CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
May 18, 2013…
“I can’t believe we just graduated!” Audrey squealed hugging me in the middle of the huge Vanderbilt auditorium.
We had done it. Audrey and I had managed to navigate three years of absolute hell and we came out the other side as law school graduates. It was my single biggest achievement and I couldn’t have been more thrilled.
“I know!” I exclaimed, hugging her back.
“Over here, you smart bitches!” Olivia called out as she made her way through the thick crowd of graduates.
As soon as she reached us, Audrey and I tugged her into our huge hug.
“We did it!” Audrey grinned, pulling away from us.
“I know. It doesn’t seem real,” I told her smiling at my two best friends.
Our families were also there. My parents, Jacks, Lukas and Libby all came to watch me reach my crowning achievement thus far. They sat with Audrey’s parents and brother. They were planning to take us out to a fancy dinner to celebrate. I’m sure my Mother and Audrey’s mom planned something beautiful and over the top. I couldn’t wait.
“Are we meeting everyone there?” Olivia asked as we headed to the doors of the exit.
“Yeah I told them we would just meet them at the restaurant after Audrey and I change. You coming with us?” I asked Livy.
“Of course.”
It took us over a half an hour to finally get home. I was worried we were going to be late so I quickly ran to my bedroom to put on my dress I had picked out. I was in my bedroom when I heard the doorbell ring. I didn’t think much of it. I figured it was just one of our family members who got confused and showed up at our apartment instead of going to the restaurant.
“Jenna, you need to come out here,” Liv yelled from the living room.
“Okay just give me a second.” I shouted back as I tugged my teal ombre dress on and zipped it.
When I joined my friends in the front room I was totally confused. There was a hulky dude in a suit holding something and talking to my friends.
“Uh what’s going on?” I questioned them.
“Seems you have a secure delivery, whatever that means,” Liv said giving me a look of complete confusion.
“Uh, okay. Who is it from?” I asked the beefy guy in the suit.
“Are you Jenna Middleton?” he demanded.
“Yes,” I replied.
“Can you show me some ID please?”
“Okay…” I grabbed my clutch from the counter and flashed him my ID. “What is this about?”
“Here you go, Ms. Middleton,” he handed me a large wrapped box.
“Jenna?” Audrey questioned me like I knew what the heck was going on.
I shrugged my shoulders at her letting her I had no clue what this was about. I opened the box and inside sat a smaller black velvet box.
“Open it, Jenna.” Livy peered inside the box.
I slowly opened the lid and to my complete shock there was a beautiful round diamond pendent. It was simple yet completely elegant.
“Whoa, who the hell is that from?” Livy demanded.
“I have no idea,” I said pulling it out of the box looking at it quizzically.
“It’s beautiful, you should wear it tonight.” Audrey lightly touched the beautiful stone.
“There is also this Ms. Middleton,” The delivery man said handing me a sealed envelope and then left.
I opened the envelope quickly and left me in utter shock. I read the card slowly twice before handing it silently to my friends.
Jenna,
Congratulations on accomplishing your goal. This is a huge achievement and should be celebrated. Please accept this diamond pendent as a graduation gift. I miss you.
Always Yours,
Jamieson Wellington
I didn’t think about it. Not even for a second. I ran to the door and yelled at the delivery guy who was almost to the bottom of the stairs of our apartment complex.
“Hey I don’t want this,” I yelled at him.
“He said you would say that.” The big guy chuckled and kept walking.
“No seriously, you have to come take it back. I don’t want it,” I told him.
The delivery guy stopped and let out a deep breath. “He said he won’t pay me if you don’t accept it.”
“Well how much is he paying you? Maybe I can pay you to take it back.” I was desperate.
“Are you going to pay me ten grand?” he asked with a cocked eyebrow.
“He paid you ten grand to deliver that to me?” I screeched out in disbelief.
“Yes, and I could really use the money. I have a sick kid.” The delivery guy slumped his shoulders slightly.
“Did he tell you say that too?” I wasn’t sure I believed this guy’s story.
The delivery guy walked up the stairs so he was once again at my door. He took out his phone and held it up so I could see the screen. It was a picture of young bald boy hooked up to machines.
“He is sick, but is doing better,” he said with a half-smile looking at his child. “The money will really help us.”
Classic Jamieson, he refused to fight fair. “Alright. I will hang on to it until I can give it back to him in person.”
“Thank you,” he said giving me a smile and began walking down the stairs again. “I don’t know what the guy did but at least he’s trying to make it right.”
“Yeah a little too late,” I laughed sarcastically.
“Well for what it’s worth he sounded like he was pretty desperate,” he shrugged and then disappeared into the parking lot.
I went back into the apartment with my head spinning. I had no idea why he would do something like this. He broke up with me, he cheated on me, and he’s the one who didn’t want me, right?
“What the hell, Jenna?” Olivia demanded upon seeing me reemerge. She thought I had been talking to him or maybe even seeing him again.
“I don’t know. I haven’t talked to him in over two years. I don’t know why he would do something like this,” I squeaked out in barely a whisper.
“Maybe he’s trying to make amends,” Audrey offered optimistically.
“Or maybe he is just trying to fuck with your head again. What a miserable prick,” Olivia huffed.
“I have no clue but it doesn’t really matter does it? It doesn’t change anything really. I will return it to him when I get a chance. I definitely won’t be keeping it,” I said defiantly.
“Good,” Livy agreed. “Now can we please get a move on? I’m starving.”
“Yeah just let me grab my purse,” I left it next to the now opened box and on it sat the card. I read it over one more time still perplexed by its exact meaning. What could have possibly brought this about? What had changed?
“Congrats Jen Jen!” Cain hugged me and kissing me tenderly.
Cain was the only person that called me that, I wasn’t exactly fond of the nickname but it didn’t totally annoy me either. Livy hated it. She said it sounded like something he would name a small dog like a Shitzu or something. I could tell Liv wasn’t a huge fan of Cain’s but I also knew she would never come out and say that because she loved me that much. If I was happy, she was willing to overlook it.
“You too,” I smiled up at him.
Cain had joined us at the restaurant later after he had said goodbye to his family. I got to meet them and I must admit it was slightly overwhelming. His mother was very formal. I should have expected as much since she is one of the top trial lawyers in the country, but still I was a bit taken aback by her lack of warmth. Cain’s father was easier to read. He was your typical southern father strict yet approachable. I liked him. He too was a lawyer and I could see he conducted himself with much less formality than his wife. I also got to meet Cain’s sister, Ellen. She was tall, skinny, blonde, stunningly gorgeous and a complete bitch. I could tell she didn’t think I was worthy of her brother and had no problem letting me know it. Cain tried to shrug it off but it had upset me. I tried to not let her ruin our celebration but in all honesty, it had slightly.