Jennifer's POV
"Happy Graduation Day!"
Rachel stops brushing her hair in the mirror to turn around. "Thank you", she says with a massive smile spread across her face. She notices my hands behind my back and raises her eyebrow, "What are you hiding?"
"Just a little something to commemorate you and all your accomplishments."
"Accomplishments? I'm not a lawyer yet, I still have to pass the Bar."
"And you will when the times comes, but for now learn how to take a compliment and not be so hard on yourself. You have lots to be proud about."
She caves in taking the blue Tiffany box from my hands. She stops and meets eyes with me before opening and I smile.
Her mouth falls open, "Oh my God Jenn it's beautiful."
"You like it?"
"Are you kidding me? I love it", she says as she lightly runs her finger across the diamond heart necklace pendant.
"Why don't you flip it over?"
She does and when she sees the engraving she closes her eyes. I walker closer to her pining her hair back behind her ear.
"We're stronger together."
"I thought it was a nice homage. I wanted you to have something to always remember this journey."
She puts her hand behind my neck pulling me in for a kiss."It's perfect."
"Let's see how it looks around your neck." Rachel turns around moving her hair out of the way. I look in the mirror behind her as I put in on her. "It looks gorgeous on you."
"Thank you, I'll always have it close to my heart."
I smile and give her a kiss on the forehead. "I totally lost track of time, I should have already been at the office by now."
"I wish you could be there today."
"Me too baby, my schedule is just so hectic right now."
"I know."
"We'll celebrate later ok?"
"Yeah we will", she says devilishly. "I love you. Thank you for the gift."
"I love you too. See you later."
After we bid our goodbyes I make my way to the office.
"Good morning Senator."
"Hi Mia."
"You have a few new media inquiries that the communications team wants to run by you, I emailed you the list of people that want to request a meeting. The most important were placed at the top, and I have this memo from David. He dropped it off this morning."
"Thanks Mia. My schedule is blocked off for the day correct?"
"Yes it is."
"Great. I'll be in my office."
**********
Rachel's POV
"Can you believe we've made it this far? We're one step closer to doing everything we said we were going to do", Avery cheerfully says.
"I know it feels surreal to be in the moment."
"We've been through so much, but we made it through still friends."
"And we always will be", I smile.
"Ugh oh here comes my mom. I hope she doesn't embarrass me."
"Adrienne is not a regular mom"
"She's a cool mom", we both say at the same time.
"Hi Rachel how are you my dear?", Adrienne says breaking up our laughter.
"Hi Adrienne", I say giving her a hug. "I'm well and you?"
"Ecstatic to see you two growing up and becoming the great women I knew you would be."
"Thank you", I reply.
"So what are your plans after graduation. Are you going to take the Bar right away and start the job hunt like Avery here? I thought she enjoyed working for the Senator, but I guess not. All I hear are complaints about the lady."
"Mom!"
I look over at Avery, but decide not to comment."Yeah I'm going to take it right away. I want the information to be fresh in my head. And as far as the job hunt I don't know. I might wait a little while before I start looking."
"I thought you wanted to start practicing right away Rach", Avery chimes in.
"I did, but I may have another opportunity that makes me leave that on the back burner for awhile."
Avery stands there astonished as Adrienne pats me on the shoulder. "That's great dear. I can't wait to hear about it. I'll let you two get ready to line up, Rachel your parents and I walked in at the same time they are saving my seat."
I give her a smile as she walks away.
"Rach what other opportunity could possibly stop you from practicing law? Ever since I met you that has been your dream."
"And it will be reality soon enough. I just have to weigh my options."
"Let me guess this has something to do with Abner? Rach do you see what's happening here? She's taking you away from your friends and now your dream."
I roll my eyes, "It's not like that, she supports me in whatever I do."
"I had no clue you two were serious about each other. I thought it was just a fling."
"I told you when you found out about us it was more than that so are you really surprised? Or are you just shocked to find out she actually cares about me?"
"Rach I-"
"Just drop it Avery I don't want to talk to you about her anymore unless it's work related. Today is meant for celebration not for whatever this is."
I don't know what's gotten into her. It's been so long ago since the whole thing went down between the three of us. Since then Avery has not only given me her blessing to pursue things with Jenn, but she's made effort to right her wrongs and get back into Jenn's good graces.
"Ok", she says holding her head down.
