Two Weeks (The Baxter Family #5)(73)

She lifted her eyes to the cloudy sky overhead. I’m sorry, Lord. Why didn’t I see this before? No wonder Cole’s last semester hadn’t gone like she had hoped. Ashley had chosen not to enjoy it. Instead she had wasted far too much time being silently critical and judgmental of Elise. Wishing Cole had never met the girl. And now . . .

Lord, help me extend grace. The way it was given to me.

Like Landon had treated her, Cole had never judged Elise. He had only cared for her and stood by her and helped her through a difficult season. Yes, they were young. But Ashley had to believe Cole’s actions were exactly what Landon would’ve done. Thank You, God, for the summer. Let me make it up to Cole. And to Elise. To both of them.

Ashley watched three people approach her, and immediately she knew who they were. One of the women definitely had Elise’s eyes. Sure enough, the woman introduced herself as Elise’s mom. The other two people were Elise’s aunt and uncle. Ashley introduced herself and the three took their seats. They talked about how thankful they were for Cole. Elise’s aunt mentioned that she had been shocked at the pregnancy news. “We only just found out.” Regret seemed to come over the woman. “I wish I would’ve paid more attention.”

“You couldn’t have known.” Ashley wasn’t sure what to say. “Anyway, here we are. She’s happy all of you are here.”

After a few minutes, the conversation with Elise’s family fizzled. Ashley looked around her at all the people she loved. A hush came over the crowd, and the band began to play “Pomp and Circumstance.” Three notes in and Ashley felt the first sting of tears. Nothing about the song was a surprise. It was played at every graduation, every year all across the nation.

This time, though, the music swirled around her and pulled her in and as the graduating class of 2019 walked in two lines onto the field, tears slid down Ashley’s cheeks. A few seats over she saw Kari going through the same thing. Because of the accident, this hadn’t been an easy semester for Kari and her daughter Jessie, either.

Ashley found two tissues in her purse. She leaned over Landon to give one to her sister. Kari smiled at her, a look of gratitude and knowing. Once every few years, ever since their kids were babies, they had talked about 2019. How far off it was and how it would take a million years before Cole and Jessie were this old.

And now here they were.

Jessie entered with one of the first groups of graduates. Her pretty light brown hair hung past her shoulders, her posture straight and sure. Ashley shared a quick smile with Kari, even as they both dabbed at their tears.

Another few groups walked onto the field, but Cole would be among the last. That’s what he had told them after the graduation rehearsal. They were being seated in reverse alphabetical order. Finally, Ashley spotted him.

“Landon!” She leaned closer and tugged his sleeve. “Look!”

Cole was easy to see, tall and blond. Not only did he act like Landon, he walked like him. He talked like him and acted like him. Strong and confident, with an air of kindness anyone could’ve felt all the way to the top of the bleachers. Ashley blinked away her tears so she could see him clearly. Throughout the procession, people would yell out the names of their graduates or stand and cheer extra loud.

So as Cole walked past them Devin jumped up and hooted, his fist in the air. “Go, Cole!” He looked at the people in the stands near them. “That’s my brother!”

Several people laughed, everyone seeming to enjoy the fact that this was—after all—a celebration. Cole must’ve heard the shout-out, because he turned and saw them. Then he waved. Not just at the big group there supporting him, but at her. Ashley. And in his smile Ashley knew what he was telling her.

That it had been just the two of them from the beginning, and that they’d come a long way together since then. And something else. A deep gratitude because Ashley had stayed with him, raised him. In the beginning, doubt had told her that because of her choices, she and Cole would never have anyone, never be anything but alone.

But God and her family had other plans for Ashley and Cole. They had loved her and embraced her and forgiven her. New tears slid down her face, tears of joy and satisfaction, because they’d done it. She and Cole had made it.

He was still watching her, still smiling and waving. Ashley lifted her hand and did the same. And as she did she caught a look at the family around her. All of them were waving, too. And in a blur she wasn’t seeing Cole in his cap and gown. She was seeing him in his choo-choo pajamas, the red and blue train in his hand.

And Landon was giving them a tour of his firehouse and Cole was wearing Landon’s helmet. Wouldn’t take it off. And she could see him, blond hair combed neat, eyes wide as she dropped him off at first grade and she could hear his little-boy voice, “Do I have to stay all day, Mommy? What about our afternoon adventures?”

Ashley blinked and pressed her tissue to her face. And she could see him running across a soccer field, scoring his first goal as a nine-year-old and then making the winning shot in his middle school basketball championship. And there he was sitting with her mother in the rose garden outside the old Baxter house, the one they lived in now. Her mom’s head leaned close to his, Cole’s blue eyes looking at her, listening.

How Cole had loved his grandmother.

And she could see him standing next to her father at the pond on their property, fishing and talking and laughing. And she could hear Cole telling her that night, “Papa told me fishing isn’t really about the fish. It’s about the people you fish with.”