Heart Like Mine (40 page)

“I have absolutely no idea. Maybe she's just glad to get this table freed up for people who tip better.”

“Wait a minute.” Delaney's memory pinged. Another dinner, another creamer order, but she couldn't connect the dots.

Before she could figure it out, Molly was back at the table, two fresh tiramisu plates in hand. She set them down with uncharacteristic care, then paused before she did a little hop-turn and headed back to the kitchen.

“What is up with her tonight?” Delaney picked up her fork. “She's bouncier than normal, and that's saying something.”

“No idea. Maybe the Italian dating site finally worked out and she has a hot date later.” He pointed to her dessert. “Go ahead. Taste it.”

Delaney looked down at her tiramisu, which was decorated tonight with fancy chocolate shavings and swirls. In the dim light, the dessert positively sparkled.

Wait.

The dessert
was
sparkling.

She dropped her head to examine it, then felt her eyes go wide as she looked up at Joshua.

“Oh, my God. Joshua, she brought me the wrong dessert! There is an
engagement
ring in here!” She looked around wildly, trying to locate a nervous wannabe groom anxiously watching his girlfriend eat her tiramisu. “Signal Molly!”

Joshua didn't move—just smiled and shook his head slowly.

“Seriously, look!” She turned it around so he could see the ring, which—she had to admit—was dead gorgeous. If she was picking out a ring someday, this would totally be the kind she'd pick.

He reached for the ring, and she slapped his hand lightly. “Don't touch it! Look how carefully Mama B wound it into the chocolate swirls! We can't ruin it.” She looked toward the bar, but Molly was nowhere in sight. “Oh, my God, Joshua. Some poor guy is sitting in this restaurant wondering where in the world his ring went. I have to bring this back to the kitchen.”

“Delaney.” He put a hand on her arm to stop her.

“What?” She looked at him, and suddenly, finally, the reality of the situation dawned on her.

She looked down at the ring, looked back up at him, looked down at the ring.

“No way.” She shook her head. “This is not for me.”

“Well, that's the part you get to decide. I think that's how these things are supposed to work.”

“Joshua?” Delaney felt tears prick at her eyes. Could he really, possibly be proposing? After only three months together?

He took both of her hands, stroking his thumbs over her fingers as he looked into her eyes. “I know this is crazy. Totally nuts. Insane. In some ways, I feel like we barely know each other. In others, I feel like you've been part of me for my entire life. I know for absolutely certain that I am going to marry you someday, but I also know it might be a long time before
you're
that certain. So I'm asking, and you can give me whatever answer you need to.”

“Oh, my God,” Delaney whispered. His face was getting wavery as tears crowded into her eyes.

“Delaney Blair, now that I know what it feels like to have you in my life, I never, ever want to know what it would feel like to
not
have you with me. I want to live on Sugar Maple Drive with you, in a big old house we can fill with whatever you like. I want to have Sunday brunch in bed, want to cancel plans with friends because we just want to stay in, want to build a new tree fort … someday. I want to grow old with you, rock on that big old porch and have coffee and donuts every morning.”

He paused, and she blinked rapidly, trying to clear the tears from her eyes before they ran down her cheeks. She was too late.

He ran his thumbs across her cheeks, catching the tears. “I want to marry you, Delaney. Someday, once you're sure I'm worthy, will you maybe marry me?” He smiled, and her throat was suddenly squeezed too tightly to talk.

He waited for a few seconds, then tipped his head. “An answer of some sort would be pretty great right now. Just saying. You're kind of killing me here.”

She took a shaky breath, pointing to the ring. “I really thought it was for someone else.”

“I know.” He let go of her hands and pulled the ring free, holding it toward her. “It's not. I picked it out myself, I promise.”

She smiled. “I would love to marry you, Joshua. Tonight, if we could. But tomorrow's fine, too.”

He laughed, that deep, rumbling, gorgeous laugh she loved, and he slid out from the table, pulling her into a huge bear hug, then sliding the ring onto her finger.

“Did she say yes?” Molly appeared in Delaney's peripheral vision as she wiped her eyes. “My God, you two were
killing
me back there!”

Delaney held out the ring, but Molly waved her off, pulling her into a huge hug. “I've seen it. Who do you think helped him pick it out?” Then she turned toward the kitchen. “Josie! Ethan! She said yes!”

All of a sudden, the entire restaurant erupted in cheers, and as she looked around, Delaney realized she recognized almost everyone there. Josie came running from the kitchen, throwing her arms around both Delaney and Joshua when she got to their table, and Ethan was only a step behind. He shook Joshua's hand, thumping him on the back.

He turned to Delaney, pulling her into a warm hug. “Welcome to the family, Delaney.”

He turned back to Joshua, and all around her, Delaney felt a swell of happiness and love as what felt like the entire restaurant got up from their seats and came to congratulate them.

A few short months ago, she'd still felt like a stranger in this close-knit town. And now?

Now … she had a family.

*   *   *

An hour later, with one—and only one—glass of Papi's Poison on board, Delaney leaned back against Joshua as he put his arms around her and hugged her close.

“Are you happy?” he whispered in her ear.

She turned to him, taking his face in her hands. “I've never been happier.”

“Did you really mean it when you said you'd marry me tomorrow?”

“I did.”

“Because I know people.” He winked. “It could be arranged.”

She laughed. “My mother would have a fit.
And
she would assume I'm pregnant.”

“Well”—he ran his fingers enticingly down her arms—“someday, I hope you will be.”

“Me, too.”

