It was the morning of my graduation and I was in a rush to make it to the stadium where the ceremony was taking place. Kelli was waiting for me in her car. As I hurried out the front door, I was stopped dead in my tracks by what I saw out of the corner of my eye.



There, on the front stoop, was a bouquet of blue anemones – my favorite flower. Sean used to give them to me all the time. In fact, anemones reminded me so much of Sean that I had told Emilio my favorite flowers were daisies. These definitely weren’t from Emilio.

I searched the flowers for a tag, but to no avail. I put them inside and hurried to the mailbox wondering if there was a card. I hoped they were from some distant relative who’d picked them out by coincidence.



Sure enough, there was a letter for me, but not from a family member.





--------------------------------------------------

After the long ceremony, Kelli and I lined up with our families and friends for the photo session of a lifetime. It’s cute the way families are so proud of this moment and cherish every blurry and poor quality photo taken. It’s not like anyone ever looks good in the stodgy cap and gown.







Sure enough, Emilio had brought me a bouquet of cellophane wrapped daisies. I decided to throw out the anemones as soon as I got home. I didn’t know what Sean’s purpose had been in sending them, but I decided not to read too much into it. After all, we had helped each other plan for college 4 years ago. It was probably just his way of saying a final goodbye.

----------------------------------------------

After the ceremony, Momma took everyone out to dinner.

“Congratulations to Kat and Kelli, our newest graduates!” said Pete, who was like a brother to me now.

Everyone raised their glasses in a toast.

“I can’t believe it’s been four whole years since you girls graduated from high school,” Momma said. “I remember when Kat came home after school one day… she must have been in the 4th grade then… and she was crying to me about this awful little girl who stole her colored pencils in class. Kat said she’d never be friends with that mean kid.”

“Wasn’t that Kelli?” Sophia chimed in.

“Yeah, and now they’re the best of friends!”

Kelli laughed along with the others. “My mom made me pack an extra juice box the next day to give Kat as a way of making things up to her!”

“It was grape flavored, my favorite! And we haven’t been able to get rid of you ever since!” I teased Kelli.

“I’m glad my daughters are blessed with such an incredible friend,” Momma smiled.

Emilio reached for my hand. “Well, I must apologize for taking away your friend, Kelli.”



“Oh, believe me, if you weren’t so perfect together I wouldn’t have let you within ten feet of my best friend!” she retorted jokingly.

“I second that,” said Sophia.

“Yes, I’m so proud of my daughters. Despite my poor choices, I somehow raised them to have excellent taste in men.”

“Well then, now that I know I have everyone’s approval…” Emilio smiled cleverly and slid out of his chair in one quick motion. “… I just need to know how Kat feels.”



“Katarina Mia Antonelli, since the moment I met you, I was captivated by your beauty, your kindness, and your intelligence. I want to wake up next to you every morning, and fall asleep next to you every night. You deserve so much better than the likes of me, but I would be honored if you’d let me spend the rest of my life trying to give you all the things you desire. Will you marry me?”



“Yes! Yes I will marry you!” I exclaimed, practically leaping into his arms.



It was the perfect moment. We stood there looking into each other’s eyes, and it seemed like we were the only two people in the room.



Sofie, true to style, broke us from our trance as she squealed with excitement and threw her arms around me.





“I am so happy for you sis! You’re going to love being married. It’s one big adventure. I mean, aside from the cooking, the cleaning, and clipping his toenails. But you know, all the stuff between the sheets is worth it! Oooh, I can give you lots of tips for your first night,” she whispered the last part into my ear.

I laughed at my sister, but inwardly wondered if it really would be my ‘first’ night.



Fortunately, I had no time to start worrying about that. I found myself being bombarded by hugs.

“Congrats, girl! Now we can plan our weddings together!” Kelli said smiling at me.



Next up was Momma, who embraced me in her signature motherly way. “He’s a good man, Katarina. I’m so happy for you. You should call your grandparents tonight and tell them. They will be very proud of you two!”

I rolled my eyes and thought to myself that the only thing they would be proud of was that I was ‘honoring my heritage’ or whatever they kept telling me.



Momma welcomed Emilio into the family as I stood by myself as the others talked excitedly.



I was letting it all sink in when it crossed my mind that I hadn’t hesitated at all when Emilio asked me to marry him. What was it he’d said many summers ago about nothing being able to stand in the way of true love?

________________________________________

Next time: You are cordially invited to the wedding of Emilio De Luca and Katarina Antonelli.
An unexpected guest threatens to ruin Kat's happiness. Who is it? :omg: