The next couple of weeks were filled with senior finals, awards night, and picking up my cap and gown before the commencement ceremony. Finally, it was the day before graduation and I was kind of at loose ends for a change. Mom shooed me out of the house.
"Go on," she said. "Your father and I want to cook the food for your graduation dinner."
"I can help," I said. "Besides, Mom, I already told you that we could just go out to eat."
"I'd rather cook here," she said. "Every restaurant in town will be packed with graduation parties."
I couldn't convince her, so instead I reached over and snatched an apple slice.
Mom smacked my hand. "That's for the pie. Why don't you go find that cute boyfriend of yours?"
"You're sure I can't help with anything?" I asked.
"Go ahead," Mom said. "Have some fun with your friends and Ryan before everyone leaves for college."
Sam was babysitting Katie, and Sean and Ryan were off on some guy bonding thing. I drifted into Slim's and took a seat at the counter next to Flo. Today's tee read the fouR pretty ponies of the apocalypse. So much for a kinder, gentler Flo.
"Present from Vinnie?" I asked. I gestured to her shirt.
She grinned. "Nope," she said. "I bought it. One for me and one for him."
"I like it," I replied.
"No plans for today?" she asked.
"Not really," I said. "I feel kind of in limbo."
"I have something that will cheer you up," she said. She hopped down off the stool. "I'll be right back."
While I waited for Flo to come back, I went to say hi to Lil. I fished for some change and deposited it into the machine.
"I've had a lot going on lately, Lil," I said. "But I haven't forgotten you. We found your engagement ring! Hopefully now the spell will work."
Her response was to play "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" by the Animals.
"I promise," I said. "Besides, I'm staying right here in Nightshade. Even if Circe won't cooperate, I'll find a way to free you. Balthazar too."
Flo came back holding an envelope, which she presented to me with a flourish. "It's from Slim and me. Your graduation present."
"You didn't have to!" I said. "Thank you."
The melancholy strains of Chris Isaak's "Graduation Day" floated through the air.
"We wanted to," she said. "And besides, you don't even know what it is. So open it already."
I ran my finger along the flap and opened the envelope. Inside was a handmade card and a check. The amount made my eyes bug.
"Flo, I can't take this," I said. "It's too much."
"Daisy, we appreciate everything you've done. Honestly, we wish it was more," Flo said. "Slim mentioned he hoped you'll consider taking a cordon bleu—level cooking course somewhere. Either this summer or after you finish college."
"The new chef at Wilder's said he was starting a cordon bleu class this summer," I told her. "Thank you so much." I wrapped my arms around her and gave her a big hug.
Flo squirmed away, but she had a big grin on her face. Her tattoos swirled and danced, like they were pulsating with happiness.
"Disgusting," I heard someone snort.
I'd heard that voice before, but I couldn't place it. I whipped my head around, but I couldn't tell who'd spoken.
There was one stranger in the restaurant though. She sat at the counter with an untouched cup of black coffee in front of her. She wore a wide scarf that covered her hair, enormous round sunglasses, and a white trench coat that covered most of her body. She looked like a celebrity who was trying to go incognito and failing. I was certain it was the same woman I'd seen with Sam's dad.
"We've had a lot of out-of-towners in the diner lately," I commented.
"It's been great for business," Flo said. "But there have been a few unusual customers."
It was like we'd been overrun by the CIA or something. Lots of women and men in dark suits and sunglasses, who sat in the corner and carried on low-voiced conversations, which they halted whenever someone approached them.
"Maybe they're paparazzi," I suggested. "After all, Circe is back in town."
She laughed. "Maybe."
I went back home to rearrange my cap and gown and to try on Grandma's graduation dress one more time.
Graduation day finally arrived.
The graduation ceremony was scheduled for indoors, in the gym at sundown, to allow the more nocturnal citizens to attend. We gathered in the drama room to don caps and gowns over our dressy attire. I wore Grandma's white dress with the daisies under my crimson robe but picked practical flats for my feet.
Despite the anticipation, our graduation went smoothly. I spotted Sam's father sitting a few rows ahead of my family. He was with the mystery woman I'd seen in the diner earlier.
As if she felt me staring at her, the woman turned around. I could sense her stare even through those dark sunglasses. Normally I didn't invade the thoughts of total strangers, but something about her bugged me, so I did a little fishing.
I'd just found her in the sea of thoughts when I very distinctly heard Oh no you don't, right before a blank wall slammed down and concealed her mind from mine. Startled, I turned my attention back to the ceremony. I'd been so busy trying to figure out who the woman was that I missed most of the valedictorian's speech. I was thrilled to see Lilah up there and tuned in just in time to hear her closing statement.
"To quote the great Dr. Seuss, 'The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.'"
The audience laughed, and then when Lilah saw a few parents wiping away tears she said, "There's one more quote from the doctor that I'll leave you with. 'Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.'"
Lilah received a standing ovation, and then it was finally time to get our diplomas. Mr. Amador called our names alphabetically, which meant Sam's name was called before mine. She received her diploma with her usual grace and gave the audience an impish smile as she turned her cap's tassel to the other side.
I, on the other hand, was my usual less-than-graceful self and nearly tripped going up on the stage.
I looked out into the audience and saw the faces of my family. Mom beamed proudly, and Dad made his best effort not to look sad and nearly blinded me with his hundred-watt smile. Nicholas and Rose clapped loudly, and I caught Poppy wiping away a tear when she didn't think anyone was looking. Grandma Giordano let out a piercing whistle as I shook hands with Principal Amador.
It was dark when the graduating class trooped outside for the traditional cap toss. I threw mine up in the air with a sense of accomplishment. I'd made it through high school. College would be a cinch after the things I'd been through. If I ever made it in, that is.
A bunch of people were invited back to our house for dinner. I'd invited Sean and Samantha, but her dad was taking Sean and his whole family to Chanticlair's, which was a very expensive restaurant in San Carlos.
Mom and Dad had made antipasto, cioppino, and fresh crusty bread.
"This looks delicious," Mr. Bone said.
Nicholas and Rose held hands under the table.
Liam and Poppy sat on opposite sides of the table, but he watched her with a goofy smile on his face
"Liam, how were finals?" I asked him.
He looked surprised that I had initiated a conversation with him, but answered politely. "Grueling," he said. "But Poppy made sure I put in enough study time."
I'd finally confessed to my parents about my lack of admittance, so it was a relief not to have to hide that I was pretty much a question mark until the UC Nightshade Admissions Office finally sent me a letter.
"I wonder how many other students are biting their nails?" Dad said as we sat around the table.
"Plenty," Chief Mendez said grimly. "There are at least a thousand students who haven't had their admittance to UC Nightshade finalized."
"Do they have any clues about who hacked the computer system?" Dad asked.
"They think it was someone who works there," Chief Mendez said.
"I have a mind to call and give someone a piece of my mind," Grandma said.
"It's okay," I said. "Something will work out. The new chef at Wilder's is starting up a cordon bleu program. Maybe I'll try that."
"I'll pay for new copper pots," Grandma said.
After we ate dinner, Dad said, "And now for the grand finale." He disappeared into the kitchen and came back wheeling a dessert cart with an enormous three-tiered cake. Frosting daisies cascaded down the sides, and congratulations, daisy! was written in yellow on the top.
"That's why you guys shooed me out of the house," I said. "You two were baking my cake."
"It looks lovely, Mrs. Giordano," Liam said.
"Each layer is a different flavor," Mom said. "Let's cut into it."
Ryan and I took our cake and wandered out to the front porch. We sat in the swing and fed each other bites of cake. The perfect ending to a delicious dinner.