“What’s going on?” my mom asks, her shrewd gaze taking us in as only the mother of four can do.
“If everyone can join us outside, I’ll tell you.”
Austin picks up Everly, who has been dried, changed and brushed by Dee, and the three of us lead the way to the corner of the yard that overlooks the Intracoastal Waterway, where a spectacular sunset is unfolding.
“Do you have Milo?” I ask Dee.
She hands her phone to me. “Hey, little brother.”
“Hey. All systems go?”
“Yep, it’s showtime. Milo gave me permission to go forward with plans we made before everything happened.” Holding the phone so Milo can see, I turn to the others. “So, it seems I’m an idiot, and we’re pregnant.”
A shout of excitement comes from the entire group. Mom and Dad hug us all, while Nona and Abuela hug each other.
“I knew it!” Abuela says.
I’m shocked to hear that. “You did not!”
“She told me the other day that you were pregnant and wondered if you knew yet,” Nona says.
“How do you do that?” I ask Abuela, shocked.
She shrugs as she hugs me. “I know my kids.”
“Daddy, I wondered if you might be willing to give me away.”
“Of course,” Dad says, looking a bit misty.
“Right now.”
Their faces and that of Austin’s parents register shock.
I hurry to explain things to them. “We’re still going to have a big party at the end of Austin’s season, but we wanted to be married before he leaves for spring training, and his brothers are here this week, so…”
The judge walks up to us, waving to the others. “Love your restaurant.”
“Thank you,” Vincent says, shaking his hand.
I reach out to my dad.
Giving me the sweetest smile, he takes my hand and lets me lead him back toward the pool deck so we can do this right. I grab the gorgeous bouquet of white roses and lilies I stashed earlier under the bar.
Austin’s brothers join him next to the judge, with Dee and Carmen across from them. Using his phone, Austin cues the song we chose for me to walk in to, “God Only Knows” by the Beach Boys, which we found when we Googled the top 100 love songs of all time. Neither of us had heard it before, but we agreed it was perfect for us. As the song plays on the Bluetooth speakers he installed in the pool area, I love it even more than I did the first time I heard it.
My dad looks at me with his heart in his eyes. “My beautiful Maria. I’m so proud of you and the family you and Austin are creating together. He’s a wonderful guy, and that we get a beautiful granddaughter, too, just makes it even better.” He kisses my cheek. “I wish you a lifetime of happiness.”
“Thank you, Daddy. Love you so much.”
“Love you, too, sweet girl.”
I take the arm he offers me, and we walk together toward the loves of my life while Dee captures the proceedings on her phone for Milo, and Jason records for us.
When Dad and I reach the others, he hugs me for a long moment before he releases me and turns to shake hands with Austin, who is holding Everly.
“Take care of my little girl,” Dad says, sounding choked up.
“Always, Lo. You have my word.”