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Chapter Thirty One- Graduation

“Olivia, hurry up! We’re gonna be late!” Kenley screamed from the bottom of the stairs.

            Kenley’s mother had willingly gone to a rehab facility in California so Olivia offered Kenley her old bedroom. Olivia couldn’t bare to have Kenley being alone in such a depressing shab place during the happiest time of her life.

“One second, Ken! I don’t feel so hot!”

            Olivia was laying on the bathroom floor trying to gather the strength to stand up and finish getting ready. She knew graduation would be starting in less than an hour but she hadn’t been feeling well all morning.

“Knock knock,” Kenley said as she made her way into the bathroom. “What’s the matter with you? You’re sweatin’ like crazy. You’re not sick are you?”

“No, I think it’s just nerves,” she said as she wiped her mouth and took Kenley’s extended hand and stood.

“You’re not pregnant are you?”

            Olivia laughed.

“No. I’ve been on birth control and I’m on my period right now anyway. It’s just nerves, for sure.”

“Here, take one of these.”

“What is it?”

“My momma had them in the medicine cabinet. It’s an anti-nausea medication that she was prescribed for her withdrawals.”

            Olivia popped it into her mouth and stuck her mouth under the running faucet allowing it to go down.

“Just give it ten or fifteen minutes and you’ll be good as new.”

            Olivia brushed her teeth and fixed her running makeup. She slid on her red pumps and shimmied into her white lace dress, and slid her white graduation robe on over top of it. By the time she had put her necklace on and put her earrings in, the pill Kenley had given her had finally worked and she was ready to face the day.

            Olivia and Kenley came down the stairs where there sat a bouquet of gorgeous red roses with a congratulations note from Nick and Olivia smiled to herself. He wouldn’t be allowed at the graduation but she knew he’d be waiting for her when she got home. They already had their bags packed and were completely ready to drive the distance to Fort Myers where they were going officially merge their lives into one and Olivia could not wait.

            During the drive to the school auditorium, Olivia and Kenley were chatty as could be, and their excitement and pride nearly boiled out of their skin.

“We finally did it. Isn’t this weird?”

“It’s too weird! No more school? What am I supposed to do now?” Olivia laughed.

“Don’t worry. Your Summer Quarter will be startin’ soon. You’ll be back to the books in no time”, Kenley joked.

“You’re goin’ to college too!”

            Kenley laughed.

“I’m going to beauty school, honey, it’s not a big deal. I’ll be graduated in under a year.”

            Olivia playfully rolled her eyes. Kenley had once wanted to do something big with her life but she had discovered that she enjoyed doing hair and makeup and wanted to open up her own salon after she graduated. Kenley was always talking about what kind of loans she was planning on applying for to get her salon up and running but Olivia never told her that she had already scoped out a lot of different real estate and had found a couple of empty buildings that would be perfect for Kenley’s salon. Olivia already had it planned out and was more than eager to surprise Kenley with a brand new, fully stocked salon. Olivia’s father would have wanted her to spend her money selflessly and she’d have it no other way.

            The two girls walked into the auditorium hand in hand and quickly found their seats. They were the last few who had come through the doorway at the last minute. As the principle and valedictorian were making their speeches, Olivia couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness. All of these other people had their parents’ and families cheering them on from the bleachers but no one was there to clap for Olivia. She took a deep breath.

“I know you’re here, Daddy,” she whispered to herself.

            When Olivia’s name was finally called, she had heard people clapping and cheering, but as she turned to leave the stage after receiving her diploma, she noticed that everyone had stood and were giving her a standing ovation. The sight of it brought tears to Olivia’s eyes.

“We love you Olivia!” she heard as she was making her way back to her seat.

“We’re proud of you!”

“You’re my inspiration!”

            She hadn’t realized she had affected so many people. She guessed that they probably expected her to drop out when her father had passed away but she came back with a vengeance and she graduated with honors.

            She felt a pat on her back and she turned and saw Elliot sitting behind her.

“Marshall couldn’t be happier, darlin’.”

            Olivia lowered her head and cried happy tears. She knew he really was proud of her and if it hadn’t been for him, she probably wouldn’t be sitting with her diploma in her hand.

            The ceremony had finally ended and after a lot of hugs and farewells and good luck’s, Kenley and Olivia headed back to the house.

“So are you excited to be gettin’ away for a little while?”

“I couldn’t be happier,” Olivia said.

“What are ya’ll plannin’ on doin’ down there anyway?”

            Olivia hadn’t told anyone what their plans were. She smiled towards Kenley.

“You’ll see.”