Violetta Craft's Arc

Chapter 56 of 65

Friday came clear and warm. Violetta finished chem at nine, walked out of the testing room, and drove straight to her mother's house to dress. Lymber had the pink floral dress hung on the closet door, hem done, pressed. Violetta stepped into it and slid on her heels. The waist still fit. Under the fabric her ten-week bump was a small, firm curve she could feel when she breathed in. She smoothed her golden hair over one shoulder and looked at herself once in the mirror. "Ready," she said. Lymber handed her Elowen. Elowen wore a matching pink sundress and one white shoe, the other lost somewhere in the car. Violetta settled her on her hip. Paul stood in the doorway with the keys, blue eyes wet already. "Don't," Violetta said. "I haven't started." Missy came down the stairs with the cap and gown folded over her arm. "They said no gown for the walk. Just the sash. You said." "I said." At the campus gym the folding chairs were full. Jordie was already in the family row, dark hair combed flat for once, holding a program. His parents sat beside him. Lymber slid in next to Paul, Missy, Jett, and Max. Two rows over, Jordie's family filled a full bench. The principal read names in order. When he said Craft, Violetta stood. She shifted Elowen onto her hip, laid a hand flat on the small curve under the pink floral fabric, and started across the stage in her heels. The screen behind the podium flipped. It was supposed to show her senior photo. Instead someone in the booth had cued the picture Lymber sent in — Lymber at eighteen in her own graduation gown, Paul beside her, one hand on a belly that had been Violetta. Then it flipped again to the post from Wednesday. Yes, I'm pregnant. Yes, I'm graduating Friday. The gym went quiet for one beat. Then Jordie's family stood. Then Lymber stood, and Paul, and Missy on the seat so she could see. Jett whistled. Max clapped like he was trying to break his hands. Both rows kept going until the sound was one sound. Violetta reached the principal. He handed her the diploma. Elowen grabbed the tassel and pulled. Violetta didn't fix it. She turned to the crowd with her daughter on her hip and her hand still on the bump, and she stayed there one full second longer than the students before her. Then she walked down the stairs. In the parking lot Lymber cried into Paul's shoulder. Jordie took Elowen and the diploma both so Violetta could sit down on the curb in her heels. "Monday," Violetta said. "Monday what," Jordie said. "Studio. New dress. I've got seven months before I can't stand at the table." He nodded. She pulled off one heel and rubbed her foot. School was done. The next dress was already waiting.