This is who we are, it seemed to say. What we are and what we’ll be regardless of trouble. Maybe because of it.
She’d been given this, this family. A mother, a sister, a lover, brothers and friends. A child who was loved by them, and another child to come.
Whatever it took to keep it whole and safe, she would do.
So she ate. She talked and listened, helped wipe up spills, and buried her nerves under the treasure of normality.
There was talk of flowers and books, of school and books. And here was the talk of wedding plans she’d pined for.
“I guess Hayley told you we’d like to get married here, if that suits you, Mama.”
“That’s what I like to hear.” Roz set her fork aside. “In the gardens? We’ll insist the weather stay fine, and have tents as a backup. I intend to roll up my sleeves regarding the flowers. I insist you give me my head there. You’ll want lilies, I expect.”
“Yes. I want to carry red lilies.”
“Bold colors then, toss the pastels. I can work with that. I know you don’t want anything too formal, and since we’ve had two weddings already this year, I think we can iron out the details without much pain and suffering.”
“Step away now,” Logan advised Harper. “Save yourself. Just say, ‘That sounds fine.’ And if they give you two choices in anything, don’t fall into the trap. Just say, ‘They’re both great,’ and tell her to pick.”
“He thinks he’s being funny,” Stella said dryly. “I’m not kicking him under the table because he’s right.”
“How come everybody’s getting married?” Gavin demanded. “How come we always have to wear ties?”
“Because they like to torture us,” Logan told him. “It’s the way of women.”
“They should have to wear ties, too.”
“I’ll wear a tie,” Stella offered. “You wear high heels.”
“I know why people get married,” Luke piped up. “So they can sleep in the same bed and make babies. Did you and Mitch make a baby yet?” he asked Roz.
“We already made our quota some time ago. And on that note.” Roz pushed away from the table. “I think it’s time for you boys to help David clear this up so you can have ice cream in the kitchen.”
“All right, troops. Fall in. You, too, Private.” Before Hayley could deal with it herself, David moved over to take Lily out of the high chair. “Just because you’re short, doesn’t mean you can skate out of KP. She likes to help me load the dishwasher,” he said to Hayley. “We’re fine.”
“I just need to talk to you for one minute in the kitchen.”
“Clear and stack, gentlemen,” he ordered, then carried Lily out of the dining room. “We got this end covered,” he said to Hayley. “You don’t need to worry.”
“No, that’s not it. I know Lily’s fine with you. It’s about the wedding. I need to ask you for something.”
He set Lily down, gave her a pot and a spoon to bang. “What do you need?”
“I know this might sound sort of strange, but I think you get to tailor a day like your wedding day to suit you best, don’t you?”
“If not that day, what day?”
“That’s right. So I was wondering, I was hoping, you’d give me away.”
“What?” David’s face went utterly blank. “Me?”
“I know you’re not old enough to be my daddy, or anything. But I wasn’t thinking about it that way. I was thinking how you’re one of my best friends, and Harper’s, too. How we’re like family. And how a day like that’s about family. I don’t have my daddy, or any blood kin I love the way I love you. So I want you to walk me down the aisle—so to speak—and give me to Harper. It would mean a lot to me.”
His eyes went misty as he wrapped his arms around her. “That’s the sweetest thing,” he crooned. “The damnedest sweetest thing.”
“Will you?”
He drew back. “I would be honored.” Taking both her hands, he turned them over, kissed her palms. “Extremely.”