Brian gestured for her to pay attention to Mr. Taylor.
“It is my honor to award this scholarship to Francine McCauley,” Mr. Taylor said.
Fran slapped her hands over her mouth as the crowd erupted with applause. I clapped, too, since I couldn’t be happier for her.
Brian rose and helped his daughter to her feet, beaming with pride.
Fran is a wonderful human being and deserves the best, I thought.
As Fran walked up on stage like she owned the world, Brian’s eyes were moist with tears.
Whether it was the electric atmosphere, the love for his daughter pouring off him, or the weird emotional state I was in, I knew Brian was my future.
18
BRIAN
After the banquet, I was ready for a stiff drink and a warm bed, preferably with Grace curled up next to me. But I had to take it down a notch and talk to Duke first.
Nevertheless, I was flying high and so fucking proud of Fran I couldn’t contain myself.
“Dad, I can’t breathe,” Fran said against my chest.
“I can’t help it. I’m so happy for you.” Tears pricked my eyes.
She batted her lashes at me, beaming. “Are you crying?”
“Men don’t cry,” I teased.
“I couldn’t have done any of this without you,” she said.
Parents, guests, and school staff were mingling and saying goodbye.
Mr. Taylor came over to us, his bald head glistening. “Fran, congratulations again. Mr. McCauley, your daughter will do great things one day. But I wanted to take a minute, if I may. Fran, I understand you’ll be graduating a year early next spring. Therefore, I would like to offer you an internship next summer before you start college. It would only be for a month, but it could meld into something more, maybe summers during your college years.”
Fran was nodding faster than I could track. “Yes, I would like that very much. Thank you.”
“Good,” Mr. Taylor said. “We’ll be in touch.” He took his leave.
I hugged Fran. “Wow!”
“I know, right? Dad, I've never been so happy.” She checked the room. “Where’s Grace? I want to tell her.”
I’d lost track of the Hart beauty when Fran came down off the stage. “She might be in the ladies’ room.”
“Is she staying the night?” Fran asked.
I hadn’t thought about that. Though the snow was beginning to pile up the last I checked when I’d gone in search of Grace before dinner.
“Fran.” Nora’s high-pitched voice sounded like nails on a chalkboard, for some reason.
“Go,” I said to Fran. “I’ll call Grace.”
My gut churned as I felt a sense of doom. I hoped she hadn’t decided to drive back to Boston in this weather.
Her voicemail picked up, and I left a message for her to call me. As Fran chatted with Nora, I headed toward the ladies’ room, wondering why I hadn’t asked Grace where she was staying for the night.
As I approached, Janet Welby was coming out of the restroom. “Brian, you must be so proud of Fran. But you look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
