“Life is full of twists and turns, dips and hills.” Avery Montgomery viewed her audience. Some were smiling; some were crying; some were simply listening. She’d rocked it! Every anecdote, every joke, every story...on point. Who knew she could add public speaking to her already amazing résumé? But... Ooo wee, is this what a hot flash feels like?
Avery pulled at her sweater and took a quick sip of her water. As she viewed some of the hopeful faces in the front row, she thought back on her college graduation many years ago and the view of life she’d had back then. Graduating at the top of her class in molecular biology was no small feat, and she’d dreamed of being invited back one day to encourage young women of color to pursue careers in math and science.
When she was twenty-one—the same age of many of those in front of her—she would have placed a wager that she’d be completing her residency right now and getting ready for a coveted fellowship at Johns Hopkins.
Yet she wasn’t standing before the beautiful, intelligent graduates of the University of Michigan as Dr. Avery Montgomery. Instead, she was standing before them as Avery Montgomery, creator, head writer and executive producer of a top television show.
Giving the keynote address at the Black Celebratory, a program put in place to acknowledge and celebrate the African American experience at her alma mater, meant everything to her. Avery couldn’t help but snicker at the irony, though. No Johns Hopkins. No residency. But she’d still been invited to inspire a room full of hopeful college graduates.
“Never be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone. Don’t be afraid to fail. Embrace rejection, not because it’s a part of life, but because it’s a learning tool that will propel you to new heights,” she continued, squeezing the podium.
Avery’s gaze dropped down to her notes. The words blurred in front of her. Her head hurt in a way it had never hurt before. In fact, it was the worst headache of her life. But she pushed herself to keep going, as she did every day. Okay, I got this.
“You already know the standard platitudes given to graduates. Never let your major, your advisors, your parents or your friends prevent you from following your dream. That’s very true. When I started my time here at the University of Michigan, I wasn’t going to let anyone tell me I couldn’t be a scientist, that I wouldn’t become a doctor.”
Glancing up from the podium, she met one of her favorite professors’ eyes and smiled. Then she scanned the audience once again. “I stand before you...”
The word “today” died on her lips when she spotted the familiar silhouette in front of her, at the entrance of the auditorium. The massive Power Center was packed full of proud parents, giddy grandparents, solemn professors and others there to wish the 2018 graduating class much success. The spotlight was on her, but it might as well have been on him. She couldn’t see his face, but there was no mistaking the man who had made her life on campus what she’d deem the best time of her life.
A flash from a camera jerked her thoughts back to the matter at hand. “I...” She covered by clearing her throat and taking another long gulp of water. “Today, I stand before you as someone who thought I knew my destiny—until I didn’t. And that’s okay.” Unable to help herself, she looked at the entrance of the massive space again. He was gone.
“It’s okay to veer off your predetermined road because your future may be off the map altogether. Be open to the possibilities of life,” she said, in closing. “You won’t regret it. Thank you.”
Avery waved, took a quick bow and hugged Professor Bauer before an escort led her off the stage. When she’d accepted the formal invitation to speak, she’d hoped to stay behind and greet some of the students, but a last-minute change to her schedule prevented that.
She wasted no time unhooking the microphone from the lapel of her suit. Thanking her escort, she proceeded toward the waiting limousine with her security following close behind. Avery could hear the cheers from the auditorium as she walked, and she felt a pang of guilt for leaving before she could shake the hands of the graduates.
“Duty calls,” she mumbled to herself with a quick roll of her eyes.
“No time to greet your fans?”
Avery tripped and almost hit the floor. Fortunately for her, that smooth baritone voice belonged to someone whose reflexes were unrivaled. His smell wrapped around her brain while his strong arms snaked around her waist, preventing her fall.
She backed out of his warm grasp quickly and tugged on her suit jacket. When her gaze met his, she knew he’d felt the spark, too. It was like a bolt of lightning whenever they were within arm’s distance of each other.
Dr. Elwood Jackson. Still fine as ever.
A sexy smirk flashed across his face before it was replaced with...apathy. “Avery,” he