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“Thank you,” I said, smiling at Ms. Bessing.
“While I could thank Troy a million times, these little girls came up with a way to really thank their favorite teacher.”
I turned to look at the girls to find them looking backstage. When I looked up, I saw Kyle walking onto the stage with a bouquet of magnolias. I put my hand on my chest for fear that my heart would leap right out of my body. Was I dreaming?
Kyle walked up to me and kissed me on the cheek. I could hear the girls giggling behind us. He handed me the flowers and we embraced. The camera flashes from the audience looked like shooting stars.
“Congratulations, Angel,” he whispered in my ear.
The girls ran over and climbed all over us, showering me with kisses and “thank yous.” I couldn’t stop smiling and looking at Kyle standing in front of me.
“What are you doing here?” I said between hugs.
“I couldn’t miss it,” Kyle replied, wiping a tear from my eye.
When we finally walked off the stage, I found a crowd of parents and students waiting for me in the studio. They began to clap when Kyle and I walked in.
My parents were standing with Nana Rue and Grandma Lucy collecting costumes.
“I’m so proud,” my mother said, hugging me. “You did a great job.”
“We’re going to celebrate at the Water Club,” my father said, winking at Kyle. He kissed me on the cheek. “A little party for Troy.”
“We couldn’t be more proud, right, Rue B.” Grandma Lucy said, coming in for a hug.
“I don’t think we could.” Nana Rue smiled. She embraced me and looked into my eyes. “You’ve got it, Troy,” she said. “We’ve given you many material things throughout your life, but tonight you proved that you’ve gotten the most important thing on your own.”
“What’s that?” I asked.
“Compassion.” She placed her hand over my heart. “You’ve got it in here. Working with these girls, you’ve shown that you care about people more than you care for yourself, and that’s more important than any material possession. That’s love.”
“Oh, Nana Rue,” I said, hugging her again.
“Well, we’ve got to get going if we want to keep these reservations,” my father said. “Kyle, I trust that you’ll bring my daughter over safely.”
“Yes.” Kyle smiled.
“Hey, teacher,” Tamia said, turning me around, “I want you to meet my date.”
“Not until after she meets my date, trick,” Tasha jumped in from behind me.
“Tash!” I screamed, hugging her. While we hung out many times after the drama in L.A., she wasn’t able to get out much because of the pregnancy, so I hadn’t expected her to come to the pageant. She was only four months pregnant but her stomach was so swollen she looked like she was going on ten months. She was having what Nana Rue called a “big pregnancy.” “What do you mean, ‘date’?” I asked. “Is Lionel here, too?”
“No, I have a different escort for this evening.” Tasha smiled, waving at someone behind me.
“Hi, Troy,” I heard someone say. I turned to find Porsche standing next to Kyle.
“Porsche.” I smiled. “I can’t believe you’re here.” I stepped back to make sure it was really her. I looked back at Tasha. “What happened?”
“We made up,” Tasha said, walking over to Porsche. “After all of that stuff in Los Angeles, we decided to leave the past behind us for the baby,” she added, looking at her mother. “She comes here every weekend to help me and Lionel out and she plans on coming to stay for a while when the baby comes. So everything is great.”
“And we have you and Tamia to thank for it,” Porsche said. “You girls risked your friendship to get my daughter back to me, and I’ll never forget it.”
“Aww. You guys,” I cried with joy. I hugged Tasha and Porsche and rubbed Tasha’s bulging belly.
“Okay, okay, I’m next,” Tamia broke in.
“What is it, Tamia?” I asked, turning back around. “Who is this date you kee
