“She probably can’t sit that long.”
“Then Dad decides who uses the ticket.”
Denise sighed.
“Fine.”
Maya emailed the ticket information.
Then life became chaotic.
Final projects.
Job interviews.
Moving plans.
Graduation rehearsals.
Maya assumed everything had been handled.
Samuel called two weeks before commencement.
“What time do you walk?”
“Ten.”
“Where do I park?”
“Mom has all the information.”
Samuel paused.
“Your mother does?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.”
Something in his voice sounded strange.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re coming, right?”
Samuel laughed.
“Try stopping me.”
Maya smiled.
“Good.”
The next week, Samuel called Denise.
“Can you send me my ticket?”
Denise was in her office.
She closed the door.
“There isn’t one.”
Samuel thought he misheard.
“What?”
“All four tickets are spoken for.”
“Maya said one was mine.”
“She changed her mind.”
Silence.
“What do you mean?”
Denise looked through the office window.
Marcus was downstairs.
“She wants today to be uncomplicated.”
Samuel’s voice hardened.
“Did Maya say that?”
Denise hesitated.
“Samuel.”
“Did my daughter tell you she doesn’t want me at graduation?”
“She doesn’t want tension.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
Denise became irritated.
“You know how these things get.”
“What things?”
“Family events.”
“I have attended dozens of family events with you and Marcus.”
“And there is always awkwardness.”
“For you.”
Denise closed her eyes.
“Samuel, please.”
“I want to hear Maya say it.”
“Don’t put that on her.”
“What?”
“She has finals. Interviews. Graduation. She doesn’t need you calling and making her feel guilty.”
Samuel stared at the wall of his office.
“I’m not trying to make her guilty.”
“Then respect what she wants.”
Samuel’s voice became quieter.
“What does she want?”
Denise answered.
“She wants Marcus there.”
Samuel almost laughed.
“I never said he shouldn’t be.”
“She wants her grandmother there.”
“I know.”
“And she wants Aunt Cheryl.”
Samuel frowned.
“She said the fourth ticket was mine.”
“Plans changed.”
“Does Maya know we are having this conversation?”
Denise did not answer.
Samuel understood the silence in the worst possible way.
“Okay.”
Denise felt immediate relief.
“Thank you.”
Samuel hung up.
For twenty minutes, he sat alone in his office.
Then he opened his phone.
He typed a message to Maya.
I’m proud of you. If things are crazy this weekend, don’t worry about me. We can celebrate after.
He stared at it.
Deleted it.
Tried again.
Whatever happens Saturday, remember how proud I am of you.
Deleted that too.
Finally he wrote:
Big weekend. Proud of you, baby girl.
Maya replied three minutes later.
Love you Dad ❤️ See you Saturday.
Samuel stared at the words.