Page 240 of When Love Takes Root

“No,” Skye announced.

The photographer lowered his camera. “What happened?”

“She needs her cap straight.”

Maya sighed. “My cap is fine.”

“It’s leaning toward uncertainty.”

“Skye.”

“I’m protecting the legacy.”

Kayden adjusted Maya’s cap just enough to satisfy her.

“Better?”

Skye nodded. “Now she looks fully funded.”

The courtyard erupted.

The camera flashed while we were laughing.

Later, that became everybody’s favorite picture.

Not the one where we stood perfectly arranged.

The one where Maya’s head tipped back, Celeste laughed against my shoulder, Kayden looked caught between annoyance and joy, and every person in the frame looked like they belonged there.

At dinner, Langston purple covered the private room from the tablecloths to the flowers Zuri and Skye had chosen without regard for restraint. A cake shaped like an artist’s palette sat near the center table beside Maya’s framed scholarship letter.

Aunt Hilary had ordered enough food to serve the graduating class.

Juice still asked whether there were extras.

“There haven’t been extras since you arrived,” Melody told him.

“That feels personal.”

JJ lifted his glass when everybody settled.

“To Maya.”

The room quieted.

He looked at his sister with a smile full of pride. “You’ve always seen more than the rest of us. Now you get to go somewhere that’ll teach you what to do with all that vision.”

Maya’s eyes filled.

Kayden raised his glass next.

“And don’t come home acting brand new because Langston got old buildings and famous alumni.”

“They have history,” Maya corrected.

“They got tuition. Stay focused.”

Everybody laughed.