**********
Jennifer's POV
I turn off my light and shut my office door as I rush to leave. As I walk down the hall I hear laughter from Mia and Greg?
I peak my head in her office to see Greg leaning against her desk and her smiling like I've never seen.
"Greg what are you doing here?"
They both look over and Mia's face quickly changes.
"I came by to see you honey, but Mia here told me you were working away in your office. I didn't want to bother you so we struck up a conversation. Did you know she speaks three different languages?"
"She's my Chief of Staff Greg of course I know that."
"Mia has worked for you so long she's practically family, why don't we invite her over for dinner one day? It would be nice with the four of us."
"Oh no, I'm not married it would just be me", Mia naively responds.
Greg smiles and I roll my eyes.
"Here Mia", I say shoving a paper in front of her. "I circled the interviews I want to take, get them on the calendar ASAP."
"Ok Senator, anything else?"
"Yes get work. Let's go Greg."
I pull out my cigarette and lighter as we make our way out to the parking garage.
"You could be nicer to the woman, she's just doing her job."
"I don't pay my employees to flirt with you."
"If you were jealous that's all you had to say."
I roll my eyes as I exhale."Why are you here?"
"I have a business trip. I leave tonight.Just giving you the heads up. I didn't know if I was needed to act as your husband or not."
"That's great news, no I don't have any events until next week. Where are you going?"
"Dubai."
I chuckle, "Business, we both know what that's code word for."
"I'm just trying to be courteous unlike you who flaunts it in my face every chance you get."
"Oh like you just did with Mia?"
He smirks,"That was harmless. If I wanted to fuck her I would have by now."
I roll my eyes,"You're going to make me late, just remember what we talked about and be smart."
He takes the cigarette out of my mouth and puts it in his."Don't let me hold you up from playing house. Tell your girl toy I said congrats on becoming a big girl today."
**********
Rachel's POV
Avery and I spot our friends and family in the audience and wave at them. We're just moments from the commencement ceremony starting when Avery looks at the program. "Surprise Key Note Speaker? I wonder who it is, I hope it's Oprah."
I laugh,"I highly doubt Oprah is going to take the time out of her day. I bet it's some Fortune 500 CEO that will persuade us to put people before profit and not actually mean it. For all I care we can skip the speeches and they can just gives us our diplomas. Something tells me Olivia went all out for the party tonight."
"You're still coming?"
"Of course I'm coming why wouldn't I?"
"No reason. I can't wait", she says with a smile.
The classic graduation music starts as we walk out to our seats. The faculty and staff take their spots on stage, and I catch Professor Cook's eye and wave. She smiles as she is the first to speak.
When Cook is finished speaking she takes her seat and I notice as a spot is still is open. It must be for the surprise key note speaker. It has to be someone important if they still aren't out here. Who ever it is supposed to speak next.
"Now the moment I'm sure many of you have been waiting for, to see who are key note speaker is. Well without further ado please join me in welcoming USC Alum and current presidential candidate the honorable Senator Jennifer Abner."
The crowd claps as I sit there in shock. I look over at Avery who looks annoyed at Jenn's presence. "Did you know it was going to be her?"
"No she didn't tell me", a smile creeps across my face as I see her take the stage in her academic regalia.
**********
Jennifer's POV
"It is my honor to be back at my alma mater delivering this year's commencement address. Not too long ago I was in your shoes navigating my way through the law program and finding a voice for myself. The friendships I formed and the relationships I fostered with the faculty and staff here are the reasons why I am here today. Hearing stories and being a witness to the systematic injustices my peers faced is the principal reason I dedicated my life to public service. As I look into the crowd of graduates today I see people who have stories, people who are fed up with the way things are going, people who also want to dedicate their lives to public service. Being a lawyer is not easy, you all know that from the heavy course load your great teachers put on you. When you leave the stage today I want you to thank them because they set you up for success. Being a lawyer means you have to stay determined, have drive, being willing to fight when things get hard. I know all of you are ready for those task or you wouldn't be here today. The courtroom is one battle, but the other battle is staying true to yourself and your morals. Being a lawyer also means you will have to make impossible decisions that won't always be pretty, but we do this because we believe in justice and want to make our community a better place. The great Steve Jobs once said "Don't let the noise of other's opinions frown out your own inner voice. And most important, have courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary." I believe we have the power to create our own outcomes and from the smiles and signals of understanding I see today I know that you will all do great in this world wherever it takes you. Whether it's being an attorney, a lawmaker, a law professor, or even President of The United States. Congratulations graduates. Now is your time, make the most of it."
