“My graduation.”
Tears filled her eyes.
“And I wanted my father there.”
Samuel looked away.
Denise whispered, “Maya.”
“You let me walk across that stage without him.”
“Marcus was there.”
The second the words left Denise’s mouth, everyone froze.
Marcus looked almost offended.
Maya stared at her mother.
Samuel’s jaw tightened.
Denise immediately tried to correct herself.
“That isn’t what I meant.”
Maya answered quietly.
“Yes, it is.”
“No.”
“You wanted him to replace Dad.”
“I have never said that.”
“You didn’t have to.”
Marcus handed Samuel the bouquet.
Samuel looked confused.
Marcus spoke calmly.
“Hold these.”
Then he stepped away from Denise.
She stared at him.
“Where are you going?”
“Out of the middle.”
“Marcus.”
“This is between you, Maya and Samuel.”
Denise looked frightened.
Marcus continued.
“And for the record, I would never have taken that ticket if I knew you were using me to keep her father out.”
Samuel looked at him.
Marcus met his eyes.
There was no triumph.
Only anger.
Samuel nodded once.
Maya wiped her face.
Then she noticed the bouquet in Samuel’s hands.
A laugh escaped through her tears.
“You brought me flowers?”
Samuel looked down.
“Technically Marcus did.”
Maya laughed harder.
Samuel smiled.
For a brief second, tension broke.
Then Maya wrapped her arms around him again.
Denise watched.
Something painful shifted across her face.
Not jealousy exactly.
Something older.
Something she had been carrying for years.
That evening, the graduation dinner was supposed to take place at an upscale restaurant downtown.
Maya refused to go.
“I’m not sitting through some fake celebration.”
Denise became angry.
“We have reservations for fourteen people.”
“Cancel them.”
“Your grandparents are coming.”
“I’ll see Grandma tomorrow.”
“Maya.”
“I said no.”
Samuel tried to intervene.
“Baby, you should celebrate.”
“With you.”
“We can do something another day.”
“Why?”
Samuel didn’t answer.
“Why do you always do that?”
“Do what?”
“Make yourself smaller so Mom doesn’t get mad.”
Samuel looked surprised.
Denise looked offended.
“That is unfair.”
Maya ignored her.
“You knew I wanted you there.”
Samuel looked down.
“I thought things changed.”
“Because Mom told you.”
“Yes.”
“And you believed her over me?”
Samuel winced.
Maya immediately regretted the accusation.
“That came out wrong.”
“No.”
Samuel nodded.
“You’re right.”
“Dad.”
“I should have called you.”
Denise interrupted.
“And ruined the week before graduation?”
Samuel turned.
“I’m not talking to you.”
Denise looked stunned.
Samuel almost never spoke to her that way.
Maya saw something change in him too.
Twenty-two years of choosing peace had finally reached a limit.
“I believed you,” Samuel said.
Denise folded her arms.