My hand stilled in the air as her eyes touched mine. Her eyes… it’s like looking in a mirror.
“Eva,” Mr. Perry’s voice drew my attention, and I looked to her side. “Hi, Roam.”
“Hi,” I accepted my cap, keeping my smile. “Thank you. Is this your daughter?” I asked. Mr. Perry talked about his daughter often, but rarely spoke of his wife. Given that Morgan had pointed out his ringless finger numerous times, I assumed that he was divorced.
He nodded, pulling the child into his lap. “Yes, Eva, want to say hello to Miss Camden?”
“Hi,” she said softly, looking up at her father. My face fell as she appeared washed in confusion; I slid the cap on my head, attempting to blindly pin it to my hair.
“Hi Eva. You know, your name is my middle name? It’s very pretty.”
“Her nanny was supposed to sit with her, but she got sick this morning, so… I’m trying to see if one of the other teachers will sit with her…,”
“Well, my sister Morgan loves to pretend she’s a cheerleader… she could use some help,” I offered, gesturing two rows down. Morgan’s head was already turned in our direction, and I watched her shoot to her feet as we all looked at her. She climbed the bleachers, appearing at my side in seconds.
“Hi… West, right?” She reached for his hand, and he shook it graciously as I explained that Eva needed someone to sit with during the ceremony.
Before Morgan could invite Eva to her side, I watched as the child climbed on her seat, holding her arms out for Morgan. Morgan reached for her naturally, and Eva clung to her.
“Well, I guess she’s not shy?” Morgan laughed, gripping the child tightly. I stood back and watched as Mr. Perry brushed his hand over Eva’s hair, a far-away look in his eyes.
“Thanks, Morgan,” he said softly, his eyes fixed on me. I watched them, smug, continuing to fuss with my cap.
“You’re welcome,” I murmured to Morgan, under my breath, and she winked at me.
“Well, I’ve got a valedictorian to introduce, so I’ll see you down there. Eva, okay?” He asked, and Eva nodded, still concreted to Morgan’s arms.
“I think we’re already best friends,” Morgan assured him.
I turned toward the aisle of stairs, moving behind the bleachers to join my classmates while the band warmed up for Pomp and Circumstance. While everyone took their seats, I joined Mr. Kingston, the vice principal, the superintendant, and Mr. Perry on the stage.
Mr. Kingston introduced us, and I sat primly in the wooden, folding chair, searching for Logan. He gave me a small wave from his chair, and I smiled at him, shifting my eyes back to the principal. As the audience clapped, I watched as Mr. Perry took the podium, glancing my way once before turning to the crowd.
He’d barely spoken two words before the female half of the audience tittered in their seats. He wore a black suit with a blue tie that matched his eyes exactly, and his tall, muscled physique coupled with his short, dark blonde hair exuded confidence and control. He’s really good looking, Morgan’s right, I thought. I felt my cheeks flush as my dreams scrolled through my mind, and I shifted uncomfortably at the memory of one in particular.
“I have the pleasure of introducing our valedictorian this year, simply because I am her history teacher, and she has chosen history as her major as she enters Princeton University in the fall.”
The audience applauded, and Morgan cheered, encouraging Eva to jump up and down next to her.
“Now, even if I hadn’t had the fortunate opportunity to teach Miss Camden, I would have vied for this honorable position.” He turned back to look at me, and I blushed, my fingers knotting together nervously.
“Aside from being an award-winning athlete,” my entire swim team erupted into excited calls as they remembered our winning season, “Roam is fundamentally kind. Kindness is not a quality that can be taught, but rather is a virtue that makes everyone in the world around her a better person… just simply for having known her.”
My lips parted in astonishment at his words; he spoke from his heart, that much was clear, as the podium before him held no three-by-five index cards.
“I’ve been all over this world, and have met many, many people. I feel that I am qualified to tell you that Roam will change lives. The day she walked into my classroom, she certainly changed mine.”
His poignant, personal words stole my breath.
