Chapter 25
Tucker
December was a whirlwind. We taught Ava our Thanksgiving traditions, a mix of Gram’s and her father’s. As we rolled into the Christmas season, Ava and Vinnie were slammed with family photos.
And I was finally graduating with an associate’s degree in supply chain logistics. With so many manufacturers in Austin, it felt like a safe, easy career path to support Ava.
The morning of graduation was laid back, nothing like the wedding or even high school. Marcus came down, which was nice, plus Gram and Harry and Maya.
Ava and Vinnie both took photos, although Vinnie insisted that when it was time for me to walk across the stage, she needed to enjoy the moment and let him do the snapping.
I knew she’d never do that.
And sure enough, when I glanced out at the seats after they called my name. I spotted her hair around the camera lens. Gram and the others whooped it up.
I turned in time to shake some random administrator’s hand and take my empty diploma case. Life would get easier without classes on top of everything else, even though I’d only been taking one or two courses a semester.
I had three interviews lined up in early January, part of the recruitment set up by the college.
Ava and I weren’t kids anymore, not by any definition. She had her photography degree. I had mine. Real jobs. Real lives.
If only she’d agree to marry me. I didn’t know how or when to broach the subject again. The legal standing would make me feel more secure that I could handle anything her condition sent my way.
After the caps filled the air and made their pointy descent on the crowd, I pushed through the throng to my little group. It was easy to spot Big Harry. He towered over everyone, especially my diminutive Gram.
Ava threw her arms around my neck. “You did it! You’re all done!”
Marcus shook my hand. Maya and Gram hugged me from either side.
“I thought we could head out to the Oasis for dinner,” Marcus said. “We should get there in time for sunset.”
“How lovely,” Gram said. “I don’t think I’ve been there since Tucker’s grandfather was alive.”
When everyone was still alive. I remembered that dinner. Stephen was in kindergarten. I was a second grader. We’d annoyed the more serious diners by running along the decks.
“What’s the Oasis?” Ava asked.
I unzipped my graduation gown. “A huge restaurant overlooking Lake Travis. It’s known for its sunset views.”
Gram took my diploma and cap. “The food is all right, but it’s definitely a destination spot in Austin. It will be delightful.”
Marcus drove Harry and Maya out while I took Ava, Vinnie, and Gram. I was surprised when we arrived to find Bill and his new girlfriend Samantha, as well as Fuentes and some woman I’d never met.
“I invited your friends,” Gram said.
“That’s great, Gram.” I shook Bill’s hand. “Glad you came.
“Congrats, you slowpoke,” he said, his arm around Samantha. “About time you got out of there.”
Fuentes clapped me on the back. “My man. Now, you’re too good for Jiffy Lube.” He dragged his arm around a woman in a tiny, low-cut red dress. “This is Diana.”
The woman clung to his arm, eyes on Fuentes. “Congrats.”
“Thanks.” I took Ava’s hand. “Let’s head in.”
Ava was quieter than usual as we took up a large table on one of the many decks of the restaurant. Fuentes was the loud one, regaling everyone with stories from the garage, cars we’d worked on, problem customers. Half of them were made up, but he was entertaining.
Vinnie took pictures. Marcus kept the appetizers coming.
As the sun set, I walked Ava over to one of the balconies.
She exhaled slowly, leaning over the rail as if to escape everyone. “It’s a lot of people. I forget how hard that can be. Was I always like this?”
“More or less. I didn’t realize we were coming here. I might have suggested something smaller.”
“No, it’s pretty. And you know how Dad is when he gets an idea in his head.”
“Like father, like daughter.”
She huffs a laugh. “I might be a little peopled out.”
“We can run away.”
She laughs. “Think I can make it to the water from here if I jumped?”
“I’m not sure you can swim.”
“Really?” Her eyebrows drew together. “I guess we haven’t tried that, have we?”
“Pools and lakes aren’t something we’ve done. Seizures and swimming aren’t a great combination. But we can try it.”
She shrugged. “I should probably find out. For safety reasons. Add it to the scrapbook.”
“We should.” I leaned my elbows on the rail. Strings of colored lights blinked on as the light faded. “You didn’t bring your camera.”
“Vinnie is more into sunsets than I am. I do like photographing the water, though.”
I didn’t mean to ask the next question, but it tumbled out. “If I get one of the industry jobs in the new year, will you consider marriage? You’ll get kicked off your dad’s health insurance when you’re twenty-six in June, and you could get on mine if we’re married.”
“Ah, a practical proposal.” She stared out at the darkening water. “Let’s not talk about it tonight, okay? It’s your big day.”
My stomach fell. “Okay. I won’t push. We’ll figure out the health insurance piece.”
She nodded. “Dad has been looking on the exchange.”
Of course, he was.
Vinnie approached. “Turn around, let’s get that last bit of light with the hotshot grad.”
We smiled for the picture, but I wasn’t feeling it. I was hoping to make some progress with Ava.
But I’d have to be patient. Six months had passed since our failed wedding. We were as close as ever, otherwise. Things were good.
Even so, something was holding her back. If she didn’t want to talk about it, I would simply have to wait.