Carmine filled a flask with vodka before they set off for the school. He pulled the Mazda into the parking lot and got out as Haven nervously looked around. “Relax, hummingbird. We’re only here to help my brother bid high school farewell.”
“I just don’t want to embarrass you.”
He put his arm around her. “You’ll never embarrass me.”
“What if I fall down the stairs in front of everyone?”
“You won’t be walking down any stairs.”
“Well, I don’t need stairs. What if I just fall?”
“You won’t. I’ll hold you up.”
“What if I take you down with me?”
“You think you can take me down?” he asked playfully. “I guess I fall, then. Hate to break it to you, but that won’t embarrass me.”
She huffed. “What if I get hiccups and interrupt graduation?”
“If that happens, I’ll probably laugh, but whatever. You still aren’t gonna embarrass me.”
“But what if . . .”
By the time Haven was done asking her questions, they were safely seated in the back of the auditorium. Everyone settled and the ceremony started, the graduating class making their way in. Haven watched with wide eyes. As ridiculous as it all was to him, it was significant to her. She’d never gotten to experience high school.
Carmine didn’t know what to say, so he just sat quietly and watched as Principal Rutledge blabbed about how proud he was. Usually Carmine blocked out the inspirational bullshit they spewed, but Haven listened with so much passion it made him want to know what she was hearing.
“Take a second to imagine your future,” the valedictorian said when she stepped to the podium. “Imagine your life—your job, your spouse, your kids—but don’t imagine the future you think you’re heading for. Forget all the expectations and concentrate on what you truly want. Visualize the road that will take you there. That’s your path. That’s where you belong.”
Carmine pulled Haven to him, kissing her hair as she laid her head on his shoulder.
“None of the truly great in this world became that way by doing what they felt they had to do. If Isaac Newton had become a farmer like his mother wanted him to, or if Elvis would’ve listened when he was told to stick to truck driving, we’d know neither man today. We know them because they had the courage to follow the path they envisioned.”
The speech wound down, and Haven drank in every word of it.
The graduating class threw their caps into the air and everyone filtered out. Haven stood off to the side on the plaza with Tess and Dia as Carmine sat down on the brick wall lining the school. He watched her quietly, absorbing every smile.
Dominic sat beside him, still wearing his blue gown.
“Congrats,” Carmine said, pulling out his flask and taking a swig before handing it to his brother.
“Thanks.” Dominic took a drink and shuddered. “You know, Haven looks happy.”
Carmine nodded, glancing at her. She was laughing at something. “Yeah, she does.”
“She’s changed a lot these past nine months. She’s not the same frightened girl who showed up the first day. She’s smart, too. I’m graduating, and she corrected my vocabulary the other day. I said I felt nauseous, and she said the word I wanted was nauseated. Fucked me up, bro. Didn’t know there was a difference.”
He smirked. “Sounds like something she’d do.”
“She doesn’t flinch anymore, either.”
“I hated the flinching.”
They passed the flask back and forth before Dominic spoke again. “It was her, wasn’t it?” Carmine nodded and Dominic sighed, handing the flask back. “I figured. You got this look on your face at the family meeting, like she wrecked your car or something. It was the only thing that made sense.”
Carmine took a deep breath, feeling guilty he had blamed her. He still sometimes had moments where knowing the truth was hard. It would always hurt, but it was a pain he’d learn to live with.
“I think Mom would be happy to see her,” Dominic said. “To see how much she’s changed. I guess that’s what she wanted, and you did that for her.”