Ryan’s graduation ceremony was long and boring, but I was glad to see him walk across the stage in his cap and gown. His stepfather, Wade, was a nice guy with a head of white hair who looked about ten years older than Jennifer. I’d found out from Ryan that Wade’s first wife had died many years ago and he’d raised their two children, a boy and a girl, alone. When he and Jennifer met, his kids were already in college and a great deal older than Ryan. Ryan said he didn’t grow up with them because they were living on their own by the time he was old enough to recall having Wade in his life. Plus, he was only three years old when Wade and his mother married, so he didn’t really remember the time when Wade’s kids still lived at home.
Dinner with Jennifer, Wade, and Ryan that evening was nice an
