The Constant

Chapter 46

RYKER POV 

75 minute and 200 hundred diplomas later and I was officially a high school graduate. I couldn't believe high school was over and how much had happened, even just in this year alone. There were floods of people walking every which way, but I quickly made my way over to Bea and together we went to our families. 

As we got closer my nerves increased as I spotted Steven and Sharon standing with my parents. 

"You okay?" Bea asked, knowing what I was thinking. 

"I think so".

"Congratulations you two! Our little graduates!" Mrs. Turner shrieked, pulling us into a hug, causing a groan from Bea. 

Once we pulled apart from Mrs. Turner's grasp I turned and looked at Sharon, Steven, and my parents. "Congratulations," Steven said, extending his hand out to mine to shake. 

"Thank you" I replied.

I could almost feel the unease amongst all of us and Mr. Turner cleared his throat. "We are going to head home for a while but we'll meet you at the restaurant tonight at 6:30".

Mom nodded grateful, "That sounds great, we'll see you then".

The Turners turned to leave when Bea whispered in my ear, "text me if you need anything".

I nodded and kissed her cheek before she headed off to join her family. I then turned back to my own crazy mess. "Shall we?" Dad asked and I nodded. 

---BREAK---

RYKER POV 

"Thank you" I said to the waiter who just handed me a cup of coffee. After we got to the parking lot, we decided that Sharon, Steven, and I would go out just the three of us for a while to get coffee and talk. 

To say it was awkward would be an understatement, as the last time we were together in person they were saying I was a mistake and I was cursing. I looked at the two who both seemed nervous as well, Sharon was clinking her nails against her cup and Steven was looking everywhere but at me. 

Finally Steven cleared his throat, looking at his wife before me. "We're glad you agreed to doing this and letting us come to your graduation". 

Sharon nodded in agreement, "We just had to see you again. We just felt horrible how our first interaction went". 

I had a rush of those feelings come back but I quickly swallowed them. "Yeah I wasn't to crazy about how it went either".

Steven leaned over and squeezed my hand. "And that is completely on us Ryker. We were surprised to see you, but we should have never said the things we said, and we should never have been so casual about the whole thing. You were just a "chapter" in our lives, we've thought about you every day since you were born".

I looked up, feeling my vulnerability come out. "You did?" I asked. 

Sharon nodded, "Every single day. We wondered about the family who adopted you, what you were like, what you looked like, if you were happy, if we made the right choice...". 

"And did you? Do you think you made the right choice?"

Sharon and Steven exchanged an unreadable look. "We did. We just weren't equipped or ready to take care of a baby back then. And we loved you so much that we knew it wouldn't be right of us to keep you and prevent you from having all the things you deserved. We missed you and wished we could have seen you grow all the way, but with the parents you ended up with, we don't regret it at all" Sharon said, adding, "We just hope you think we made the right choice and forgive us for it".

"I do, I love my parents and am so grateful for them and am grateful to you two for giving me them". 

Sharon started crying at this and quickly stood up and pulled me in for a tight hug, and I too felt myself give in to the tears that have been here ever since I found out.