Second Chances ~ l.h.

Chapter 13

“Katharine you look beautiful.” My dad said to me as I walked into the kitchen wearing my graduation dress. I was wearing a short strapless bronze dress that was ruffled layers on the bottom and was covered in sparkly sequins from the waist up. A thick silvery tan belt was attached to the dress that hugged my waistline, covering where the skirt meet the bodice of my dress.  I wore bronze open toed heels that had small rhinestones on them to give the illusion that they were sparkly and my hair was curled but pulled into a side ponytail. I wore my grandma’s pearl necklace and matching pearl earrings. My make-up was done so I had tan and bronze smoky eye with black mascara and a light pale pink lip gloss on.

“Thanks” I said with a smile.

“I can’t believe my baby is graduating!” my mom hugged me and started to cry along with every other member of my family, which was my dad, Aunt Karen, Uncle Jim, my Opa (that’s German grandpa) and even Tony. My mom began taking pictures of me with each of my family members.

“I feel like you were just born yesterday!” my Aunt Karen exclaimed, tears filling her eyes and she hugged me. “Now you’re graduating and off to college!”

“Ok. Ok. Let’s not chock the soon to be graduate here.” I laughed. I walked over to Opa and gave him a hug though. My head rested on his chest. Luke and my grandpa we’re actually about the same height so whenever I hugged either of them my head would always be on their chest.

“I wish Neena could see how beautiful you look.” He whispered in my ear and we hugged each other tighter, while my eyes started to tear up. Neena was my grandmother, she wanted to be called Nana but when I was younger I could never say it right and it would always come out as Neena. I guess she liked that better because it was different and original and since I was the only grandchild, she was going to have to live with it. She died from Pancreatic Cancer in April of my freshman year of high school. I took it hard. She was not only my closest grandmother but one of my best friends and supporters. It was always a touchy conversation when it came to talking about her since we all missed her so much.

I pulled away from the hug and pulled a small pocket size picture that I had of the two of us, me and Neena, from when I was little out of my dress. Attached was a small purple Pancreatic Cancer ribbon pinned to the corner of the picture. I showed it to him.

“She’s always with me.” I smiled at him and he pulled me in for another hug, smiling, tears filling his eyes at the thought that she would be with me, while I was graduating, and in spirit.

“Ok so before I have to redo my make-up.” My aunt laughed while whipping tears from her eyes. “Kat where’s Luke?” she asked me.

“Oh he can’t come.” I told her. “He really wanted to come but he got caught up with all this work and management wouldn’t let him or the other boys come.”

“Awe that’s too bad.” My uncle said. “I’m sure he’d rather be here instead.”

“Yeah, well I have to be there like an hour early for check in and last minute details and changes, so you want to go this way you guys can grab good seats?” I said.

“That’s a good idea.” My mom said and we all started to gather our stuff. I grabbed my graduation cap and gown from my room before I forgot it and we all got into two cars. My mom, dad and uncle went in my mom’s car and I drove my aunt and Opa in my car.