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Andrea
"Madison Raffield." The principal calls my daughter's name as her long legs glide across the stage. My baby girl, the younger of the twins by six minutes, is heading off to San Diego to pursue her dream of becoming a pediatrician.
"Mason Raffield." My son takes the stage with even more confidence than his sister, dribbling his basketball. Before he accepts his diploma, he shoots the ball into the crowd and the kid who catches it acts like it’s the winning ball from a Warriors game. Mason smiled, shouted, “Go Bruins!” then ran off stage.
My son is going to give Los Angeles a run for its money.
"Boy has my confidence," Jason whispers to his girlfriend, intentionally loud enough for me to hear.
"He got it from hismomma," Jackie says, loud enough for anyone within a ten-foot radius can hear.
"I would now like to present this year's graduating class of Ryder High School. Graduates, you may all move your tassels to the left. Congratulations, ladies and gentlemen. You did it!" An eruption of cheers shake the amphitheater.
The kids agreed to a family dinner at my parents’ restaurant before beginning their night of celebration with their friends Jason and I have done a decent job at co-parenting thus far, but this is the first time our families have been in one place together since the divorce. Hell, they never got along in the twenty-two years we were together, so expecting them to do so tonight was a tall order.
Luckily, the restaurant is large enough, so each side of the family has stuck to separate areas, with the twins mingling back and forth between both.
Speaking of the twins, Mason and Madison step to the front of the main dining room, clinking silverware to their glasses. "Hey, everyone. Can we have your attention, please?" Mason calls out over the loud conversations being had around him. "My sister and I want to thank you all for being here for us tonight.”
“And for the past eighteen years,” Madi adds
“Can you believe we graduated? Of course,Igraduated, but let's give a round of applause to my sister, who finally put school before her boyfriend."
The room erupts into laughter as Madi playfully slaps her brother's chest.
"I graduated. That's all that matters." She flashes a grin.
"Yeah, let's just hope you get through college," Mason teases. Then he wraps an arm around her shoulder and pulls her against his body. The incredible bond these two have has truly been a gift to witness. "Before my sister and I sneak out of here, we want to thank Grandma and Grandpa Raffield for the backpacking trip across Europe. Mads and I are looking forward to going on vacation for a couple of weeks before moving to Southern California to start our new adventures.” He searches the crowd and his eyes lock with mine. “We're both a little nervous, but Mom taught us to trust the journey, take leaps, and never regret our choices.”
He blurs as my eyes well with tears.
“Congratulations to you, also, Mom; I know your next chapter will be amazing."
Happy tears stream down my cheeks as my twins rush me in a bear hug. It doesn't matter what kind of asshole Jason Raffield was; he gave me the two most amazing children I could ever ask for.
"I love you both so much. I could not be prouder of the adults you are becoming. Now, go have an amazing night you will never forget."
As I make my rounds between family members to say goodbye, I catch Jason watching me out of the corner of his eye. We've done our best avoiding each other this evening, but the look in his gaze tells me that sweet distance is closing in on me.
"We need to talk." he barks.
"Do we have to?"
He walks out to the patio, and I'm expected to follow. How very typical.
When the door shuts, and Jason is sure his family is out of earshot, he rounds on me. "What the fuck is going on,Andrea? Are you selling the house? Don't you think you should have discussed this with me?"
"Yes, I sold the house, and no, I don't. My lawyer scored me the house when you decided to stick your dick in your patient and walk out on your wife and kids. I held to our agreement and stayed there with the kids until they graduated. Meanwhile, you ran off and started a new life. Now, it's my time to do so."
"What? What about the kids?" h demands.
"The kids are adults and will figure it out. They can stay with you on vacation. They can stay with their aunt, their grandparents—”
“Where the hell are you going?”
“What I plan to do is none of your damn business. You lost the right to ask me anything about my life the day we signed the divorce papers."
"Andrea."
