Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Graduation

~Four Years Later~

“We’re graduating tomorrow. Do you think you can come back for it?” Alex asked.

“I’ll try,” I mumbled even though I knew it was a lie. After I got the news from the doctor, I left, and I hadn’t turned back.

“Lulu, we miss you—I miss you. You just up and left and you didn’t even say goodbye,” he said, frowning.

“I said I was sorry, Alex. I just had to leave, and I wasn’t going to make leaving any harder on anybody by saying goodbye,” I said softly.

“Yeah, whatever,” he mumbled. He looked down—something he did when he was mad at me and he was doing his best to keep from saying something that he knew would hurt me.

“What time is it?” I asked, catching his attention.

His head shot up and he smiled brightly. “5 p.m. I sent the ticket already,” he said knowingly.

“So you just knew I’d agree?” I asked, smirking.

“Yeah. Listen, I gotta go,” he said, blowing me a kiss.

“Tell everybody I said hi,” I said, blowing him one back.

He nodded in agreement and hung up the FaceTime call.

“Mom?” Leonardo called out, walking into the room.

“Yeah, baby,” I said, opening my arms for him.

He smiled brightly and ran into my arms. He had Johnathan’s baby blue eyes, but that was where the similarities ended between the two of them.

“When can I talk to Uncle Alex?” he asked, pouting.

“How about tomorrow?” I asked, ruffling his hair up.

He smiled brightly and I took his hand before leading him into the bathroom and giving him a shower.

“Where are we going?” he asked as I put him in jeans and a sweatshirt.

“America,” I said, sitting him on the sofa and putting on The Backyardigans.

His attention immediately went to the TV, making me laugh. Now I know what some of you are thinking—why didn’t I get an abortion or give him up for adoption?

The plan was to give him to a nice family who wanted a kid but couldn’t have one themselves.

Then I got to the hospital bed and I pushed him out and they gave him to me to hold and I just couldn’t let go.

I finished taking my bath and put on my own jeans and shirt. I packed a suitcase for the both of us and met up with Leo.

“We’re leaving now?” he asked as I walked out of the room.

I nodded my head and he took his suitcase from me before taking my free hand in his own.

“Will we come back?” he asked, looking around. He ran up to the table and grabbed the tickets before handing them to me and taking my hand in his again.

“I don’t know yet,” I mumbled.

“Can we take Oreo?” he asked, pouting.

I smiled and nodded my head.

He ran to his room and came back with Oreo asleep in his arms.

“Do you have his leash?” I asked, smiling at the small husky in his arms.

He nodded his head and turned to show me the leash tucked in his back pocket. I grabbed the cage, knowing we’d need it for the plane, and led them outside the house.

I closed and locked the door behind us. I handed him the car keys and took Oreo, making him smile brightly.

He ran up to the car and unlocked it before throwing his suitcase in the back seat and sitting in the passenger seat. I put my suitcase and the cage with his as he started the car.

“Can we sing?” he asked as I made sure Oreo was put safely in the seat and sat down.

“Yeah, baby, as soon as you buckle up,” I said, buckling up myself.

He nodded sharply and buckled up before breaking into “The Wheels on the Bus.” I laughed and sang along with him as I pulled off down the road.

We made it to the airport by 10 p.m., and I knew by the time we made it to America it’d be five in the morning, leaving us a couple of hours to rest.

The plane ride went by smoothly, which I was grateful for considering it was Leo’s first time.

“Mom, do you think they’ll like me?” he asked as we waited for our suitcases and Oreo.

“They’ll love you, Leo,” I said softly.

He smiled at me and I kissed the top of his head gently.

Our stuff came and I grabbed them before leading us outside. I called a taxi and gave him the address to my old house.

Leo fell asleep on me during the ride but immediately woke up when we got to the house.

“Whose house is this, Mom?” Leo asked, jumping out of the car and staring up at it in amazement.

“Mine. Let’s go inside,” I said, handing him Oreo who was awake now.

He nodded his head excitedly and I grabbed the bags from the taxi and opened the house door. Leo ran inside with Oreo running in after him. He ran up the stairs and into my room.

“Was this your room?” he asked, looking around.

I nodded my head and smiled a little. I put my suitcase on the bed and took his hand in mine before leading him to the room he would be sleeping in.

He smiled brightly as he took the room in. I sat him on the bed before changing him into his PJs. I tucked him in and kissed the top of his head just as he fell asleep.

My phone started to ring and I stepped out of the room before answering.

“Hey, Lulu,” Alex said, smiling at me.

“Hey,” I said, smiling back.

“So, do you think you’ll make it?” he asked, looking around.

“Who’s there?” I asked, trying to figure out who he was looking at.

He rolled his eyes at something whoever it was said and turned the camera around before showing me the boys.

“Hello, boys,” I said, smiling.

