Gwen was sitting in the bedroom, finishing some thank you notes when Ethan came in.

“ Hi darling”, Gwen said.

” Hey.” Ethan went to the bed and sat down.

Gwen looked at Ethan. “ Is there something wrong?”

“ I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, but I saw Theresa while I was out.”

Gwen felt immediate panic, but then calmed herself. “ Oh?”

” I went to the Book Café for some gifts, and there she was.”

” And?”

” Well, it was sort of unpleasant. On both sides.”

” Oh.”

“ I suppose I had somewhat built up in my mind about the first time I saw Theresa. I didn’t know what I would feel.”

” And, how did you feel?”, Gwen asked, somewhat dreading the answer.

” A lot of ambivalence. Not what I expected.”

” You…expected more?”

” I…..I don’t know how to explain it, but just a few months ago I was willing to throw away everything I had because of Theresa, and now, I don’t even know who the man was that would have done that.”

” I see.”

” I saw Chad. I think it’s possible he and Theresa have something going on.”

” Um, isn’t that WHITNEY’s man?”

” I’d always thought so.”

” I’ll pass on the comments I’m thinking.”

Ethan came over to Gwen. “ I don’t want there to be secrets between us, Gwen. That’s why I told you. I’m so glad you’re my wife. I know it was the best choice. For better or worse, you’re stuck with me, Gwen. I love you.”

Gwen looked into Ethan’s eyes, and she could see that he meant what he said. She smiled at him. “ I love you too, Ethan.”
 

Chad had gotten the message at the Book Café that he was supposed to come back to the Russells for dinner. When he got to the house, it was dark. He let himself in.

” Hello, is anyone home?”

Chad shrugged his shoulders and was about to turn and go back to his apartment when the lights went on.

” Surprise!”

He looked at saw TC, Eve, Simone, Whitney and Theresa standing there.

” Um, what’s this all about?”

TC came over to Chad, beaming. “ Well, tomorrow’s your first day of college courses.”

” I know, Coach.”

” Well, everyone knows that you have to be fortified for such a strong day, so we decided to throw you an ‘Off to College’ Dinner.”

“ Coach..”

TC put his arm around Chad’s shoulder. “ Come on. My wife’s been working on this dinner, and we don’t want  it to get cold.”

They all went into the Russell dining room and had dinner.

” Are you excited, Chad?”, Simone asked.

” Nervous. I’m gonna be older than almost everyone.”

” Ah, don’t let that phase you. It’ll be fine.”, Theresa responded.

” Theresa’s right, you’re getting a great opportunity.”, Whitney replied.

” Thanks, Whit.”

“ Let’s make a toast to Chad.”, TC said. Everyone lifted their glasses. “ Chad, you’re a fine young man. And, you’re about to embark on a journey of self-discovery. I know you’re  going to knock them dead. To Chad and fulfilling dreams.”

” To Chad.”, everyone responded.

They ate dinner, and Chad looked up every once in awhile to see his mother looking at him. His heart melted knowing how happy she was. How proud she was of him. He couldn’t explain it, but it meant the world to him.

They finished dinner, and TC said, “ Well, let’s go back to the living room.” When they got there, there was a beautiful cake with candles on it. The cake said,
 

 ‘ Congratulations Chad. Make your dreams.'

Chad smiled and blew out the candles, while Eve ran the video camera.

” This is too much.”

TC patted Chad on the back. “ Naw, Son. Don’t say that….not before you’ve opened the presents.”

” Presents?”

” Presents.”, Theresa replied. They sat Chad down on the couch, and began giving him his presents.

” That one is from me.”, Simone said. Chad opened it, and it was a beautiful sweatshirt and some slippers.

“ You have to be comfortable when you study.”, Simone said smiling.

“ Thank you.”

“ This is from me.”, Whitney said, handing Chad the gift.

He opened the box and there were four books. Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington, The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Dubois, The Autobiography of Malcolm X, and The Writings of Martin Luther King, Jr.

“ Education has always been very important to us as a people. These men put it out there, about why education is important. “

Chad nodded. “ Thanks, Whitney.”

“ Here’s mine!”, Theresa smiled.

Chad laughed as he opened up her gift.

It was a group of movies. All of his favorites on DVD.

“ You have to have something for pleasure too.”

“ Thanks.”

“Well, here’s my gift, Chad.”, TC said.

Chad opened the box. It was a top of the line knapsack, full of supplies: reference books, pencils, pens, a calculator, notebooks, etc. Chad looked further..

” Are these?”

” Yep. All the schoolbooks for the semester.”

Chad shook his head.

” Thanks, Coach.”, and he hugged TC.

“ Um, it’s my turn.” Eve brought out a big box for Chad. He opened it up. He just stared at it. It was a laptop computer complete with carrying case, printer, scanner, and all the software he could need.

Chad looked at Eve. “ I….I don’t know what to say.”

Eve had tears in her eyes. “ You don’t have to say anything. Let your grades say everything for you.”

Chad went over to Eve and hugged her.

” You have no idea how happy I am to be here to see you off to college. This is one of my dreams, Chad.”, she whispered in his ear.

“ Thanks, Mom.”, he whispered back.