Being a Barrow - A Sequel to Barrow's Boy

Taking A Gamble

     Theodore adjusted his hold on the flowers perched in the crook of his elbow as he walked into the crowd, eyes scanning for the faces of people he never thought he would seek out. Yet, he had to recognize that time with them was unescapable if he wanted his future plans to pan out. 

     "There he is. Theodore!" 

     Teddy turned instinctively at the sound of his name, looking past an older couple hanging onto each other in a way that he wanted to deem entirely inappropriate for two people of their apparent age and status. Beyond that, he found his girlfriend's cousin, raising a hand to ensure that he saw him, standing beside Abi's parents.

     "Edward," he greeted, hopefully loud enough to be heard amidst the other voices around them. Teddy moved around the couple, giving them his apologies as he navigated the tight space between them and another family. 

     "Mister and Missus Bennett," Theodore greeted the others once he had reach them, giving a polite nod of his head. He got minimal reactions from them, aside from a slight nod back from Abi's father, but he could live with that. He turned to Edward instead as the young man spoke. 

     "I'm glad you could join us today," he stated as he handed over the slip of cardstock. Theodore looked down at the ticket for Abi's graduation with a smile before turning his gaze back up to the young man.

     "I wouldn't miss it," he responded. "Thank you for letting me join you."

     "Of course. We know Abigail wants you here, don't we, Aunt Charlotte?" Edward inquired, turning to the woman in question. Abi's mother raised her eyebrows at the question. 

     "She has mentioned him, yes."

     Well, that was better than outright denial. Theodore would take it. 

     "Ah, they're finally opening the doors," Mr. Bennett acknowledged. "We can get out of this heat."

     Edward adjusted the eyepatch over his damaged eye as he looked in the same direction of his uncle, then nodded. 

     "Good, good. Do we reckon this will be as long as my graduation was?"

     "I hope not," Alexander responded, earning a laugh from his nephew. The man turned to look at Theodore again, nodding to the flowers in his arm. "Are those for my daughter?"

     "Yes, sir."

     He hummed, tilted his head, then nodded. 

     "Very good. She'll like those. Come along, let's get inside."

     Following the ceremony, throughout which Teddy had sat on the end of the family with Edward on one side and a stranger on the other (it was funny to think that the cousin he had once despised was now becoming one of his preferred people in Abi's family, apart from Abi herself), they headed outside to find the new graduate, flowers still in Teddy's grasp. 

      It ended up being Abi who found them instead, as she came rushing over, beelining for Teddy. He grinned, wrapping his arms around her and lifting her up, spinning her around twice before setting her gently back on the ground. 

     "Look at you, Miss Teacher! Congrats!" He exclaimed. Abi laughed, reaching up to give him a quick, chaste kiss. "These are for you."

     Abi took the flowers as Teddy handed them over, a wide smile on her face. 

     "They're beautiful, thank you, love. I-"

     "You could bother to share the girl, Theodore," Abi's mother cut her off, stepping forward. "Congratulations, dear."