Again, the friends and family in the crowd cheered whole-heartedly, and my father mouthed I love you as I caught his eye. I blew him a kiss, turning back to Mr. Perry.
His lips curved into a broad smile, and he spoke into the microphone but directly to me. “Roam, I would like to present you with a gift. This song is for you. I wish you success in all that you do, everywhere that you go.”
With that, he nodded once at the audio-visual coordinator, and the B52’s Roam began pouring through the speakers. The crowd rose to their feet, applauding and cheering excitedly. I covered my mouth with my palm as he walked to me. Bending over to my ear, he spoke over the music. “You’re up, baby.”
Stunned, I climbed shakily to my feet. Did he just call me baby? My dreams are messing with me. With no time to think, I walked to the podium, clearing my throat as volume of the music lowered.
“Thank you, Mr. Perry,” I said humbly, my voice shaking. “My mother actually named me after that song, so your gift is a reminder that she is here with me today. It means a lot to me, thank you,” I repeated, knowing I was rambling.
He nodded politely, returning to his seat.
I turned to the crowd, trying to hold the index cards to the podium to keep them from blowing away. My speech focused on friendship, and the memories that we’d made over the years. In the end, less than five minutes had passed, though I’d practiced speaking slowly for the past two weeks.
The principal gave us our diplomas and shook our hands. We stood, turned our tassels and cheered excitedly. After lining up and marching off the football field, we gathered with our families, hugging and celebrating. Morgan, still holding Mr. Perry’s daughter, gave me a collaborative smirk. “We’ve bonded.”
“Obviously,” I grinned, watching Mr. Perry make his way to Morgan. “You owe me, you know.”
“There’s my gorgeous valedictorian,” Logan swept in just as Mr. Perry caught up with us, gathering my face into his hands for an over-exaggerated kiss.
“Hey, easy, boot,” my dad warned as I giggled into Logan’s lips.
“I want Morgan,” Eva cried as Mr. Perry reached for her. “Daddy, I want Morgan!”
“Come on, babe,” he tucked her into his arms, her white sundress flapping in the wind. “We’ll have to get together for a play date with Morgan,” he smiled in Morgan’s direction, and Morgan nearly batted her eyelashes right off her face.
“That sounds great.”
“Mr. Perry, thank you so much for the nice things that you said about me,” I poured, and Logan wrapped one arm around me, tugging me to his side.
“Please call me West, both of you,” he corrected, smiling as Eva rested her head against his shoulder. “Logan, good luck to you. You still have your heart set on the Marines instead of baseball? We had a great season…,” he prodded.
Logan grinned, nodding. “Yes, sir. I am committed.”
“Take care of yourself,” West responded, his eyes shifting to me. “And take care of her.”
What an old fashioned thing to say, I thought, hardening. “Well, thank you, Mr. Perry- West. I’m actually really good at taking care of myself,” I rebuked, still holding my smile.
“I know.” He offered a small wave, nodding to Eva. “I have to get going. Nice talking to you all. Good luck,” he added.
As I watched him walk away, I rested my head on Logan’s shoulder, twisting my fingers at my waist.
Chapter Twelve
“Well?”
West set his keys on the kitchen table quietly, careful not to wake Eva as she slept on his shoulder. “Well, it’s done. They’ve graduated.�
�
Violet nodded, pulling the blanket closer to her chin and resting her cheek against the pillow on the couch. “Were they happy?”
He lowered Eva to the loveseat, pulling a soft, fleece blanket over her legs. “Yes.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t go… I just couldn’t see him,” she blinked rapidly, fighting away the tears. He patted her legs, indicating she move them. When she did, he sat next to her, pulling his oldest daughter into his arms.
“I understand. It was fine. Morgan held Eva.”
“It’s just not fair… everyone gets to forget, and the three of us have to remember forever. It’s not fair,” she exhaled slowly, controlling her tears.
He pulled at her spiral curls, nodding. “I know. I’m sorry, Vi.”
“Even Mom… it’s like she never left, and she doesn’t know any of it… the foster families, Logan...,” her voice broke at his name. “She doesn’t get why I wanted to live with you instead of her.”
