Chapter 34
The next morning Robert and Lip are in the hotel restaurant eating breakfast. Robert is texting his parents about exactly where to meet before Megan's ceremony so they'll all be together. After details are finalized, Robert puts his phone down, and he and Lip orchestrate passing syrup, jelly, juice and coffee. They are enjoying the freedom of having just graduated, and being between responsibilities. They are in an especially good mood and look forward to the easy day in Boston.
Robert receives another text, and picks up his phone. This time it is from Megan. Robert stares down at his phone for a few seconds before he speaks to Lip. "Hey man. Megan is really excited. She's just put on her graduation gown and sent me a picture."
Robert turns his phone toward Lip to show him the picture Megan sent. Lip takes a quick glance at the picture, but takes a second look as something grabs his attention. He puts down his fork, and slowly takes the phone from Robert's hand to get a better look. There, standing next to Megan in the same Harvard graduation attire, is Charlie.
Robert studies Lip reaction. Lip is quiet at first, looking at the girls, studying Charlie's face. Quietly, Lip asks Robert, "She's here?"
"Yep, she's here." Robert smiles broadly, glad that his plan to get Lip to Boston on this day has worked.
"When did you know?" Lip asks, not sure what this all means.
"I knew right when we got back from spring break. Charlie called and said she'd see me when I came for Megan's graduation. I can't believe Megan kept it from me. She's been living off-campus with Charlie and another girl all year."
"Does Charlie know I am here?" Lip feels like he is scrambling to put all the pieces together.
"No. Neither does Megan. I didn't want to jeopardize getting you here. I didn't want anything to interfere with getting you two in the same place, finally."
"Finally? I got the impression you were kind of glad that Charlie and I went our separate ways." Lip lays it out, honestly.
"I was, in the beginning. She had been through enough. But after I watched you over the last year, and especially the things you told me over spring break, I kept getting a feeling that the two of you needed another chance. When Charlie called right after we got back from Cancun, I knew I had to get you two together - if only to talk to each other."
"Do you think she will? Talk to me, that is? Will it even matter?" Lip remembers the last time he tried to talk to Charlie, and the pain in her face, and the slap that he got.
Robert reaches into his book bag, and pulls out a stack of about ten spiral bound notebooks, with a ribbon tied around them. He hands them to Lip, and Lip knows they are his notebooks in which he wrote to Charlie.
"Why do you have those? Where did you get them?" Lip asks, bewildered at all that is happening.
"I snooped around your room until I found them. Give them to Charlie. Somehow, get her to read them. I have to imagine there is some really good stuff in there. According to what you've told me, there is. Hopefully with the time that has passed, and reading them, it'll make a difference."
Lip looks down at the notebooks. Could it? Lip thinks to himself. He remembers the untold hours he's spent writing in the notebooks as if he was talking directly to Charlie. The disappointment, the longing, and their unrealized plans; it's all in there. The idea of her actually reading them now makes him feel very vulnerable.
The pain of losing Charlie is fresh again. What if it doesn't work? What if she won't even speak to him? What if she sees him, and turns away? Will it break his heart all over again?
"I don't know Robert. This day has suddenly taken a very different turn." Lip says with a little bit of sarcasm.
"What are friends for?" Robert replies jokingly, hoping to lighten the mood. "C'mon. This is a good thing. Think positively. Think of the chance you two have again."
Lip and Robert finish breakfast and head to the Harvard amphitheater. They meet Robert's parents at the designated spot, and soon after Megan hurriedly runs up to them, giving everyone hugs, before she has to line up in alphabetical order with the rest of the graduates. Her excitement is infectious, and everyone is smiling as they find their seats. It's a lovely, pleasant day in Cambridge.
The crowd sits patiently as the speakers are introduced, and the program begins. It seems like it takes forever for them to finally award the graduates with diplomas. Painstakingly, each name is read, and the graduates cross the stage. Lip's palms start sweating as they get close to Charlie's name. He is more nervous than he was at his own graduation.
Finally, he hears her name. He sees her step onto the stage and shake the chancellor's hand as she receives her diploma, then she walks across the rest of the stage, and down the steps. It is only a few seconds, but there is no doubt it was her. He'd know her mannerisms anywhere.
As the speaker starts announcing names toward the end of the alphabet, Robert leans over to Lip. "We need a better spot for this meeting to happen." He grabs a piece of paper out of his bag, and draws a quick map for Lip. "After we finish with the parents, a crowd is heading down to a local bar a few blocks away. There is a park right across the street near the river. There are some picnic tables just past the columned entrance. When this is over, take my bag and make your way there. I'll get Charlie there as soon as I can."
When the recessional begins, Lip tells Robert's parents that it was a pleasure meeting them, and that he'll have to take off right after the ceremony. When the crowd rises to leave, Lip says to Robert, "Wish me luck" and heads toward the park with Robert's bag.
Lip knows he has time before the crowd makes their way to the bar. There are pictures to take, and hugs to share. He thinks back to this same time yesterday when he was doing the same thing. He smiles to himself as he does each time he realizes he graduated, but then quickly changes gears to figure out what to say to Charlie.
After a few blocks, Lip sees the park and columned entrance just like Robert described. Lip walks along the entrance path, but goes past the picnic tables to the river. He spends a few minutes standing on the shore and contemplating what is about to happen. He tries to think of the perfect words to say, but he can't form a cohesive thought. He feels jittery, and for the first time in a long time, he really wants a cigarette.
