“We all did.” I grasp Casey’s and Auggie’s hands.
“We need pictures of the three of you together in your gowns and mortar boards,” Philipa says.
We spend the next half hour having our pictures taken. With each other, individually, with our families, and then a photo of all of us together, which a passing member of the faculty offers to take for us.
“We’d better return our gowns and hats,” Casey says.
“A word first, Emory. If you don’t mind,” Mr Cunningham says.
“Of course not.”
He draws me to one side. Auggie watches us, even though Casey’s parents are talking to him.
“I understand you already have a job lined up,” Mr Cunningham says.
“Yes, sir.”
He takes a business card out of his pocket. “In case you’d ever consider working for me. I know working in pharmaceuticals isn’t Auggie’s dream, but it is yours. He told me some of your aspirations. That you want to research drugs with fewer side effects.”
“Yes, sir.”
“He mentioned your grandmother.”
“She had trigeminal neuralgia.”
“If you worked for me, we could discuss the research you’re interested in.”
A joke Auggie made months ago pops into my head about his dad adopting me and making me his heir. I scuff my shoe against the grass and bite my lip. “Working for my boyfriend’s dad wouldn’t be a good idea, but thank you for the offer.”
“Let me know if you decide to reconsider.”
“I will.” I slip the business card into the envelope with my gift card, as I don’t have easy access to my trouser pockets right now. “We need to take our gowns back.”
“Of course.”
I join Auggie and Casey, and we walk away from our families. We have plans to meet them for dinner.
“What did Dad want?” Auggie asks.
“He gave me his card and offered me a job.”
“Are you going to think about it?”
“No. I told him it wouldn’t be a good idea.” I hold his hand.
“You can if you want to.”
I glance at him.
“I mean, he owns one of the most cutting-edge pharmaceutical companies in the world. You’d love the research and development you’d get to do there. Don’t write off the idea just because he’s my dad. Things are better between us now. Far from perfect, but better.”
“I know. It would mean moving to London, though, and we’re happy here, aren’t we? This is our home.”
Casey puts his arm around me and grazes Auggie’s shoulder with his fingertips as we walk. “As sappy as it sounds, home is where you two are. I can teach kids to swim anywhere.”
“And believe it or not, there are restaurants in London,” Auggie says in a teasing tone.
I gasp. “Are there? Really?”