The audience cheers as I depart from the stage. As I walk away the principal signals for me to come back up and they present me with a plaque. I take pictures and shake all of their hands before finding my seat next to Tanya.
"Nice speech."
"Thank you."
"Your dig didn't go over my head."
"Oh please Tanya as much as you'd like it to be, everything isn't about you."
She chuckles, "That's you projecting."
We both continue to have smiles on our faces as we uncomfortably sit next to each other. Thankfully the names of the graduates begin to be called to hurry this along.
Tanya takes her spot at the middle of the stage to present the graduates with their diplomas.
"Rachel Taff"
As her name is called I hear her family and friends cheer.
She makes her way over to Tanya shaking her hand and receiving her diploma. Tanya pats her on the shoulder as mouths something to her.
As she continues to walk down the stage her face lights up when she sees me. I give her a sly wink and she smiles.
Shortly after the commencement concludes. I spot Rachel, but Tanya finds her first. They wrap each other in a hug and I see Rachel tell her she's going to miss her. Instead of interrupting I grab Frank and walk inside the auditorium hall.
"Want me to grab her for you?", Frank questions.
"No she's talking to Tanya right now. Let her get her goodbyes in."
"Goodbyes? She's taking you up on your offer?"
"She hasn't given me an answer yet, but I know she will follow her intuition."
After awhile I wait until the crowd clears up and Frank makes a clear path to Rachel for me.
I stand behind her as she laughs and jokes with her friends and family.
"Senator Abner great to see you. What a lovely speech", Rachel's mother says.
"Thank you. It's lovely to see you both again", I say to her parents. "You must be so proud of Rachel."
"We are. We can't wait to see what she does with this degree", her father says.
"Me and you both...I know you all have celebrating to do, I just wanted to stop by and say congratulations and grab a photo with you and Avery."
"That's ok you two go ahead. Mom we should go we have reservations", Avery interjects.
"Ok congratulations Avery. Have fun celebrating tonight ", I say trying not to make the situation more awkward than it already is.
"Ok shall we take this photo?", Rachel says nervously.
Her father takes out his phone for the photo and Rachel stand next to me. I put my arm around her shoulder and I can feel her tense up.
"There you go, what a nice photo."
I smile, "I should get going."
"Senator before you go I promised my friends I'd introduce them."
"Way to make us look like lame asses", Rachel's friend Olivia says.
Rachel shakes her head, "Senator these are my best friends Olivia and Kennedy."
I shake their hands, "It's lovely to meet you ladies. I'm sure there's lots of partying planned for the weekend, but please make sure she's back in one piece and ready for work Monday morning", I joke.
They all laugh.
My phone rings and it's David. "I'm sorry as you can imagine things are hectic. I have to get going, but I'd love to take you all out for dinner to celebrate."
"Wow that is nice of you", Rachel's mother says.
"I'm out of town all next week, but when I get back I'll coordinate with Rachel."
"That's sounds great", her father says smiling.
"Great see you then. Congratulations again Rachel."
"Senator can I actually talk to you for a second? It's regarding the proposal I emailed the other day."
"Always in work mode this one is", I say jokingly. "Sure walk with me."
We walk into the building and go into one of the empty rooms.
"Congratulations Rachel", Frank says.
She smiles, "Thanks Frank."
She hits me on the arm, "You are so sneaky! Why didn't you tell me you would be the key note speaker?"
"And ruin the fun? No thank you", I say wrapping her in a hug. "I'm so proud of you."
"Thank you", she says giving me a kiss which makes Frank turn around.
"What was that with offering to take my family to dinner? You are going to say you got too busy and forgot right?"
I chuckle, "No I have every intention on following through with that."
"Jenn you can't."
"And why not?"
"I've told you how my family is, especially my mother."
"Rachel I'm pretty sure your family is a walk in the park compared to what I deal with on the daily. I've met them before."
"Yeah for five minutes and not as my girlfriend."
"Rachel you're overthinking this. I just want to do something nice for you and your family. All they know is I'm your boss. It will be fine."
She takes a deep breath, "Yeah it will be fine."