Graduation had finally arrived. Both Cort and Iliana would be receiving their degrees. Since Iliana was due at any moment with their son she would be attended the ceremony in a wheelchair to keep the pressure of the extra weight off her legs. Cort had wished she would've stayed home to prevent her from getting out of bed but she had protested and insisted on being apart of the event she had been working towards for the past four years. When he and Iliana arrived at Colson University's audiotorium Iliana's family was waiting outside for them with ear length smiles.
Iliana's mother snapped pictures of her and Cort in their caps and gowns. "Cort, where's your family?" Iliana's mother asked after taking the hundredth photo. Cort's smile faded and he looked his future mother-in-law in the eyes.
"I told them about Iliana and the baby and they refused to be apart of my life any longer. They really don't approve of our relationship." he told her and she drew him for a hug.
"It's their loss baby." she said in his ear. "You know we're here for you three if you need anything." She released Cort and bent down and kissed Iliana's cheek. She rubbed her protuding belly and they chatted about minor details. Iliana's father approached Cort and stood next to him.
"So what are you plans for the future son?"
"Well I already have a job lined up that I'm set to start next month. It starts at $60,000 so Iliana and Cort Junior will be well taken care of." Cort said proudly and shook Iliana's father hand when he extended it to him.
"My daughter is lucky to have you. I'm very proud of you both." He smiled and walked to his daughter and wife. "Let's get her inside out of this heat." He grabbed the handles of Iliana's wheelchair and pushed her inside the audiotorium. Cort followed and they took their seats.
The ceremony started 30 minutes after all the graduates were seated. Iliana's family cheered loudly when her and Cort's names were called to receive their degrees. Iliana and Cort left with her family when the ceremony was over and went back to their apartment for a small get together. Iliana's father cooked while Cort sat in the bedroom with Iliana and rubbed her swollen feet.
"I really wished you would've stayed home." he said as she winced at the pressure on her feet. Just walking from the wheelchair to the bed had caused them to swell profusely.
"I'll be all right." she said. "As soon as Cort Junior is born I never have to worry about swollen feet again."
"Wait a minute." Cort said giving her a confused look. "Are you saying you're not going to give me a gorgeous little girl?"
"Nope. This is it baby."
"Well I think I'm going to have to work on changing your mind." Cort smiled and leaned in to give her a kiss, As soon as his lips reached hers his cell phone rang. Groaning he pulled away from Iliana and pulled his phone from his phone.
"Hello?" he answered and heard his brother crying hysterically. He told him his father had suffered a major heart attack was taken to the hospital but he died just one hour ago. Cort could hear his mother screaming in the background. "I'm on the way." he said and hung up.
"Something wrong?" Iliana asked sensing the emergency in his tone of voice.
"Yeah, everything's fine." he lied. "I gotta go but I'll be back a little later." He bent down and kissed her quickly before grabbing his car keys and heading out the door.
Cort left Iliana in the care of her parents and rushed to the hospital. When he got there he saw his mother being comforted by his older brother, Sam. His sister-in-law, niece and nephew were near by crying and hugging. Cort's mother looked up from her son's shoulder and saw Cort. She rushed to him and laid a resounding smack on his cheek. "Mom!" Sam yelled and rushed over and grabbed her.
"This is all your fault! You broke your father's heart by being with that girl! You killed him! I hate you!" she screamed and Cort held his cheek that had grew red from her strike.
"You can't blame me or Iliana for this!" Cort yelled. His mother threw up her hand to silence him.
"Don't even speak her name! You know how your father felt about that type of relationship. You caused him to be so stressed out his heart gave out! I will never forgive you for this!" she cried and pushed Sam off her. She walked to her daughter-in-law and hugged her grandchildren. Cort looked at his brother whose eyes were swollen from crying.
"Just go. I'll call you and let you know the details with the funeral." Sam said. Cort nodded and left the hospital.
Cort returned home an hour later but spent another hour crying in his car. He didn't want Iliana to see him upset because he knew it would only cause her to get upset. He wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his gown and headed inside. "Cort?" he heard Iliana call from their bedroom. He walked in and saw her lying in bed rubbing her belly. "Everything OK?" she asked seeing the redness in his eyes.
"Yeah. I just need to get some sleep." he told her and removed his cap and gown. He pulled off his shirt and Iliana smiled at the tattoo on his left bicep on his heart. Her name was scripted beautifully on his skin. He got into bed next to her and cuddled against her soft body. He laid his head on her breasts which had grown a full cup size over the months of her pregnancy. Cort let his hand travel over her stomach and down to her crotch. He cupped her and moaned as he kissed the cleavage she was exposing. "I cannot wait until I can be inside you again." Iliana giggled and kissed his forehead.
"Patience is a virtue." she sang. "Besides Dr. Kotlet said we had to wait six weeks after Cort Junior's birth so I can heal."
"I know and I fully intend on waiting for you but it's gonna be hard."