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Descending the steps, my breath caught as I spotted Mitch nearby, looking dashing in his suit, a warm smile lighting up his face. He shot me a reassuring wink.
Mitch had come to see me graduate!
Grinning, I knew at that moment it was the best graduation gift I could have received, especially considering my parents' feelings about him. "Congratulations, Amy! You did it!" he cheered, pumping his fist in the air.
"Thanks!" I responded to all my friends gathering around me.
As I looked upon the faces of those who had been by my side through the highs and lows, my heart overflowed with happiness and pride. However, my emotions shifted gears as my parents approached, and my pulse quickened with apprehension, fearing the tension Mitch's presence might ignite.
My mother, tears streaming down her cheeks, enveloped me in a tight embrace, whispering, "I'm so proud of you. You've achieved so much, and I couldn't be happier for you."
My father stepped forward; his deep voice laden with emotion. "Amy," he started gruffly before breaking into a smile. "You never cease to amaze us all—well done, my beautiful daughter!"
Over my shoulder, I caught Meagan nervously biting her lip as my parents moved to greet my friends. Ariel and Meagan had shared their worries that my parents would lump them together with Mitch, blaming them for the kidnapping due to their status as Rosedale wives. Soon enough, though, their expressions morphed from anxiety to genuine appreciation and respect when Mum and Papa introduced themselves.
"Hello, sweet girls! We're Elana and Giuseppe Russo—you can call us Mum and Papa if that's okay with you," Mum exclaimed. Before Ariel and Meagan could even react to the warm welcome, they were swept into an endearing embrace by Mum, while Papa greeted them heartily, treating them as if they were already part of the family—barely acknowledging Mitch.
My stomach twisted at the blatant exclusion of my friend Mitch. It wasn't his fault what had happened to me, and Rosedale Tech—where he was a co-owner—had been exceedingly generous by providing me with round-the-clock security. Why were they so cold toward him?
"Come, come," Mum gestured toward the parking lot. "We have reservations at Bella Vita, just a short distance away." She looked at me tenderly, her eyes conveying all her love and pride for my achievement, as she and Papa turned their backs to Mitch.
Feeling a bit claustrophobic and bewildered, I fanned my face. "Mum, you and Papa are being rude. Mitch is my friend too." Mum looked down somewhat abashed.
"He’s responsible!” Papa growled.
When I glanced back at Mitch, he offered a quick wink and strolled away.
Sensing the unease, Ariel softly squeezed my hand and whispered, "Let's defuse the tension. We'll have dinner with your parents. Mitch’ll be fine. He'd probably feel uncomfortable anyway. What do you say?"
I nodded, grateful for my steadfast friends who held my trust and, above all, my heart. As I turned to wave goodbye to Mitch, I found he had already disappeared from view.
"Ladies, join me. My Cadillac is parked just over there somewhere," Papa announced, gesturing toward the cars.
As we neared the general vicinity where he claimed to have parked, it became apparent that his sense of direction was as amiss. "Papa, did you put the AirTag I bought you for your birthday on your car?" I asked, struggling to hold back a smile.
"Absolutely, sweetheart! I just... uh, can't remember how to locate it using my phone." He scratched his head, looking more than a little sheepish.
I rolled my eyes and took his phone, opening the Find My app. "It's right here, Papa. Just tap on the car icon."
Mum joined in, chuckling, "He's so hopeless with these modern gadgets. Good thing he has you, Amy, because I'm not much better."
Papa puffed out his chest, eager to salvage his dignity. "I'm not hopeless. I simply have more important things to concentrate on. Like ensuring you lovely ladies enjoy a delightful dinner."
Soon, my friends and I were giggling, squeezed together in the back seat. "Bella Vita is a five-star restaurant. I can't wait to taste their dishes," Mum informed us, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
As we drove, my thoughts drifted back to Mitch and my parents' treatment of him. Was it wrong to stand up for him? Did they have the right to treat Mitch that way when all he ever tried to do was protect me? Ariel appeared to sense my growing anxiety and rubbed my arm. "It'll be okay. Just relax and have fun." I nodded, resting my head against the window as we rounded a corner. Whatever the night brought, I knew I could always rely on Ariel and Meagan to support me.
Suddenly, a commotion broke out in the front seat as Papa hesitated when pulling a cigar from the console. Mum responded with a sharp gasp and a disapproving cluck of her tongue, scolding him, "No smoking now, dear! The girls shouldn't be subjected to your stinky cigars. Honestly, what were you thinking?"
My somber mood instantly lifted as I caught his reflection in the rearview mirror. With a dismissive wave and a slap to his forehead, he exclaimed apologetically, "Oh dear! How could I forget? You ladies must be famished. There's no time for a smoke."
Ariel and Meagan laughed at his contrition as we continued our journey. Papa was always entertaining and considerate—most of the time.
Soon, a half-bottle of wine had vanished in a flash, and Meagan was reaching for the bottle to pour herself another glass. "Thank goodness I can indulge in this again!" she declared, evidently feeling somewhat elated already.
Mum's eyes widened in astonishment as she asked, "Amy mentioned you have twins?!"
"I was breastfeeding my babies, but it became too much," Meagan remarked while taking a dainty sip of her wine. "My days revolved around eating and nursing, leaving no time for anything else. Eventually, I followed my doctor's advice and switched to formula. Since then, it feels like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders."
