“Hey, Morgan?” He looked back to where his sister was hand in hand with her wilting daughter. “You two ready to go? I have somewhere I need to be.”
She didn’t even blink. “Whenever you are.”
…
Morgan smiled in bemusement as they pulled up in front of the house brightly decorated with balloons and party banners. The unmistakable sound of a mariachi band was coming from the backyard.
“Ella’s still napping. Why don’t you head in and I’ll go around the block a few times. Not that I wouldn’t give anything to hear what you’re about to say.”
Henry climbed out, careful not to slam the door and risk waking his niece. He stood there for a minute, preparing himself to head inside to face whatever was going to come his way.
Benny was here. And the sooner he told her how he felt, the sooner he could breathe a little easier. Or at least a little less painfully.
Entering the backyard from the side of the house, he followed the steps until he was on the lawn, looking out over a dozen tables overflowing with guests. The mood was happy and energetic as people laughed and visited with each other, some of them even dancing, and he tried to take heart in that energy, hoping that maybe it would make Benny more susceptible to what he was about to say.
He wandered around looking for a familiar face to ask the whereabouts of the woman he was here for. Hopefully they didn’t want to bash his face in.
At one table a priest laughed with a group of older couples, all of them enjoying salt-rimmed margaritas. Something he could use about now after the oversweet, melted snow cone he’d had at the zoo. Benny’s dad was the first person he spotted, seated next to another blond figure so similar in size and coloring he was left no doubt as to their relation. Henry didn’t want to intrude there, though, so he moved on.
A small hand tugged on his, and Henry looked down to see Natalie, Benny’s younger niece, staring up at him. Her hair was pinned up, and she was smiling at him like he was some kind of rock star. At least she was glad to see him.
“Hi, Natalie. I almost didn’t recognize you, you look so grown-up. I was looking for your aunt Benny. Have you seen her?”
“She and Mama are in the kitchen.”
“Thanks. Make sure you save a dance for me.” That was, if he wasn’t thrown out before then.
He climbed the stairs of the deck and slipped inside the house. Several more unfamiliar faces met his—from the logo on their aprons, he took them to be caterers. He squeezed past the crew working to fill bowls and trays with food at the dining table—only it was a larger and newer table than the one he’d seen on his last visit, and he recalled Benny telling him that Dominic had custom made it as a surprise.
The sound of laughter brought his attention to the kitchen. His heart felt like it was going to beat out of his chest as he saw her, standing with her sister placing candles across the surface of a cake.
Benny. The look of happiness and joy that radiated through her entire being was hard to miss as she threw her head back in laughter at whatever Daisy had said.
She was lovely.
Engrossed in conversation with her sister, she still hadn’t noticed him, even as he drew close enough to reach out and touch her. Daisy caught sight of him, however, and instantly her eyes widened in surprise and then speculation as she glanced at her sister. They both waited for the moment when Benny finally looked up to see what had captured her sister’s attention.
Their eyes met, and he saw a flicker of surprise as her eyes widened twice as big as Daisy’s.
“Benny. Daisy.”
Daisy stepped back. “I think I’ll let you two have a minute—”
But Benny grabbed her sister’s arm, keeping here there. ?
??What are you doing here, Henry?”
“I’m here to see you, of course.” He wouldn’t be scared off by the sharp tone in her voice. He was due her frustration and anger.
Her eyes cut away from him to glance around the room. When she spoke, her voice was low and quiet so as not to be overheard. “I don’t think this is the time or place.”
“Maybe not. But there is something I need to say to you, and it can’t wait. Not another day, another hour, even another minute.” He took a step closer so that she was only a couple of feet away. “You called me a coward the other day. A coward who was afraid to try and have anything real with someone. That I had no substance. And you were right. I was a coward. I won’t go into all the reasons that might have made me that way, afraid to be vulnerable—just know that I’m not afraid anymore. I know what I want, who I want.”
She was so still, almost as if she was afraid to take a breath, and he smiled. “I want you. You, Benny Sorensen. A woman who loves with her entire being and who isn’t weaker or more dependent because of it but is actually stronger. Who loves her family and friends, her job and her patients. You don’t need to wear your hair a certain way or wear layers of makeup or sexy clothes to be attractive to anyone—although the dress you’re wearing now is enough to give me a mild heart attack,” he couldn’t help adding. “You’re lovely and perfect just the way you are, Benny, and I wouldn’t have you change for anything, or anyone. Least of all me.”
Benny had been slack-jawed during his speech, and now, as the room was so quiet—save for a few sniffles and the music thrumming through the windows and walls—she glanced down at the cake, not meeting his eyes.
He looked over at Daisy, who smiled and nodded at him, encouraging him to go on.