“It’s okay to miss him,” he says.
So I do. I miss my brother, and I decide that I won’t make Cameron take me home anymore. Because without Evan there . . . it’s not really home.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
My graduation gown isincredibly itchy. Cameron and I stand in line, waiting to enter the auditorium. Brooks students are allowed to graduate with the public school, and the entire production is way over-the-top.
Mr. Jimenez is up front, giving us instruction on how to walk out, but none of us are paying attention to him. When we start in, I notice two people standing in the doorway. My heart jumps, and I hear Cameron’s breath catch in front of me.
I step out of line, and Cameron asks if I want him to wait. I tell him I’ll meet him inside. He squeezes my hand and heads in with the group.
I walk to the doorway, my eyes brimming over with tears. He’s here. Although Kathy made me wait to see him, she brought Evan here. And it means everything.
I kneel down on the dirty hallway and open my arms. Evan comes running. He jumps all over me, knocking me on my ass and smothering my cheeks with kisses. I eventually get him settled enough to hug him, and then hold him back so I can get a look at him.
“You’re so tall,” I tell him, wiping under my eyes as I cry off the makeup Kendra helped me put on. Evan’s hair is cut short, and his clothes are new and clean. He looks like a regular little boy, even though I know he’s so much more.
“I made you this,” Evan says, holding out a necklace. It’s not macaroni but actual beads. It’s beautiful, and I let him slip it over my head. The necklace reaches right to my heart.
“Savannah,” Kathy says, stepping up. She helps Evan up off the floor, and I pull myself back together, trying to look like a responsible adult so she won’t regret letting me see him.
Evan stays at her side instead of mine. It hurts, it really hurts . . . but if he’s happy, that’s all that matters.
“I love you,” I mouth to him. He beams in return.
Kathy holds out an envelope to me. “I got you something,” she says. She keeps her eyes down, almost regretful. At first I think it’s my fault, but then I recognize it’s guilt. She knows how she’s hurt me. She might even be sorry.
I take the card, and she tells me to open it. There’s a check for several hundred dollars, and I quickly look over at her. I open my mouth to tell her it’s too much, but she holds up her hand to stop me.
“It’s for all the birthdays and holidays I missed,” she says, and then smiles gently. “It’s for all you did for Evan.” She steps closer and reaches to put her hand on my arm. “I’m proud of you, Savannah,” she says. “I’m really proud of you.”
I can’t respond. Inside, I have a million feelings at once, but more than anything . . . she’sproudof me. She’s finally proud of me.
I nod and sniffle hard, looking away. I can’t even say thank you, afraid I’ll start crying. She seems to understand and backs up to take Evan’s hand.
“You’d better get inside,” she says, wiping her eyes. She laughs. “You wouldn’t want to miss the ceremony after all this.”
I start toward the door. Kathy calls my name again.
“Would you . . . would you want to come over for dinner this weekend?” she asks. “I’m sure Evan would like to show you his room.”
“Yes!” Evan says, wide-eyed. “I got a new bed, Savvy! It’s big!”
“I’d love to see it,” I tell him. I look at Kathy, barely able to catch my breath. “Thank you,” I tell her, meaning it more than I ever have. I open the door of the auditorium; a voice on the microphone is welcoming people. Before I walk in, I turn to look at my aunt.
“Is it okay if my boyfriend Cameron comes to dinner?” I ask. I can’t believe I just called him that.
“Cameron’s a good friend,” Evan announces, tugging on Kathy’s hand.
“Sure, I’d love that,” she tells me.
I smile and blow Evan a kiss. And then I walk into the auditorium to graduate from high school.
***
“Congratulations, Savannah,” Mr. Jimenez says as I meet him in the center of the stage. The past few months have worn him down—he’s sprouting a few gray hairs. But he’s a good man, and I hope he gets a better gig next year.
“Thank you,” I say, taking the diploma from his hands. I’ll actually miss that class full of delinquents.