They smiled and waved at me.

“I can’t call out from work—it’s too last-minute. I’m sorry,” I said softly.

He frowned and nodded his head. “I figured,” he mumbled before hanging up.

My heart clenched as I did my best not to call him back. I changed and climbed into bed before falling asleep myself.

***

“MOM, WAKE UP,” Leo screeched, jumping on me.

I groaned and hugged him into me. “What time is it?” I asked softly.

“Half past three,” he said, giggling.

I moaned and rubbed my eyes tiredly. I gently kissed the top of his head as I sat up. I led him into the bathroom before brushing his teeth and showering him.

He ran into his room and jumped on his bed. I chuckled and shook my head as I opened his suitcase.

I grabbed his suit from his suitcase and set it on the bed before putting lotion on him and dressing him in his suit.

“Don’t wrinkle your clothes,” I said, brushing him off.

He nodded his head and gestured toward the TV.

I smiled and turned it on for him and put on Spongebob for him. Oreo climbed into the bed and cuddled into Leo, making me smile.

I left the room and went to my room before brushing my teeth and showering. I sat in front of the vanity and straightened my hair, letting it flow down my back.

I put on mascara and some lip gloss before pulling my dress and heels on. “Leo, what time is it?” I asked as I looked myself over.

“A quarter to five,” he responded as I walked into his room.

“Okay, time to go,” I said, holding my hand out for him.

“Can we bring Oreo, Mom?” he asked, looking up at me hopefully.

I smiled and nodded my head. “He’ll have to stay in the car,” I said softly.

“Well, can we leave the windows down?” he asked, grabbing the leash and connecting it to Oreo.

I nodded my head and he grabbed my hand. I led them to the garage and smiled when my eyes landed on Lux. Oreo and Leo ran up to him, and I unlocked him.

“Sit in the back, baby,” I said, buckling up Oreo.

Leo pouted but did as I asked. I buckled him up and gently kissed the top of his head. I turned on the radio and put the volume up as Leo started to sing along.

We arrived at the building where the graduation was being hosted, and my eyes landed on the long line. After thirty minutes of looking for a parking spot, we finally found one.

I poured some water in a bowl for Oreo and made another bowl for food. Leo and I joined the line, which thankfully had shortened.

“Mom, what if they don’t like me?” Leo asked, exasperated. This was his second time asking, and he only did that when he was genuinely nervous.

I picked him up and rested him on my hip. “You are the sweetest kid in the whole world, and if they don’t see that, then it’s their loss.

“Besides, I love you, and that’s all that matters, isn’t it?” I asked, ruffling his hair.

He smiled brightly and hugged me tightly. “I love you too, Mom,” he said softly.

I smiled and gently kissed his cheek.

“Tickets?” the man at the booth asked.

Leo let me go and handed the ticket to the man.

“Do you have another ticket for the little man here?” he asked, smiling at Leo.

“No. Can I buy one?” I asked, opening my purse.

“It’s fine. Go on in,” he said, smiling.

I smiled and thanked him before walking in.

“Put me down, Mom. I’m a man—you don’t need to carry me,” Leo said, pouting.

I laughed and shook my head as I put him down.

We walked to the front, and I sat Leo beside me. Five minutes passed before they began calling names. Leo clapped for every name he heard, earning him looks.

“Alessandro Romano!” the man said.

I stood up and clapped loudly, earning weird looks. Leo groaned and tugged my dress, trying to get me to sit down. I sat down and ruffled his hair, making him huff.

“Alexander Smith!” the man said again.

I stood up and cheered loudly as my brother bounced across the stage. He froze, and his eyes landed on me. He waved at me, and I smiled, waving back.

Leo tugged my dress again, and I sat back down.

“Dimitri Ricci!” the man said.

I stood up, clapping loudly, and waved when he noticed me. I sat back down before Leo could tug on my dress.

“Giovanni Russo!” the man said.

I stood up, cheering loudly. I sat down as his eyes landed on me, and I blushed as he winked at me. I could feel eyes on me, but I ignored them.

“Lorenzo Costa!”

I stood up, clapping again, and sat back down. The ceremony went on until it finally finished with the Valedictorian (Alex’s) speech.

I took Leo’s hand and led him outside as the ceremony ended.

“LULU!” Alex screamed from behind me.

I turned around and smiled brightly at him. I ran up to him and hugged him tightly.

“That speech was amazing,” I said, smiling at him as we pulled away.

“Well, you did write it,” he mumbled.

I giggled and shook my head. “That’s not true at all. That was all you,” I said, smiling.

I hugged and congratulated the rest of them. I hesitated at Giovanni, who I hadn’t talked to since I left. I smiled at him, earning a smile back.

“Mom,” Leo whispered, tugging on my dress.

I turned around and picked him up.

“Who’s this?” Alex asked, smiling at Leo.

