Stolen Innocents (The Shadow Series Book 2) (6 page)

Cole happily declared, “Bloomsburg.”

Joe jumped in his seat and shouted, “You’re staying local?!” Joe was thrilled with his son’s decision.

Cole laughed, “Yeah, Dad. It’s only a twenty minute drive from Elkhart.”

Joe breathed a sigh of relief as Frank regained control of the conversation.

“Nice job, kid. Okay. Next up on the list is Tommy. Stand up.”

Tommy did as he was told and gave everyone his proudest smile. Jack couldn’t help but grin with pride. His trouble maker was finally graduating from high school. It only took him three years of senior classes to do it.

“Tommy is graduating from Steeplechase with… Good God! Do you really want me to read this?!” Frank exclaimed glaring at Tommy with a shocked look on his face. Tommy shook his head up and down giving his uncle the go ahead to announce his deplorable grade point average.

“Alright. If you’re sure… Thomas Morrow is graduating with a 1.97 grade point average. By the skin of his bloody teeth, I might add!”

Jack let out a triumphant shout, “Finally!  I don’t care, as long as he gets that diploma…”

Tommy laughed, “Third time’s a charm.”

Frank shook his head and raised an eyebrow at his nephew.

He continued, “Alright then. Tommy was accepted at Skole County Community College and the Kremmings Technical School.”

Loud applause erupted from the table, most notably from Jack, who didn’t think Tommy would get accepted anywhere.

“So laddie… What did you pick?”asked Frank calmly.

“Erm… Kremmings…” Tommy said sheepishly. Tommy felt a bit embarrassed admitting that he was going to a trade school to learn how to be a mechanic. Regardless of how Tommy felt, Jack was prouder than ever just knowing that his son was applying himself somewhere other than just goofing off.

“And what program?” demanded Frank as he stared down at his nephew over the frame of his glasses.

“Auto mechanic,” replied Tommy.

“Alright, Tommy!” cried out Jenna. “You mean I’ll have someone affordable to fix my fleet of broken down police cruisers other than Traffords?!”

Liam and Adam laughed at her.

“Yeah, please. Before we have to peddle around town on a bicycle for two,” Liam encouraged.

“I’d actually like to see that,” admitted Joe with an amused look on his face.

“That’s great, Tommy. It’s only a twelve month program. You’ll be done before you know it,” said Bridgette supportively.

Frank checked his paper again to see who was next on his list.

“Next on my list is Blake,” said Frank, moving right along.

“Blake is graduating from Steeplechase with a 3.5 grade point average. Blake has been accepted to Lock Haven University, Widener University, Albright College, Skole County Community College and Bloomsburg University.”

Jack listened in awe. He knew his youngest son was smart, but the long list of acceptances surprised him. Blake certainly had his mother Catherine’s intelligence.

“So, Blake,” Frank said, “What will it be?”

Blake smirked shyly around the table before admitting, “Bloomsburg.”

Cole reached over the table and gave his buddy a high five, while Shane gave Blake a hard pat on the back. Jack smiled. He was beyond thrilled that all of his sons would be staying close to home.

Frank continued, “And what will you be majoring in?”

“Education. I want to teach history.”

This surprised everyone at the table. Sure, Blake had always had an interest in history, but he had many other interests, too. No one at the table was more pleased than Moira was. A former Language Arts teacher, Moira rose from her chair and approached her grandson. She squeezed him tight from behind as she smothered his face with kisses.

“A boy after my own heart!”

Her mauve lipstick left stains on Blake’s cheek.

“Grandma stop!”

“I can’t! I’m just so proud!”

Blake couldn’t help but laugh as his grandmother smothered him with affection.

“Alright, Mom! Let him breathe!” yelled Jack from the other end of the table.

Frank lowered his eyes to his list again. When he spotted the next name on the list, Frank’s stomach turned with worry.

“Next up. Shane Angus Kilpatrick. My baby boy…”

Shane stood up and smiled broadly. He shook hands and gave high fives to other members of his family as if he had just won an Oscar. Frank stared at him with an amused look.

Frank continued, “Shane is graduating from Steeplechase Academy with a 2.3 grade point average, which, might I add, is the bare minimum that was needed to stay on the football team at Steeplechase.” Frank gave his son an agitated glare.

Shane bellowed, “Go Mustangs!” which earned him mild laughter from his family. Frank simply shook his head at his son. The apple hadn’t fallen far from the tree.

“Shane was accepted at Skole County Community College, Kremmings Technical School, and
what the hell
…” Frank stopped abruptly, perplexed by one of the school names on the paper.

“Miss Betty’s Beauty School?!”

No one laughed louder than Shane. He knew his father would be the one reading the names of the schools off of the list. Shane couldn’t resist the opportunity to play a prank on his father.

Shane yelled loudly, “Gotcha!”