“She’s coming around. It’ll take time,” he promised softly. “I’m just glad she doesn’t remember the castle. I thought she would.”
“She thinks you’re just another deadbeat dad.”
“I don’t care what she thinks of me.”
Silence stretched for long minutes. He thought she’d fallen asleep, but her tremulous words interrupted the stillness. “Is he still enlisting?”
“He said yes,” West felt her stiffen in his arms. “I’m sure he’ll be fine, Vi… he’s smart, and he’s resourceful. He’s meant to do this.”
“How could you stand to be so close to her, all year?” She pleaded, turning her gaze up at him from the pillow.
He closed his eyes tightly. How could I not be so close to her?
“Every time I began to rationalize telling her… or touching her… I pictured her in that ballroom. She was… broken. She killed people. She’d been through so much, and she was dying.”
He remembered her staggered breaths at the end, as he held her in his arms. “I don’t want her to remember any of it. She deserves a normal life… and so does Logan. So do you,” he added, tightening his hold on her shoulders.
“I’ll never love anyone like I love him,” she vowed softly. “And I feel so guilty for being jealous of Roam.”
“You’re eighteen years old, Violet. Let yourself feel. It’s okay.”
Her chest rose and fell with angry tears. “Do you think they’re sleeping together?”
He focused on his patience, mentally slowing his thoughts before snapping at her. “That’s none of our business.”
“I hate it,” she sobbed, finally breaking into tears. He rocked her in his arms.
“I do, too.”
Summer moved in swiftly, leaving no room for mourning.
Eva loved the outdoors, spending hours at the lake collecting smooth, flat rocks to paint. He had an in-ground swimming pool installed in the backyard, and Eva was proving to be a fish in the water.
“I’m having the cottage rebuilt,” West said as he held Eva in the water, helping her kick from one side of the pool to the other. “Let’s go there.”
“Mom will freak.”
“She’ll be fine.” He corrected, watching Violet gather Eva’s Barbie dolls from the giant, soaking pile near the edge of the pool. “You’re eighteen. If you want to go with me, she can’t stop you.”
“People look at us weird. Because you still look twenty-seven. If I call you ‘Dad’ they think of gross things.”
“Violet, I don’t care what people think. You’re my daughter, and you’re lucky I don’t look my age.”
“Ew. Seven hundred would be pretty dusty.”
“Eva, don’t drink the water,” he lifted her, and she spit a mouthful of chlorinated water at him.
“I’m an elephant!”
“And this is your trunk?” He teased, kissing her nose. She giggled, kicking the water with her bare toes.
“Okay, I’ll go.” She decided, shaking the water from the long, blonde hair of a Rapunzel doll. “When do my classes start again?”
“August twenty-seventh.” He’d helped her complete her senior year through a home-school program. She already remembered graduating once, and refused to go back and start over again, especially with Roam and Logan at the school. “Are you sure you just want to stay local? Lake Erie College is a good school, but you don’t have to go there just because we’re here.”
“I’m not leaving Eva.” She lowered to the side of the pool, slipping her feet into the water. “Or you.”
He smiled distantly, reaching for her hand. Eva giggled and blocked him, splashing her sister. “Vi swim!”
Violet assumed her shark-stance, flattening her hand above her head and glaring at Eva.
“No shark!” She shrieked, clinging to West frantically.
“Mr. Perry?”
He turned to the edge of the pool, handing Eva to Violet as Roam gave a small wave from the porch near the house. “I’m so sorry to interrupt you all… I couldn’t find a phone number for you, and I just wanted to ask you… um… I’m applying for a job, and I was wondering if I could use you as a reference… at the University library…,” she went on nervously, and he watched her fingers knot at her waist.
She wore a white sundress, her long, dark hair held away from her forehead with a thin, elastic headband. Her tanned face accentuated her green gaze, and her blush only added to her sun-kissed skin. She looks healthy, he thought first, trying to organize his thoughts. And so, so beautiful.