“Hello, I’m Leonardo, but my mum calls me Leo,” he said, holding his hand out.

Alex shook his hand and smiled. “Nice to meet you, Leonardo. I’m—”

“Uncle Alex. Mom told me all about you and Uncle Lorenzo, Uncle Dimitri, and Uncle Alessandro,” he said, smiling proudly as we started to make our way to where I parked the car.

“Well, where’s your Mom? I’d love to meet her?” Alex asked, looking around the parking lot.

“Right here, silly,” Leo said, pointing at me.

I smiled at Leo and shyly turned my attention to the boys. Leo laughed at the bugged-out looks on their faces.

Alex turned his attention to Giovanni. “YOU GOT MY SISTER PREGNANT?” he screamed.

My jaw dropped, and I hit him in the back of his head with my purse.

“No, I didn’t,” Giovanni said, and the hurt was evident in his voice.

“I don’t understand,” Alex said, turning back toward me.

I unlocked the car and sat Leo in the back seat before buckling him up. I started the car and rolled the windows up before turning the AC on.

“Luna,” Lorenzo said, trying to catch my attention.

I filled Oreo’s bowls up again and handed Leo a juice box and his tablet. I took off my heels and put on flats before closing the car door.

I led them a little bit away from the car, where Leo couldn’t hear us but I could still see him. “Do you remember when the doctor came to get me?” I asked Alessandro.

“You mean when we were baking, yeah,” Alessandro said, nodding.

“She told me I was pregnant—that’s why I was crying and that’s why I left without saying goodbye.

“Because I knew somebody would’ve asked the wrong question and I would have said it out loud, making it even more real,” I said softly.

“That’s Johnathan’s kid?” Alex asked slowly.

“No, he’s ~my~ son,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest.

“You kept the baby that Johnathan forced on you?” Alex asked again.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. “I know what happened. I was there, not you.

“I also know that I had every intent to give him away and then he opened his eyes and looked at me and I decided to keep him.

“I know that ever since he was born, I’ve been telling him about his family here in America and he’s been excited to meet every single one of you.

“He’s been so scared that you guys might not like him and I’ve been doing my best to convince him otherwise, but looks like I was wrong. Excuse me,” I said, brushing past them.

“Mom, what’s the matter?” Leo asked as I sat down.

“Nothing, baby. You hungry?” I asked, turning to look at him.

He smiled brightly and nodded his head.

I smiled at him and started to reverse when Alex ran behind the car. I hit the brakes, making the car jerk.

He ran to my side of the car and took a deep breath. “I’d love to get to know you, Leo,” he said, smiling at Leonardo.

“Really?” Leo asked, smiling brightly.

“Yeah, you can drive with me if you want,” he said, pointing to his car.

“Can I, Mom? Please,” he begged.

I nodded my head and he unbuckled his seat belt before running out of the car and to Alex’s side. Alex smiled at him as he stopped beside him.

“See you at Giovanni’s house,” he said, picking him up and walking off before I could say anything.

I heard a knock on the passenger side window and turned my head to see Giovanni. I unlocked the car and he opened the door before sitting down.

“Leo took my seat,” he mumbled, pouting.

I shook my head and rolled my eyes at him.

The car ride was longer than it was supposed to be since I decided to take the scenic route to his house.

“So you left and came back with a son, huh?” he asked, keeping his eyes out the window.

I took a deep breath and pulled over. “Yes, I did,” I said, turning to face him.

“Jonathan’s son,” he growled through clenched teeth.

“Giovanni,” I said softly.

“Of course it’s Jonathan’s fucking son,” he growled before hitting the dashboard, making me jump and Oreo yip. He shook his head and stepped out of the car.

I stepped out too and walked around the car to where he was standing. “I didn’t choose Jonathan,” I said softly.

He scoffed and shook his head. “Seems like you didn’t have to. I mean, he chose you and that’s all that matters, isn’t it?” he asked, turning his head to face me.

“What?” I croaked.

“It just seems like every time you make a decision, it benefits Jonathan. You left with him for ~five~ years, you had ~his~ son even after he raped you,” he said, shaking his head.

“I know exactly what he did, Giovanni. I don’t need you throwing that shit in my face, and I ~left~ for ~you~.

“You’d be dead if it wasn’t for me, so fuck you, Giovanni, and yeah, I decided to keep his son because ~Leonardo~ is not just his son, he’s ~my~ son,” I said, turning my back to him.

He grabbed my arm and turned me around. “I love you, Luna, and I just need you to tell me you love me,” he pleaded.

The hurt in his eyes made my heart clench as my eyes filled with tears. “Of course I love you, Giovanni. I never stopped loving you,” I said softly.

“Say it again,” he whispered.

“I love you, Giovanni,” I said softly.

He smiled brightly before capturing my lips in a passionate kiss.