Two Weeks (The Baxter Family #5)(72)

It took less than a minute to find it. She lifted the book from the box and set it on her lap. On one of the pages was a poem Ashley’s mom had written for Luke the night before he married Reagan. Then, when her cancer returned, her mom had taken the poem and changed the ending. So it would be more fitting for the rest of the kids and grandkids.

Ashley didn’t want to read it today. Didn’t even want to open it. Finding it was enough. She set the book aside and closed up the boxes once more. After she returned them to the top shelf of her closet, she tucked the book of letters onto a shelf in the cupboard above the family computer. So that she could easily get it and read it to Cole at the end of the summer. In Cole’s last hours at home.

Before he drove off to his new life—wherever that would be.

? ? ?

ALL SEMESTER ASHLEY had been charting the lasts. When they drove onto the school grounds, she checked off another. Last time they’d come to Clear Creek High School with Cole still a student.

Janessa skipped up beside her as they walked from the SUV to the football stadium. “Mama.” She looked worried. As if her seven-year-old heart didn’t like the idea of endings. Not where her big brother was concerned. “Does this mean Cole’s grown up?”

Ashley felt her heart overflowing with emotions. Was it really 2019? Already? She took a full breath. There was no other way to answer Janessa’s question. “I guess maybe it does.”

“So soon?” Janessa furrowed her brow. “I thought he still had a few more years.”

“I keep thinking that, too.” Ashley loved her little girl. The two were so much alike. Janessa was still finishing second grade. But Ashley didn’t dare tell herself they had forever. Cole’s cap and gown told her the truth.

Children don’t last.

They kept walking. Landon and Devin were a few yards ahead, and Cole had gotten here an hour ago. “Well.” Janessa started skipping again. “I wish Cole had more time at home. I don’t want him to move away.”

“I don’t, either.” Ashley took hold of her little girl’s hand. “Let’s go get good seats.”

“Yay!” Janessa dropped the sad conversation and ran with Ashley up the steps and into the stadium.

Everyone was coming to support Cole today, to cheer him on for reaching this milestone. He wasn’t just graduating. He would walk with honors for his nearly perfect GPA. Even this past semester with everything going on Cole pulled off straight A’s.

Ashley set out programs to save seats on two rows. Five for her brother Luke’s family, and five for her brother Dayne and his wife and kids, all of whom had flown in from Los Angeles yesterday. Four for Brooke’s family and four for Kari’s, since Jessie was graduating also. Plus her dad and Elaine.

All together they needed twenty-five seats.

Landon had been talking to the parents of one of Cole’s friends. When he jogged back over to her, he surveyed the blocked-off rows. He grinned at her. “Here we go.”

Carolyn’s parents approached them and for the next few minutes the four of them talked about Liberty University. The conversation helped take Ashley’s mind off what was happening here, how in just an hour Cole would step onto the stage as a high school kid, and walk off the other side, a graduate.

A few minutes before the ceremony Elise came over. She wore a loose-fitting white blouse and dark jeans and her graduation cap. Her gown was hanging over her arm. Ashley watched how the girl’s full dark hair fell in layers around her face and blew in the breeze. No one would’ve guessed she was pregnant. “Hi, Elise.” Ashley turned to her. And for a few seconds it was like she was seeing a younger version of herself. The way she had looked when she left home for Paris.

“Mrs. Blake, I was wondering. Could my mom and my aunt and uncle sit with you? They wanted to meet you.”

Ashley didn’t hesitate. “Of course.” She stood and slid the extra programs down a bit, making room for three more. Then she faced Elise. “Will they be here soon?”

“Any minute. And thanks.” Her smile looked untroubled, easy. With none of the doubt and shame that had plagued her much of the last few months. “For the seats. But also for taking me to church on Easter.” She hesitated and looked straight at Ashley. “I have my faith back because of your family. That’s everything to me.”

“I’m glad.” Ashley hugged the girl and then sat down again. “Congratulations. On NYU.”

“Thank you.” Her face lit up. “I can’t wait to go.” Elise hurried off to join her class on the grassy field.

Ashley watched her leave and a surge of hope filled her heart. Maybe Elise was going to go through with the adoption after all. Before Ashley could give the matter much thought, the rest of her family arrived. Cole’s cousins Maddie and Hayley sat together. Ashley took the spot between Landon and Janessa. As she sat down a wave of guilt came over her. From the moment she’d found out Elise was pregnant, Ashley hadn’t been a fan. Yes, she’d put on an understanding face around Cole. But deep down, this whole time, she hadn’t wanted Cole tangled up with Elise’s baggage, had definitely not wanted him feeling responsible to stay with her through the pregnancy.

Most of all she hadn’t wanted Cole falling for a bad girl.

But twenty years ago that bad girl had been her. Ashley Baxter.