Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 69424 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69424 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
My belly somersaulted when Anders’s eyes met mine across the huge space.
“One of my earliest memories was my sister getting a job at fourteen, buying a fake ID so that she could go work at Starbucks before her first class at school. She’d come to my school after I walked myself there, and used to give me lunch money to make sure that I never went hungry during the day.”
My heart skipped a beat.
I’d hoped that she wouldn’t remember anything like that.
“I can’t say that I didn’t work hard to get here. Because I did. I studied. Sacrificed. Studied some more. But I can say, without a shadow of a doubt, that I wouldn’t be standing here today if it wasn’t for my siblings. My big sister, Searcy. My other big sister, Calliope. My big brothers, Kent and Koda. If it wasn’t for them, I’d probably be barely scraping by, wondering when my life was supposed to begin.” She looked around the room. “And so, I’d like to end this speech on a few words of wisdom. They have nothing to do with school or work, and everything to do with how you treat others in life. I want you to remember that words have power. I want you to know that your smile might be the best part of someone’s day. I want you to remember that you may be having a bad day, but someone else is having the worst day of their life. Be kind. Be courteous. Be a friend. Give someone a reason to smile. Because that might be the one thing that someone needs to keep going.”
Anders pulled her papers off the podium, and the entire room exploded in cheers.
I swiped at my eyes and used the distraction of the room to hurry to the spot that my family had chosen.
I tapped Haggard on the shoulder, and he got out of his seat to let me pass.
I was thankful and stopped next to my husband to give him a kiss.
He squeezed my wrist as I all but crawled over Doc to land in Searcy’s lap.
She snorted out a laugh, then guided me to the seat at her side.
I wasn’t supposed to make it.
But my flight had landed early, the traffic in Dallas had for once performed miracles and worked in my favor, and I’d made every light between the DFW Airport and the coliseum that Anders was graduating from today.
Graduating from high school a whole six months early.
It was December nineteenth, and everything was happening all at once.
The club had its annual Christmas party happening in two days. Christmas Eve where we spent our day with Jasper’s family two days after that. Christmas that we spent with mine. My birthday on the twenty-sixth. Jasper’s work party two days after that. And Harlow’s birthday wedding six days after that. Then, on the sixth of January, we’d all be driving Anders to her new home—UT—where she was going to study to become a doctor.
A freakin’ doctor.
I was so proud of her that it hurt.
“…As you just heard your valedictorian’s speech, I’d like you to hear her accomplishments,” the principal of the school, Mr. Allen, called out. “Anders Hodges graduates at the top of her class with a five-point-five class average. She graduates with her associate’s in science. And eighteen college credits toward her Bachelor of Nursing.”
The principal continued to list off all of Anders’s accomplishments, ending with, “Anders, come on up here.”
Anders got up and walked across the stage, getting her diploma handed to her as well as several cords wrapped around her neck.
“I feel so inadequate compared to her,” Searcy leaned over to whisper.
I snorted. “I was lucky to graduate, and here she is blowing us out of the water.”
“Agreed,” Koda said from my other side.
“I graduated with honors,” Kent called from Koda’s other side.
“That’s because you had someone to help you.” I flipped him off.
Kent winked at me, and we went back to bullshitting among ourselves.
It took three solid hours for all of the graduates to be called, and we stayed for every single one, because everyone deserved to be celebrated. It was a huge accomplishment.
I should know.
I had to work my ass off to earn it.
It was one of my greatest accomplishments.
Right on up there with marrying my husband, getting the best job in the world, and making myself into a person my family can be proud of.
The graduation ended, and I finally got to stand up and head to my husband.
He caught me in his arms when I got close and pulled me in tight, his mouth coming to mine.
“I’m glad you’re back.”
I leaned into him. “I’m so glad to be home. My boss said that I wouldn’t be traveling anymore until the fourth quarter of next year.”
“Good,” he growled. “Having you away from me for two nights really sucks.”