?
I smile and respond with a yes and then I clean up my desk and grab my things before heading out the door.
When I make it outside I inhale deeply, appreciating the full bloom of spring around me. The trees are finally all green with new life. Some of them are still holding on to their flowers. The breeze is cool but feels nice even with the light cardigan over my blouse. I get in my car and make my way to David’s place.
When I arrive and knock on his door, he opens it with a smile. I can smell the food before I even step in—garlic and sazón and sofrito and home. I inhale deeply and say, “It smells amazing in here.”
“I’ve been slaving away all day,” he says.
“You didn’t work today?” I ask, hanging my bag up on the coat rack next to his door.
“No, I took a day off,” he answers. “Just needed a mental health day.”
“Good for you.” I smile.
I’ve never been inside his apartment before. I only stood in front of the front door when I made my declaration/apology to him a couple of months ago. Just like him, his home is warm, inviting, and neat—it’s everything I imagined it would be. When you walk down the small hallway from his front door it opens to his dining room. Beyond the table and chairs there is his kitchen and to the right is a big spacious living room with light wood floors and cream colored walls. There’s a brown leather sectional in front of a massive TV that has a baseball game playing on it.
“It’s just about ready.” He moves the pan off of the stove and onto a potholder on the counter. The pot of white rice sitting next to it has a spoon ready for serving.
“This looks amazing, thank you so much for all of this,” I say. He looks down at me, grinning.
“Thank you for coming,” he says sincerely.
