As Clara finally tucked Tom’s letter away back in her bag, she felt confident that he was in the best place and wondered if they were both better off without each other. After all, both were where they needed to be at this point in time in their lives. Maybe this was a moment for them to grow and embrace their futures, even if that meant they were not together.
‘So, this fabulous interview of yours... I think we need to celebrate with a pizza each instead of our usual sharing one,’ said Eleanora.
‘You know what? That sounds good. I have worked up quite the appetite today. I was too nervous to have lunch.’
‘Do I even need to ask what you’re both having,’ said Amy, coming over to take the order.
‘You do actually. I’m having ham and mushroom pizza,’ said Clara.
‘You forgot the pineapple,’ said Eleanora leaning over the table.
‘Nope. I didn’t.’
‘Really? You always have pineapple.’
‘I know, but maybe it’s time to embrace change. Shake things up a bit. A friend of mine doesn’t believe pineapple belongs on pizza,’ Clara said to Amy. ‘I’ll give it a go, in memory of him.’
‘Goodness, I am impressed. Where did my Cautious Clara go and what have you done with her?’ said Eleanora, laughing.
‘Yeah, this is freaking me out now,’ said Amy with a giggle.
‘I think I might be having a wild moment,’ said Clara. Her honking laugh made the bartender look over as the three women bonded. Then Eleanora raised the glass in front of her and clinked it with Clara’s once again.
‘To change. Well done. I’m so proud of you.’
It dawned on Clara how much she had been through these past few weeks and how she had successfully dealt with it all.
‘You know what? I’m proud of me too,’ said Clara with a big smile.
ChapterTwenty-Six
The summer was always a flurry of graduations, and Amy’s was one of the last ceremonies to be held. Clara kept her promise and made sure she was there by 4p.m. sharp.
Amy had been brought up by her grandmother and didn’t have any other family. Clara wouldn’t have missed Amy’s big moment for anything. She couldn’t have been prouder of the young lady who, despite her difficult upbringing, had reached her dream of entry at Oxford to graduate with a first in medicine. Amy was everything Clara wished she had been when she was younger. Feisty, determined and ambitious, there were so many of her qualities Clara wished she had.
Clara was looking forward to meeting Amy’s grandmother after the ceremony and wanted to tell her what a wonderful job she had done in bringing up such an aspirational young lady. She looked out for her as she watched the throngs of ecstatic parents take their seats for the graduation at the Sheldonian Theatre. She tried not to think about the last time she was here, and what an utterly magical evening it had been. Instead, she flicked through the pamphlet with the names of all the graduates and looked for those she recognised, including Amy’s.
The students started pouring in dressed in their academic gowns over their subfusc, and Clara spotted Amy with her smart dark suit underneath her gown. It was as much as Clara could manage to act with decorum and not shout, ‘Go Amy!’
When the Bedels entered, the chatter in the room quietened down. Then the proctors and the registrar followed before The vice-chancellor arrived. Clara knew the procedure off by heart, and remembered all the students she had seen who had done this over the years. Many she had lost touch with and she hoped they were all doing well.
The vice-chancellor opened with his Latin formula, after which parents watched on proudly as their offspring’s names were called. When it was Amy’s turn, Clara whooped and clapped. She noticed an older lady in the audience who strained her neck to look and clapped equally loud.
After the ceremony, Clara made a beeline for the lady who she assumed must be Amy’s gran.
‘Are you here for Amy?’
‘I am indeed. You must be the reverend?’
‘I am. Was it the dog collar that gave it away?’ Clara laughed.
‘No. You’re exactly how she described you. Amy’s always spoken highly about you. She thinks the world of you.’
‘That’s so kind. She’s a lovely lass and you’ve done a wonderful job bringing her up to be the fine young lady we see before us today. Ah, and here she is.’
Amy came bounding joyfully towards the women.
‘Congratulations, love,’ said her gran.
