Chapter 57
CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
SERENA
18 MONTHS LATER
“ S erena Noelle Malcolm!” The Dean of the Criminal Justice program beams at me with pride as he takes my hand and holds up my diploma with his other hand. We pose for our photo op before he gives my hand another firm squeeze in congratulations. Dean Richards and I have gotten close after I switched majors; he was a good friend of my grandfather’s and was thrilled to see me follow in Granddaddy’s footsteps. He was a valuable mentor to me during my final semesters at Birch Falls U.
“WHOOP! WHOOP! THAT’S MY BABY!”
“I LOVE YOU SWEET-PEA!”
“HELL YEAH, SERENA!”
My cheeks flame when Kai, Mom and Mrs. G’s cheers float up to me from the crowd. Dean Richards bites back a laugh at my embarrassment while I stride off the stage as quickly as possible. Kai’s graduation was early this morning, and I might have yelled something about his sexy ass as he walked across the stage. Right in front of his mom, dad and sister, who was in town for his graduation. Guess this is my payback.
Thirty minutes later, I am milling through the crowd to look for my family. I come across Marie and Ben first, baby River in tow. River is a year and a half now, and unfortunately for Marie, did take after his dad. I swear that kid is already half the size of Marie.
“Congratulations, Reenie!” Marie tackle hugs me, almost knocking me off balance. Her pregnant belly keeps her from fully embracing me. She’s close to her due date with baby number two, and I still can’t believe she managed to block out the memory of giving birth to a ten pound watermelon so quickly. Ben leans in and plants a friendly kiss on my cheek, “’Grats, Serena.”
I give one to River in turn when he leans in from Ben’s arm towards me. I am River’s auntie and favorite babysitter. “NeNe!” River’s chubby hand pats my cheek gently, his way of showing love.
Suddenly, warm, strong hands envelop me from behind, along with Kai’s citrus and sage scent. “Yeah, baby. I am so damn proud of you.” Kai plants a tender kiss on my neck as he whispers in my ear. The way his lips brush the shell of my ear causes goosebumps to erupt all over my skin. Fuck, I love this man so much. I snuggle into his embrace, savoring this moment before it is interrupted by?—
“Serena! Serena! Congrats, sweetie! We are so proud of you!” Grace runs up and pulls me into a hug, stealing me away from Kai.
“Thanks, Grace. I’m so glad it’s finally over. If I ever have to write another paper, it will be too soon.” Grace relinquishes her hold on me, laughing, and I turn to Luther, Mrs. G and Mom, finishing the round of congratulations.
“Baby, you did it.” Mom buries her face in my hair, and I hear her sniffle, trying to hide her tears. “You cannot even begin to understand how proud I am to call you my daughter. I know your daddy would feel the exact same way.” Mom’s words are a bittersweet reminder of what I am still missing. I have a new family now with Kai. I have a new sister and bonus parents. I have Mrs. G and Marie, Ben and River. I have my mom back… She’s improved so much in the last year, it’s almost like having my mom from before the accident back. But I still don’t have my dad here. The familiar sting of tears pricks the backs of my eyes as I think of him.
“I know, Mom. I know.” We hug for so long it feels like time stands still, the culmination of the last four years hitting me all at once. The accident. Mom’s memory. Working two jobs while going to school. Dominick…Dominick changed the entire trajectory of my life. I won’t say I’m grateful for what I went through with him, but I am proud of the woman that emerged from the ashes of the life he tried to destroy. I don’t know who I would be today if it weren’t for the strength I had to find after him.
He’s currently serving year one of a twenty-five year sentence, which isn’t nearly enough punishment for the hell he wreaked on my life. His friend, Eric, got off with a much lighter sentence after he flipped on Dom and told the prosecution how Dom set up the frat boys to assault me so I would be scared into quitting my job at Mav’s. It feels grossly unfair that a bad man who perpetuated harm against a woman can make a deal to sell out another bad man for lesser punishment, but the DA assured me it was the most foolproof way to make sure Dom was locked up for a very long time.
When Mom pulls away from me, she’s smiling with twin tears streaming down her freckled cheeks. I open my mouth to say something, but she shakes her head, an excited glimmer in her eyes. Gently, she nudges my shoulder, turning me around. When I turn, I see Kai, down on one knee, holding up a pale blue ring box. An antique sapphire flanked by tiny diamonds in an art deco style sits nestled in the ivory velvet. It feels like all of the blood drains from my limbs, and my heart stops at once. Kai is down on one knee. Kai. Is. Down. On. One. Knee. My hands fly to my face to hold back the excited scream threatening to come out.
“Serena Malcolm. You are the most amazing, resilient, stunningly beautiful, independent, brilliant woman that I have had the honor of knowing. You are my best friend. You are my girlfriend. You are my soulmate. You are the only thing I need in this life, and I want to spend the rest of mine with you. Will you marry me?”
I drop to my knees and wrap my arms around Kai’s neck, smiling and nodding like a delirious, love-struck fool. “Kai, the answer was yes before you even asked.” Kai smashes his lips against mine, swallowing my words before I’m done speaking them. Our tongues mingle, our kiss tasting like the happiest tears I’ve ever cried, as we start the next stage of our life together.