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Even more than that, I never considered I’ve have both. And standing here knowing what I have waiting for me after this ceremony is almost as exciting as what I’m achieving today.
Thankfully, I’m surrounded by a bunch of people who not only believed in my food, but also believed in me. Both Bradley and Ray have been instrumental to my growth and I certainly wouldn’t be here without the two of them.
I squirm around nervously as I look out at the crowd gathered in our honor. Rachel smiles and waves at me and I give her a small wave back. My parents are next to her, both of them beaming from ear to ear. I’ve accomplished quite a bit in my short years, but this is the moment I’m most proud of. My gaze finally lands on Asher and I lose all sense of what’s going on around me. He flashes that boyish grin of his and winks at me as Jacob squirms in his arms, clapping his tiny hands as he watches on.
Asher is the last person I would have expected to be present and accounted for, but here he is, holding his son who looks more and more like him every day. For a brief moment, I wasn’t sure where we stood in our relationship and after the whole issue with Magdalene I definitely had my doubts about staying together.
While I love Jacob, I never considered taking on the mother role. When Asher explained how I’d already been fulfilling the role, I doubted him, only to later learn he was right. I stepped into the unknown and let the chips fall where they may, and luckily, they fell in great places. We made the decision to commit to a relationship, raising his son together, and here we are, still going strong a year later.
Asher made it crystal clear to me and the world when he gave his statement to the press about me and Jacob. We were tired of being followed around, and the rumor mill didn’t help the situation, but after Asher’s statement, everything died down a bit.
“We’re going to start the second part of the ceremony, so graduates, when you hear your name, come up and receive your official white chef’s coat,” says Ray.
This is the moment I’ve been waiting for and I’m nervous beyond all reason. I quickly wipe my hands on my pants, hoping to rid myself of some of the sweat coating my palms.
I can’t shake Ray’s hand with sweaty palms.
I’m in such a good place with everything in my life. I even reconciled with Magdalene. I remember the day she called to apologize like it was yesterday. She admitted to lying about the whole thing involving Asher. She never even sought custody of Jacob, just the largest payday she could dream up. Little did she know, it was my convincing that spared her a legal battle with Asher’s lawyers, instead rewarding her with every request in exchange for full custody.
“Jade Sinclair.”
I rise to my feet and smooth away any possible wrinkles in my shirt before joining Ray at the podium. He helps me slip into the jacket and it melds to my body like a second layer of skin. The fit is perfect, and I doubt I will take it off anytime soon. This jacket makes me an official chef, with the culinary education to back up my talent.
Ray beams at me and shakes my hand as we turn to pose for photos. I’m the last graduate, so we all exit the stage and walk over to mingle with our loved ones while the room next door is being set up for our celebratory dinner. I’m really excited about that part, especially since the main course is an original recipe by yours truly.
Rachel makes it to me first and wraps her arms tightly around me. “You did it, Jade, you’re officially my personal chef!”
I lean back from the embrace and shake my head. “Good try,” I say. “There’s no way I’m going to be your personal anything. You’d talk me to death before I even get the chance to cook anything.”
She laughs and slaps my shoulder before handing me off to my parents.
“We’re so proud of you,” my dad says, enclosing me in one of his bear hugs. “I knew your constant tinkering around in the kitchen would lead to something amazing, and now here you are.”
Mom peels Dad off me so she can get her turn, and her hug is just as warm and comforting as it was when I was a little girl. Her Chanel perfume is subtle, and it brings back such fond memories of us cooking together when I was younger.
“You look like an angel,” she says. “I’m so happy we made it back in the country in time to see you graduate.”
