The next year and a half was a bit of a blur. Starting that Summer, Eva and I took various classes in Educational Administration and she also had to take a couple of education classes, so I had more "free" time than she did. It was a lot of work to cram into that amount of time, but we did it. In between, we found days to drive down to Wayne and meet the staff and spent time with Joe DeMilo, the interim principal, getting an advance idea of how things ran at Wayne Day. We found out the school was even more prestigious than we had been led to believe. The school was right in the heart of the Main Line of Philly, where many of the wealthiest "old money" families lived and was one of three of the most sought after schools for families that didn't send their children to boarding schools. We wished someone would have told us, or maybe we should have looked into it more closely. We were going to be dealing with people who were very used to getting their way. Sometimes we felt like we were getting thrown to the wolves.
Cammy graduated in May and of course the three of us were there to see her graduate with high honors. That night we took her out for the best dinner we could find in the area before she went out to a party with her friends. We went with Connor back to our hotel and the next day we helped her pack up the rest of her things. Cammy was a bit hung over (OK, a LOT hung over) so Eva and I had to do a lot of the work while my sister watched Connor. Then I drove Cammy's car back to Queens with Connor next to me (kids didn't have to ride in the back in 1988) while she rode with Eva. We threw her a graduation party over the weekend and she stayed with us during the summer, relaxing with friends and a couple of guys between getting a start on her law school reading.
At the party, my vivacious sister came up to me while I manned the grill. "Jon, I can't thank you enough. You and Eva made all this possible. I couldn't have done this without you. Mom and Dad are watching from somewhere and they're very proud of you." She leaned up and kissed my cheek.
"It's you they're proud of, kiddo." I still called her that sometimes, affectionately. "Look at all you've accomplished. Ivy League education and about to start one of the finest law schools in the country. My amazing sister."
"Jon, I wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't for you and Eva. If I had had to stay with Dad, my life would have fallen apart. You two gave me stability and a lot of love. The brains are mine. The support I needed was from you. But there's one thing I'm mad at you about."
"Mad at me? What the hell for?"
"I compare every man I meet to you, brother, and almost none of them measure up. I'm not settling for less than someone of your high quality. I'd rather be alone."
That got to me and I choked up a bit, unable to answer her for a minute. Then Connor came over to assist his dad and I found my voice. "Thank you, Cammy. That's so sweet of you to say."
"What did Aunt Cammy say to you, Dad?" Connor asked with curious eyes.
"I told your father that the man I eventually marry would have to be just like him, a great, kind and loving man. No one less will do. You've got the best parents, sweetie."
"I know that already, Aunt Cammy. We got lucky, didn't we?"
"We sure did, honey. We sure did."
"OK" I said, trying to break up my fan club before I cried in front of everyone. "Connor, take that tray of burgers inside for your mom to put on buns. Then come back for the dogs." My happy, brilliant son carried those hamburgers like a platter of precious jewels. "You're crazy, sis, you know?"
"Crazy about my brother and 'sister'. I love you both so much. And don't get me started on Connor. I may kidnap him for a weekend and take him to the Jersey Shore. Just him and me."
"Ha! That will drive off the men. Guys your age don't talk to women with kids."
"I'm not going to meet guys. I just want a weekend with my nephew. Please?"
"I'll talk to Eva, but we both know she'll be fine with it. So we just have to pick a weekend. Connor will love it. The beach and ski ball. Sounds like a lot of fun. And, as much as I adore my son, Eva and I could use a quiet weekend to ourselves."
So three weeks later, Cammy drove down to Sea Bright with Connor and Eva and I had a weekend to relax, we went to an R-rated movie and had a nice dinner in a restaurant Connor hated. And we had great sex. Dirty, lusty, fun sex.
The next year flew by. Eva's parents watched Connor a number of times so we could get caught up on schoolwork. Will got engaged to his girlfriend during Thanksgiving weekend and they set the wedding for April a year and a half away. Connor got big, tall for his age on his seventh birthday. Cammy did great her first year in law school, seven A's and a A- over the year. Of course, she was pissed about the A-.