28. Epilogue – Gretchen
Epilogue – Gretchen
Two years later…
Tears ran down my face as the dean made the announcement.
“Zoe Marie Boynton.”
Despite the warnings we’d received about decorum and disruptive behavior, Jan and I leapt to our feet, cheering as Zoe received her associate’s degree in social services.
My neighbor let out an ear-splitting whistle that caught the attention of everyone in the auditorium, but she didn’t care.
Her granddaughter was graduating. The only person more excited about that was Zoe herself.
She waved to us in the crowd, then moved the tassel on her mortarboard from one side to the other, indicating that she was now officially a degree holder. My girl had worked her ass off the last two years, working full time at the shelter while taking a full load of classes.
Despite her initial concerns, she’d done very well in school.
The college had assigned her a tutor who specialized in working with people with dyslexia and other learning disabilities, and between learning new tools and asking for accommodations, Zoe had maintained a solid B average.
It had done wonders for her self-confidence.
She moved in with me about six months after we got back together. Jan had complained that we were coming and going to her house too often and disturbing her, but that wasn’t a problem for her. The woman slept like the dead. She wanted us to have time together to grow as a couple.
It hadn’t been all sunshine and roses. I’d lost count of the number of times Zoe had told me, “Gretchen, I don’t want you to solve anything for me, I just want you to listen to me without judgement.
” I’d gotten better, and we’d worked out a balance between me being the caretaker and Zoe being too independent.
It had taken a lot of talking, several arguments, and three sessions of couples counseling, but we’d figured it out.
I had an engagement ring in my dresser back home and planned to propose soon.
I’d been waiting for her to graduate first. Rochelle had suggested that I propose right here at graduation, but I didn’t want to take the attention off her academic achievements.
I’d propose tomorrow, but it likely wouldn’t be a surprise.
We’d been talking about getting married for a while now.
Jan had already told us that she was going to be maid of honor for both of us.
Something else new – we’d adopted two kittens, Frank and Henry.
We’d planned to adopt one, but we’d fallen in love with a bonded pair at the shelter and wound up taking them both home.
Neither Zoe nor I wanted kids – we’d both seen too much in our own childhoods to want to risk bringing a child into this world – so we introduced the cats to Jan as her great-grandcats.
She thought we were weird, but we made a point of giving her cards from the cats on mother’s day, Christmas, and her birthday.
Jan was still as spry as ever, and while we knew she’d slow down eventually, we were enjoying the time we had with her.
We saw her almost every day, sharing dinners, working together in her yard, watching movies, or playing cards.
She often dragged one or both of us to her exercise classes at the community center.
We pretended to hate it, but the truth was, we were both having fun with her.
The ceremony ended and we headed outside to wait for Zoe.
“You must be a proud grandma,” I said, bumping my shoulder against my soon-to-be grandmother-in-law.
To my shock Jan looked a little teary.
“I always dreamed of watching my daughter walk across the stage and get her degree,” she shared. “Connie left right before she graduated high school, so I’ve been waiting a long time for this.”
I gave her a hug. I heard my name and then Zoe came rushing up, her black gown flapping behind her and revealing the cute jade dress she’d bought herself for her special day.
Even though she was still slim, she’d gained a little weight since she moved to Seattle, making her curves even more lush.
When she reached us, Zoe put her arms around me and Jan, squeezing us tight.
“I’m a graduate!” she squealed in our ears.
“You are!”
“Congratulations!” Jan added.
“There’s only one thing that will make this day better,” Zoe continued.
“Ice cream?” Jan suggested.
Zoe shook her head. “Getting married.”
“What?” I asked.
She looked at me with a tender expression. “I’m ready to take the next step whenever you are.”
“In that case, let’s go home and I’ll show you the engagement ring I’ve been hiding.”
“You already got a ring?” she asked in surprise.
“You know me, I like to be prepared.”
“That’s one of the many things I love about you,” she said, looping her hands around first Jan’s elbow and then mine. “Let’s go home and celebrate.”
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