“Of course,” he hoisted himself over the coping of the pool, reaching for a beach towel. Violet gathered Eva, watching anxiously from the pool. “Roam, you know my daughter, Eva, and this is my oldest daughter, Violet.”
“I- hi, nice to meet you,” she stammered, waving politely. He watched her calculate their ages, courteously nodding and moving on. “I’m so sorry to interrupt… Logan said you hosted a cook-out for the baseball team, so he knew where you lived, and…,”
“Is he here?” Violet interrupted.
Roam’s gaze fixed on him as he dried his hair and face, and when he met her eyes, she quickly shifted them downward. “I- no, Logan’s not here, he’s at work.”
“I’d be glad to write you a reference letter. Vi, you have Eva?”
“Yes.” She glanced at Roam. “Nice to meet you.”
“Mommy?” Eva looked at him and then Roam nervously, and Violet laughed, bobbing her in the water once before kissing her neck, forcing her to giggles.
“I can type it up quickly and sign it, is that okay?”
“Thank you so much,” the sincerity in her voice squeezed his heart. “It was so out of line for me to come here, and interrupt you like this…,”
“Roam, I told you. Whatever I can do to help you succeed, I will. You’re not interrupting. Eva is learning to swim.”
“I actually applied for a life-guard position in New Jersey, but I’d prefer the library first. Their qualifications for each applicant are a mile long, so I’m hoping your letter with ‘Harvard’ somewhere under your signature will give me a little edge?”
“Absolutely. Come on in.”
“I really like your towel, by the way. I’m a huge fan.”
His damp swimming trunks were black, and he realized he was drying himself with Eva’s The Little Mermaid towel. He laughed, the tension finally leaving the air between them. “She wants to be a mermaid when she grows up.”
“Well, anything’s possible,” she replied, reaching for the door handle at the same time he did. He recoiled, nearly jumping backward to avoid touching her hand.
She lifted her eyes, offended confusion darkening the lush green color. I know every shade of her eyes.
“After you,” he nodded to the house, and her polite smile returned as she moved through the sliding glass door to the living room.
“That’s an interesting tattoo,” she gestured to his forearm, and he resisted the urge to cover the numbers with the towel.
“Coordinate
s,” he responded quickly, dismissing.
“Your house is so beautiful!” She exclaimed, twirling as she entered the living room so that her skirt caught the air. He watched her rigidly, nearly jogging to the stairs.
“Thanks. I’m going to get some clothes, be right back.”
Once inside his bedroom, he threw on khaki shorts and a white polo. The balcony overlooking the living room offered him a full, unobstructed view of her as she stood waiting.
She walked with her hands clasped behind her back, slipping her flip-flops off and leaving them by the door. Her skin lit with plenty of fresh air and sunshine, and her perfect figure complimented the sundress in every way.
I will never stop loving her.
His muscles tightened, and he swallowed, taking a step backward.
She has her own life; you were never supposed to be part of it.
The memories will destroy her, if you give them back to her.
Give her the letter, send her on her way.
“I feel like I’ve been here before,” she called as he descended the steps quickly. “This is kind of embarrassing, but I have dreams about your house… and you… a lot. Okay, that’s completely embarrassing; I don’t know why I’m telling you this…,”
She dreams… he nearly folded with relief, grateful that some part of her remembered him.
“Hey, the mind is a strange place,” he replied, powering up the laptop.
She turned to him sharply, her breath hitching in her chest.
“How’s Logan?” He clicked the mouse absently.
“Good. He’s leaving on August sixteenth.”
“How are you feeling with him going?”
“Okay, I guess.” She yanked at her fingers, and he fought the urge to still them by dragging them to his lips.
“You two have been together for a long time,” he sat in the kitchen chair, pulling up a Word document.
“Yeah,” she smoothed the skirt of her sundress. “He’s very supportive. He knows how important college is for me, and I know what the Marines mean to him.”
“Is this letter ‘to whom it may concern’?”
Rise (Roam Series, Book Three) Page 11
