«Tanya, have you lost your mind? This is a graduation, not a carnival!» Mrs. Thompson, the Year 11 form tutor, threw her hands up in exasperation. «Live butterflies? Where on earth would we even find them? And more importantlywhy?»
Tanya tapped her pen impatiently against the list of ideas. «Valerie, it has to be something special! This is our childrens last school celebrationtheyll remember it for the rest of their lives!»
Inside the headteachers office, the graduation committee had gathered. Emily sat quietly in the corner, her mind elsewhereupcoming deadlines at work, unpaid bills, and the nagging worry about her husband, who had seemed distant lately.
«Emily, what do you think?» Mrs. Thompsons voice snapped her back. «You work in event planning, dont you?»
Emily straightened up, gathering her thoughts. «I think we should focus on what really matters to the kidsgreat music, a photo booth, maybe some light refreshments. Everything else is just unnecessary stress on the budget.»
Tanya pursed her lips. «Of course, youd say that. Always the practical one. But the children want something magical!»
«They want to enjoy themselves with their friends, not watch butterflies,» Emily countered gently. «Ask Sophie if you dont believe me.»
At the mention of her daughter, Tanya relented. «Fine, lets vote. Whos in favour of the simpler plan?»
Most hands went up, and Emily exhaled in relief. One problem down. Now, if only she could figure out what was going on at home.
On her way back, she dialled her husband. «James? Still at work?» she asked, weaving through the car park.
«Yeah, running late,» he answered, sounding tired. «This projects a nightmare. Dont wait up for dinner.»
«Again?» She couldnt hide her disappointment. «Third time this week.»
«Emily, not now,» irritation crept into his voice. «Im working, not out having fun. And dont worryIll be at Sophies graduation.»
«Fine,» she dropped it. «See you tomorrow.»
At home, Sophie was hunched over her history book. Exams were over, but university applications loomed.
«How was the meeting?» she asked without looking up. «Save us from another one of Tanyas mad ideas?»
Emily smiled, pulling ingredients from the fridge. «Believe it or not, she wanted live butterflies this time.»
Sophie wrinkled her nose. «Ugh. Id spend the whole time terrified one would land on me.»
«My thoughts exactly,» Emily said, turning on the stove. «Dads working late again.»
Sophie shrugged. «Nothing new. Mum you dont think hes»
«What?» Emily froze, knife in hand.
«Nothing, forget it,» Sophie waved dismissively. «Just hes been acting weird lately.»
Emily resumed chopping, but her mind raced. Had Sophie noticed too? The late hours, the hushed phone calls, the way hed started deleting messages. Twenty years of marriagecould he really be
«Mum? Youve been chopping that onion for ages.»
«Sorry,» Emily blinked away tears, blaming the onion. «Lets eat, then well pick my dress for the graduation.»
The next two weeks flew by in a blur of work and last-minute preparations. James kept promising hed be on time for the big day.
On graduation morning, Emily treated herself to a salon visithair, nails, a touch of makeup. At forty-five, she still looked youthful, especially when she smiled. She chose an elegant navy dress, and Sophie insisted she look her best.
«Let my classmates see how gorgeous my mum is,» she teased, fixing Emilys hair.
Sophie herself was radiant in her white gown. Emilys eyes welled up.
«Dont start,» Sophie grumbled, though her own eyes shimmered. «Youll ruin your makeup.»
«I wont,» Emily dabbed her eyes. «Im just proud. My little girls all grown up.»
They agreed Emily would arrive for the ceremony while Sophie went early to meet friends. James would come straight to the hall.
The school auditorium was transformedballoons, flowers, a photo wall. Emily noted with satisfaction that it looked impressive even without butterflies.
Parents filed in, and Emily saved a seat for James, glancing at the door. Fifteen minutes to gostill no sign of him.
She calledno answer. Texted: *Starting soon. Where are you?* He replied immediately: *On my way. Ten minutes.*
The ceremony began. The headteacher spoke, then students collected their diplomas. When Sophies name was called, Emily craned her neckJames had promised not to miss this. Then she saw him.
He stood by the far wall, clapping for Sophie. Beside hima woman. A tall blonde in a red dress, younger than Emily. She whispered something, and James smiledthe special smile he usually reserved for family.
Emilys stomach dropped. So that was it. The late nights, the secretive calls. Hed brought her to their daughters graduation?
Sophie, diploma in hand, searched the crowd. She waved at Emily, then spotted her father and beamed. The blonde beside him seemed to go unnoticed.
Emily sat numb through the rest. All she could think was: *How could he?*
After the ceremony, Sophie rushed over, glowing. «Mum! Did you see? I got straight A*s!»
«Of course you did, darling,» Emily forced a smile. «Dads here toodid you see him?»
«Yeah, he waved,» Sophie said. «Where is he now?»
Before Emily could answer, James appearedalone. «Congratulations, sweetheart!» He lifted Sophie off her feet, laughing.
Emily watched, torn. Confront him here? Pretend nothing was wrong?
«Hi,» James kissed her cheek. «Sorry I was late.»
«I noticed,» she said coolly.
His smile faltered. «Something wrong?»
«Later,» she muttered as Sophie darted off to friends.
They stood awkwardly in the crowd. «Whos that woman you came with?» Emily demanded.
James looked baffled. «Woman?»
«The blonde in red. You two looked awfully close.»
Understanding dawned. «Oh, Natalie? Shes my new bosss daughter. Just moved here. He asked me to show her around tonightI couldnt say no.»
Emily studied him, sceptical.
«Come on,» he sighed. «Ill introduce you.»
Natalie turned out to be friendly, engaged to someone back in London, and clearly out of place. Emilys suspicion wavered.
But later, alone in the car park, James admitted the truth.
«Ive been hiding something,» he said quietly. «Not an affair. Ive been having teststhey found something on my spine. I didnt want to worry you before Sophies graduation.»
Emilys heart clenched. «James»
«Its not serious,» he reassured her. «Just needs a minor procedure. I got the all-clear two days ago.»
She hugged him tightly. «You idiot. Were a team.»
He held her close. «I know. Im sorry.»
As they walked home hand in hand, Emily realisedtwenty years of trust couldnt be shaken so easily. Whatever came next, theyd face it together.
