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I walked offstage as the cheers faded, feeling like my heart might burst. I’d done it. I’dreallydone it.
It took three hours to hear my name being called, but once the names started rolling, it was all over so quickly.
I hugged some of my peers, students I hadn’t gotten very close to with my busy schedule, and I burst out of the double doors.
My eyes scanned the crowd of families that framed the exit until I saw Tyler. I ran over to him, my hand clasped on top of my cap.
“Delia, you’re a rockstar!” he said with a grin. “I’m so proud of you, kid. I couldn’t have done this.”
“You could have,” I hugged him.
My mother stepped up next, taking both my hands in hers and pressing a kiss to my cheek. “You’ve done so well, sweetheart,” she said. “Really, you’ve made us proud.”
Her eyes flitted to the ring on my finger and widened, “And that rock…” She looked up at Robert and nodded her approval, winking at me.
I didn’t know what to say to that. She’d spent so much of my life reminding me of what I hadn’t accomplished that hearing her praise felt like I’d stepped into an alternate universe. But I took it for what it was and hugged her back.
Kassandra hugged me tightly, muttering into my ear, “Good job. Those kids won’t even know what a badass mom they have.”
Corinne held out the bouquet of flowers she’d been gripping all day. “These are for you!” she said proudly.
I laughed, crouching down carefully to take the flowers. “Thank you, Corinne. They’re perfect.”
She grinned and hugged me for a second.
I straightened and turned to Robert, wanting his praise the most.
“Congratulations,” he said, his voice soft in my ear as he kissed my cheek.
I turned to kiss his lips, and there was that look again, the one that melted my heart every time. “I knew you could do it,” he said, as our mouths crashed together.
“Thank you,” I whispered, and for a second, it felt like we were the only two people there. All I could focus on was Robert, his arms around me, his lips on mine, and the overwhelming feeling of beinghome.
And then, suddenly, something shifted.
I felt it—a sharp cramp in my abdomen. I froze, pulling back slightly as Robert frowned.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice instantly worried.
I pressed my hand to my belly, wincing as another cramp hit. “I think…” I whispered, looking up at him.
His eyes widened. “Delia, are you—”
My water broke on the dying grass beneath us.
“Delia, you peed!” Corinne screamed out, and I stared at the liquid gathering under my feet for a second before starting to laugh hysterically.
“Oh, God,” I laughed, staring down at the growing puddle forming around my feet. “The twins stole my thunder!”
“Fuck,” I heard Kassandra whisper. I looked over at her, and I could see her eyes sparkling. “Delia, you’re gonna get a hot girl summer after all.”
I couldn’t stop laughing, maybe out of shock, maybe at the absurdity of it all, or maybe Kassandra really was that funny. But Robert was in full problem-solving mode. He didn’t hesitate.
“Tyler! Get the car!” he barked, already scooping me into his arms as if I weighed nothing.
“Wait! I can walk!” I protested, but he wasn’t having it.
“Not a chance,” he growled, his jaw set as he carried me toward the parking lot. “You’re not doing this alone, Delia. Not now. Not ever.”