47. Delia
forty-seven
Delia
The auditorium buzzed with the quiet hum of families, faculty, and fellow graduates. The echoes of clapping hands, muffled voices, and an occasional cheer floated through the large room. I stood in line backstage, my cap feeling heavy on my head and my gown far too stifling for the nerves thrumming in my chest.
I couldn’t believe I’d made it. After all the late nights, the lost hours, and the countless times I thought I’d have to give up, I was finally here. Graduating. On time.
The journey hadn’t been easy, far from it. Robert’s PTSD had gotten worse, then better, with some intensive therapy.
Jeremy had been convicted of assault as well as criminal sabotage. However, he only got a few months of community service and a fine in the low thousands, though he did, thankfully, have to give up his position. His license was also suspended, resulting in his moving back home to live with his parents, last I’d heard from Linda. Everything had gotten worse before it had gotten better.
Between losing my hours, almost being derailed by Jeremy, and everything with Robert and the pregnancy, I felt like I’d fought for this moment like my life depended on it. Maybe, in a way, it did.
I looked down at my belly, my hand instinctively settling on the unmistakable curve of twins that had been gestating for eight months. They were huge, and I’d taken to talking to them in my quiet moments, whispering promises to them: that I’d make something of myself, that I’d give them a life worth living. And now, here I was, finally keeping that first promise.
“Delia Sturgess, Master of Science in Counseling Psychology.”
The applause was deafening to me, somehow louder than it had been for anyone else. I knew it was all in my head, but in that moment, I didn’t care.
When I reached the center of the stage, I shook the dean’s hand and turned to face the crowd.
My eyes instinctively sought out my family. My brother Tyler was the first face I saw, grinning like an idiot and whistling far too loudly. My mother sat next to him, clapping daintily, but I could see the pride in her eyes. For once, she wasn’t criticizing me or offering ‘advice’ I hadn’t asked for. She was just…happy.
Kassandra was next to her, a happy grin spread across her face, her silky brown hair in demure braids, wearing a white dress to be ‘on theme.’ I loved her for it. God knows I’d look ridiculous in white right now.
And then there were Robert and Corinne. He was standing, towering over the seated crowd, his hands clapping steadily, his gaze locked on me with a mixture of pride and something softer that was only for me.
Beside him, Corinne sat with a bouquet of flowers almost bigger than she was, her smile wide and bright as she waved at me.
I waved back, my movement so wide that my whole body moved back and forth. That was my family.
My family. How I loved the sound of that.
I walked offstage as the cheers faded, feeling like my heart might burst. I’d done it. I’d really done it.
It took three hours to hear my name being called, but once the names started rolling, it was all over so quickly.
I hugged some of my peers, students I hadn’t gotten very close to with my busy schedule, and I burst out of the double doors.
My eyes scanned the crowd of families that framed the exit until I saw Tyler. I ran over to him, my hand clasped on top of my cap.
“Delia, you’re a rockstar!” he said with a grin. “I’m so proud of you, kid. I couldn’t have done this.”
“You could have,” I hugged him.
My mother stepped up next, taking both my hands in hers and pressing a kiss to my cheek. “You’ve done so well, sweetheart,” she said. “Really, you’ve made us proud.”
Her eyes flitted to the ring on my finger and widened, “And that rock…” She looked up at Robert and nodded her approval, winking at me.
I didn’t know what to say to that. She’d spent so much of my life reminding me of what I hadn’t accomplished that hearing her praise felt like I’d stepped into an alternate universe. But I took it for what it was and hugged her back.
Kassandra hugged me tightly, muttering into my ear, “Good job. Those kids won’t even know what a badass mom they have.”
Corinne held out the bouquet of flowers she’d been gripping all day. “These are for you!” she said proudly.
I laughed, crouching down carefully to take the flowers. “Thank you, Corinne. They’re perfect.”
She grinned and hugged me for a second.
I straightened and turned to Robert, wanting his praise the most.
“Congratulations,” he said, his voice soft in my ear as he kissed my cheek.
I turned to kiss his lips, and there was that look again, the one that melted my heart every time. “I knew you could do it,” he said, as our mouths crashed together.
“Thank you,” I whispered, and for a second, it felt like we were the only two people there. All I could focus on was Robert, his arms around me, his lips on mine, and the overwhelming feeling of being home.
And then, suddenly, something shifted.
I felt it—a sharp cramp in my abdomen. I froze, pulling back slightly as Robert frowned.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice instantly worried.
I pressed my hand to my belly, wincing as another cramp hit. “I think…” I whispered, looking up at him.
His eyes widened. “Delia, are you—”
My water broke on the dying grass beneath us.
“Delia, you peed!” Corinne screamed out, and I stared at the liquid gathering under my feet for a second before starting to laugh hysterically.
“Oh, God,” I laughed, staring down at the growing puddle forming around my feet. “The twins stole my thunder!”
“Fuck,” I heard Kassandra whisper. I looked over at her, and I could see her eyes sparkling. “Delia, you’re gonna get a hot girl summer after all.”
I couldn’t stop laughing, maybe out of shock, maybe at the absurdity of it all, or maybe Kassandra really was that funny. But Robert was in full problem-solving mode. He didn’t hesitate.
“Tyler! Get the car!” he barked, already scooping me into his arms as if I weighed nothing.
“Wait! I can walk!” I protested, but he wasn’t having it.
“Not a chance,” he growled, his jaw set as he carried me toward the parking lot. “You’re not doing this alone, Delia. Not now. Not ever.”
I gripped his shirt, breathing through the cramps and excitement warring inside me.
The babies were coming.
As Robert carried me, I looked up at him, his face determined and protective. We were ready for this.
Well, sort of. No one was ever really ready.