Frank gave Shane a glare that was reminiscent of Angus.

“Thank you for nearly giving me heart failure. What school did you choose?” asked Frank.

“I’m going to Skole Community… I’m going to take some photo-journalism classes,” said Shane in a more rational tone.

Frank’s heart rate slowed as he processed this thought. Shane was actually quite skilled with a camera. Bridgette smiled with delight. She loved when the kids embraced their passion. She loved it even more when it was something that they were good at. Not like her cooking. She was pleased with the announcements so far. Cole had an excellent mind for business and both Monte’s and the Morrow farm could use a good business manager. Tommy had a passion for cars and motorcycles, so he had made a wise choice as well. Shane meanwhile could be found taking pictures of everyone and everything. It was another great choice. Now Bridgette was eager to hear what her niece had decided.

Frank looked nervously to Tristan who was patiently waiting with a sly smile on her face.

“I could still kill you for not telling me,” said Jack to Frank in a hushed voice.

“Stop panicking. Everything is going to be fine,” Frank reassured his nervous friend and brother-in-law.

“Okay, girl,” Frank said to Tristan. “You’re up…”

Tristan stood up smiling as she peered at everyone’s faces. She was surprised how nervous everyone looked.

“Tristan is graduating from Steeplechase Academy with a grade point average of 3.9,” declared Frank.

The adults at the table gasped in shock. Everyone seemed to voice their opinions at once:

“Wow, Tristan… That is outstanding!” exclaimed Jenna.

“Holy crow,” added Joe.

“You nerd!” cried Shane

“I taught her
everything
she knows,” insisted Blake.

Jack leaned in to Joe and proudly boasted, “That’s my girl.”

Meanwhile, Bridgette and Moira were brought to tears by Tristan’s accomplishment. It was a remarkable feat. Especially after all that she endured.  Tristan brushed off her accomplishment as if it was nothing at all.

Frank continued, “Tristan was granted a scholarship from Vice Principal Irwin for sixteen straight marking periods on the honor roll in the amount of $10,000. She has been asked to act as the class valedictorian at the graduation ceremonies next week.”

Jack’s jaw dropped. Words would not come to his mouth. His pride could not be measured in simple words and expressions.

Frank continued, “Tristan has been accepted to the following schools… Bear with me, this list is long. Okay, here we go. Tristan has been accepted to Stanford University, Bloomsburg University, University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, Princeton University, Albright College, Skole County Community College, and lastly, the University of California.”

Frank had to catch his breath after reading the long list out loud. Jack felt as if he was on the verge of a heart attack.

University of California?!

Bridgette tried to keep her face under control, but internally she was freaking out. Cole’s right leg started tapping nervously under the table. Meanwhile Blake, Liam, Adam, Shane and Tommy looked at Tristan in shock.

Frank, who was always the cool one under pressure said aloud, “Oh, Jesus Christ… Put them out of their misery. Which school did you choose?”

Tristan laughed at how stressed out everyone seemed to be.

“Well, it was a really tough choice. I love home so much, but I had to choose the school that was right for me,” Tristan explained.

The more she spoke the more Cole felt like he was going to throw up all over the picnic table.

“Like I said, it was a really hard choice for me. I hope you will all understand.”

Jack felt dizzy, and he thought he was about to faint. Everyone stared at Tristan as they waited for her to spill the beans.

“Just tell us…” Blake begged.

Tristan nodded with a smile on her face.

“I hope you will understand that I will be attending Bloomsburg University for the next four years, and I’ll be around here bugging you all…”

Tristan couldn’t resist herself. She laughed loudly as everyone celebrated. There were tears in Cole’s eyes. Jack stood up, red faced and excited. He went to her, and hugged her. Jack lifted Tristan’s body off the ground and swung her around.

“Dad! Stop!”

“I’m sorry! I’m just so happy!” exclaimed Jack.

Bridgette breathed a sigh of relief. Frank interrupted everyone once again.

“Wow, you really had them going for a second! Okay, so what is your major?”

“Health physics.”

Everyone gave Tristan an odd look except for her Aunt Bridgette who smiled from ear to ear. Angus, who had fallen asleep during all the excitement, woke up at the sound of the two words.

“Did you just say health physics?!” Angus demanded to know.

Tristan laughed, “Yes. I did.”

“You’re going into medicine?! Angus yelled loudly.

Tristan wasn’t sure if he was happy or angry. Sometimes it was so hard to tell.

“Yes. I plan to follow-up my education at Bloomsburg with a med program at Penn,” explained Tristan confidently.

Jack gasped and clutched his chest. Jenna put her arm around her friend.

“Don’t die on us now… Are you alright?!” Jenna asked, only half joking.

Jack choked up a laugh, but there were tears in his eyes. Bridgette and Moira had tears flooding down their faces.