Chapter 16
GRADUATION
Liz couldn’t stomach the pictures of her and Hayden together in the tabloids. Victoria had to read the attached article and give running commentary about what was said. By the end, Liz was doubled over in laughter from Victoria’s ridiculousness. It didn’t push aside the suggestions that, as Heather had predicted, she was cheating on Brady, or that she and Hayden had rekindled their romance.
Clearly none of it was true, but having it in print didn’t look good for her, and it certainly didn’t look good for Brady. Brady didn’t say anything about his disapproval about the pictures. She knew he didn’t like to see them, but most of his anger was directed at Heather.
Brady and Heather had gotten into a huge argument about how she had treated Liz. She figured Heather deserved to get chewed out for her actions, but Liz didn’t like to see a rift in his campaign right before primary season.
Luckily, she didn’t have much time to dwell on it, because her parents arrived that afternoon. They lived in Tampa, where her father worked as a calculus professor at the University of South Florida. Her mother was a third grade teacher at a local elementary school. Liz hadn’t seen them since Christmas, and it was a reunion filled with tears, especially on her mother’s part, about her baby girl growing up.
They ate dinner at a low-key restaurant and then stayed up to chat until late in the evening. Her parents seemed as anxious to meet Brady as Liz was for them to finally be introduced. It probably was never going to be easy to introduce a sitting congressman as her boyfriend.
Brady’s flight was getting in early Saturday morning and, once he picked up his Lexus from his house, he met them for brunch. As Liz stepped inside the small diner, she was reminded of the first time they had come here together. They had agreed to continue their relationship on Brady’s terms. She could have walked away at that point, but she hadn’t. Maybe she never really could.
He was seated in the back of the restaurant when they arrived, and Liz directed her parents toward him. Her heart fluttered. He looked incredible in a blue button-down and khakis. Really casual for him.
He stood and gave her a quick hug. She folded into his arms and could have stayed there all day to avoid what was about to happen. Brady didn’t even look fazed by this at all. She had been insanely nervous to meet his parents, sweaty palms and all. But he went on autopilot.
“Mr. and Mrs. Dougherty, it’s so nice to meet you. I’m Brady Maxwell,” he said, extending his hand to her parents.
“We’ve heard so much about you,” her mother said, taking his hand. She gave him what Liz knew was her “social” smile. “Please call me Julie. This is my husband, Lewis.”
Brady shook her father’s hand too. “Lewis,” he said cordially. Her father’s lips were tight as he returned the handshake.
Brady gestured for everyone to take a seat. Liz breathed a sigh of relief when she sat down next to Brady and he laced their fingers together.
Liz was anxious to have everyone in the same place, even knowing that Brady was incredibly charming, because her father in particular still had reservations about Liz dating Brady. The fact that he was a congressman, that she had shown up in the papers because of him, the age difference, the drastic shift in her career trajectory all were strikes against him.
“How was the flight from Tampa?” Brady asked. He shot Liz a mischievous glance, and she couldn’t hold back her smirk. Airplanes.
“Not too bad,” Lewis said, frowning at them. “We were just happy to get into town early to spend more time with Liz.”
“She’s always so busy,” Julie needlessly explained. She ran a hand back through her short brown hair. Liz had always thought she looked more like her mother, with her bright blue eyes and clear complexion, but she had her father’s blond hair, even if it was graying at the temples now.
“I know,” Liz said. “It’s hard to find time to come home.”
“Well, it’s good that y’all are here now,” Brady said. “I see my father all the time, but usually for work. I finally get to spend some quality time with them tomorrow night. Will you be joining us for dinner?”
“Oh, I’d been meaning to tell you about that,” Liz said to her parents.
Her mother gave her a warm smile and then nodded. “That sounds lovely. We’d love to go,” Julie said, nudging her husband. “Wouldn’t we, Lewis?”
Her father nodded. “Yes. Unless we have other plans.”
“I don’t think we do?” Julie asked, turning to Liz.
“No. Plus, you’ll love Brady’s parents. They’re really nice,” Liz said.
“Meeting the boyfriend and his parents all in one weekend,” her father said, flourishing his hand. “Trying to overload us?”
“Obviously,” Liz said, shaking her head. She cracked a smile. “I’m overloading you.”
“Don’t tell us you were nervous,” her mother said with the real smile that Liz knew and loved. “You’ve been telling us that everyone likes Brady all weekend.”
“Oh, yes, we’ve heard it nonstop,” Lewis said. He finally seemed to relax back into his chair.
“Convincing yourself or them?” Brady asked. He chuckled and squeezed her arm.
Liz threw her hands up and laughed. “Don’t gang up on me. I can’t take it.”
Everyone broke into laughter, and seemed to dissipate the lingering tension. The way that Brady managed to fall rather easily into their joking attitude was good news. It meant her parents were starting to accept him.
By the end of brunch, it was clear that she had worried for absolutely nothing.
The day passed easily with her parents and Brady. They went back to her place and she changed into graduation attire so that her parents could take pictures. They walked around campus and her father played photographer with a giant SLR. He had been taking lessons in his spare time and was eager to showcase his newfound talent. They ended at the Old Well, where people were lined up to take pictures in front of the iconic symbol of the university.
When it was her turn, they snapped a few shots of her posing before her mother pushed Brady into the picture. He jogged over and grabbed her around the middle as he had in the airport and swung her around. Liz laughed when he placed her back on her feet and stared up into his face. He dropped a quick peck onto her mouth and she sighed.
Whatever papers were reporting about Hayden had clearly never seen her with Brady. There was no one else in her life.