Chapter 17 #4
“I didn’t order any announcements. Who would I send them to? You’re my family, and you already know,” she said, then looked away.
“Come here to me,” he said, and when she walked into his arms, he pulled her close. “It’s okay, sweetheart. I’ll be the proudest dude there, watching you cross the stage. We’re still knitting our world, and this is one more knit and purl in the yarn, right?”
She looked up at him and smiled. “I love that! Knit and purl one more link.” Then she glanced at the time. “I have to get back to my room and get dressed.”
“Then hop in the car. I’ll drop you off. When do you have to move out of your room?”
“Tomorrow.”
“I’ll be waiting. You just pack yourself and come home to me, darlin’. It’s been a long four years,” he said, then sealed the request with a kiss.
They drove to the campus, and then to her dorm.
“Do you know the building where they’re holding our graduation?” she asked.
“Yes, I do. I will be there. You’ll see me, standing at the back of the room. We can pretend I’m undercover. The last thing I want is for someone to recognize me and start in.”
“That’s fine. You can stay under the covers all you want if I get to be under there with you,” she said, then blew him another kiss and got out.
He grinned at her suggestion, waited until she was inside the building before he drove away, then headed for the jewelry store to pick up her graduation gift.
* * *
As with every graduation ceremony ever held, the speeches were too long and it was hot under the gowns, but Briar wasn’t about to complain.
She’d earned the blue and gold cords of summa cum laude that were draped over her black gown.
Her back was to the audience, but she knew Tate Bandy was here because he’d promised.
And when they finally began the presentation of diplomas, and she stood up to get in line, she saw him at the back of the room.
Black pants. A white dress shirt, a black string tie at the collar, and a black Stetson.
Drop-dead gorgeous and he was hers. Then he blew her a kiss.
She smiled and started up the steps to cross the stage as they called out her name.
“Briar Rose Lowe.”
People had been clapping, loudly cheering, and whistling intently as each of their family members crossed the stage to receive their diplomas, but there was only silence for Briar until one loud, clear wolf whistle rang out.
A slight titter of laughter rolled across the room as Briar turned. The smile on her face said it all and then she was off the stage, and moving back to her seat.
After they were dismissed, she thought he was gone and was struggling to get through the crowd when she felt an arm snake around her waist and heard his voice in her ear.
“Need a ride, pretty lady?”
She laughed. “Yes, I do.”
Tate knew he was being recognized, but he just kept moving, taking her with him, and then they were finally outside and crossing the parking lot to get to his car.
“Back to the dorm, or home with me?”
“With you,” she said. “I’ll get my things in the morning.”
Tate took off, weaving through traffic to get off campus, then headed home. Seeing that iron gate swing shut behind them as he went up the drive was their security. The surprise he had waiting was like icing on the cake.
A bouquet of roses. A gift. And an oversize Tulane T-shirt to sleep in.
Briar was all smiles as she came out of the gown and mortar board and kicked off her shoes. “Oh, Tate, the flowers are beautiful, and what’s this?” she asked, holding up the flat, oblong box.
“Open it and see,” he said, then watched her eyes light up when she saw the solitaire diamond pendant hanging from a white-gold chain.
“I love it so much. It’s beautiful. Will you put it on me?”
He unfastened the clip as she held back her hair, and as soon as he’d fastened it, she turned toward the mirror on the dining room wall.
“Perfect, just like you. Happy graduation day, sweetheart. I have food too.”
She laughed. “Good, because I’m starved.”
They pulled out a party tray of sweets and savories from the refrigerator, then sat down together and started talking as they ate.
Tate wiped a smear of cream cheese from the corner of her lip with his thumb, then leaned back.
“I know you’re ready to start job hunting, but if you’d like a little trip first, how do you feel about flying to Tennessee with me to see my folks and meet the rest of the clan?
They know all about you. And they’ll smother you with love and food. ”
Her eyes lit up. “I would love to! I’ve missed them so much and never got to say goodbye when they left. Your mama did promise that I would always be part of the family.”
“Then as soon as we get your stuff from the dorm, we’ll head that way.”
Briar threw her arms around Tate’s neck and kissed him. “This has been the best day.”
“I know how to make it better,” he said.
“Show me,” she said.
“Happy to oblige,” he said, then picked her up and carried her to his bedroom.
Clothes came off.
When Briar stretched out on the bed, she was wearing the necklace, his little garnet ring, and nothing more.