“But if you could just wait till I learn to actually use a hammer, that would be great. That tree fort is
not
safe for children, and we'd need rocking horses and swing sets and a new tire swing—”

Delaney put her finger over his lips to shush him. “It'll happen when it's supposed to, whether we're ready or not.”

“Kind of like us?”

“Exactly like us, which—actually—should probably scare you.” She slid her hands up to link them behind his neck, then kissed him softly. “But don't worry. I
do
know how to use a hammer.”

 

Epilogue

“Whose idea was it to have a Valentine's Day wedding, anyway?” Delaney paced from window to window, watching the snow pile up on Sugar Maple Drive.

Megan smiled. “Yours.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yup.”

“Then whose idea was it to schedule a blizzard?”

“That one I can't attribute. Sorry.” Megan pointed to Delaney's gown, hanging on the back of the bedroom door. “Are you ready to put on your dress?”

Delaney felt tears threaten as the snowflakes thickened. “No one's going to be able to come.”

“Delaney, this is Vermont. Everybody who can possibly get here will do so.”

“The roads aren't even plowed. They can't keep up. We're supposed to get thirty inches!”

Megan nodded calmly. “Which is a lot of snow. I'll give you that.”

Delaney took a deep breath, then hugged Megan tightly. “I'm glad you stayed overnight, at least. I can't imagine having my wedding without you here.”

“I would have skied here if that's what it took.” Megan smiled. “And Ethan and Josie are downstairs with Joshua. It'll just be a small, intimate wedding—perfect for the two of you.”

A timid knock came from the hallway door, and Megan crossed the room to open it. Outside stood Delaney's mother, dressed in a pastel mother-of-the-bride dress that would have passed all social inspections, had any guests been able to actually make it to the wedding.

“You made it!” Delaney felt her eyes go wide as she motioned her into the room. “How?”

“Ethan and Josie came to get us, actually.” Mom stood timidly, just inside the doorway, and Delaney braced herself as she saw tears crowd into her eyes. Oh, here it came. Another crying jag, another milestone Parker would never have.

Mom took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders and fighting back the tears. “You look beautiful, sweetheart.”

Delaney froze at her use of the endearment. She looked sidelong at Megan, who shrugged carefully.

“Thank you.”

“I—um—brought you a little something.” Mom reached into her purse with shaky fingers, coming out with a tiny jewelry box. She took three tentative steps toward Delaney, holding it out to her.

“Mom?” Delaney's eyes widened. She'd seen this box before—had even had her hand soundly slapped one time when she'd dared open it after Parker died.

“It's your grandmother's ring.”

“I know,” she whispered as she opened the box. Nestled in the satin was a white-gold ring set with sapphires and diamonds. “But it was always supposed to go to Parker—for his bride someday.”

“Well”—Mom took another deep breath and let it out slowly—“that's not going to happen. We think you should have it, Delaney. Your grandmother would be so proud of the woman you've become. She'd want you to have it.”

“But, Dad?” It was his mother's ring, after all.

“Your father wanted to give it to you last night at the rehearsal dinner, but he was too afraid he'd blubber like a baby.”

Delaney let out a surprised laugh at her words, then sobered as she looked at the ring. “You're sure?”

“We're sure.” Mom took the ring out of the box and slid it onto Delaney's right hand. She held it up to the window light and smiled—a real smile, a genuine smile … the kind of smile Delaney hadn't seen on her face in forever.

“Now.” She put down her pastel purse. “Have you got the whole something-borrowed, something-blue thing covered?”

Delaney nodded, her own tears threatening this time. She took Mom's hand and led her to the table under the window, where Megan had placed their bouquets. Beneath the spray of white roses and holly on the bridal bouquet, Delaney had wrapped the stems in a length of fabric she'd stolen long ago from a drawer in Parker's room.

Mom put her hand to her mouth when she saw it, then reached a tentative finger out to touch the dump-truck fabric as her tears did finally spill over. “It's perfect.”

Delaney's throat felt tight as she spoke. “I know it's hard. I'm sorry he won't ever get to have his own wedding. I'm sorry he isn't here for mine.”

Just then, Mom opened her arms and pulled Delaney into them, hugging her hard. “You're not the one who should be sorry, sweetheart. You did everything … right. And I—I am going to try very hard from now on to be … better. Today's a happy occasion, a new beginning for you … maybe for all of us. I'm so, so sorry for all the times I was there … but I wasn't.”

Delaney pulled back, prepared to argue, but Mom put a finger to her lips, shushing her. “I have managed to blubber through every special occasion you've ever had, and I'm determined not to do it today. This is
your
day. It's going to be beautiful and perfect, and Megan and I are going to make sure of it. Am I right, Megan?”

Megan smiled as she touched Delaney's shoulder. “Absolutely, Mrs. Blair.”

Delaney hugged them both, but let go when she heard a strange buzzing sound from outside the window. “What is that?”

She and Megan pulled back the lacy curtains, and then Delaney's hand went to her mouth as she laughed out loud. Looking down Sugar Maple Drive, all she could see was a long stream of snowmobiles creeping upward, one after another. As they crested the hill, Delaney saw Ethan and Josie motioning them into the driveway and onto the lawn. Ten minutes later, the entire lawn was covered with snowmobiles, and Delaney could hear a swarm of people downstairs in the living room.

Megan hugged her around the shoulders. “Surprise!”

“You knew?”

“Did you really think anybody was going to miss this? Now come on. Let's get you into this gorgeous dress! We have a wedding to put on!”

*   *   *

Three hours later, Delaney pushed open the back door, pulling a long coat over her wedding gown. Joshua was out on the deck, which someone had shoveled less than an hour ago, but the snow was already three inches deep again.

He turned when he heard the door shut, and she smiled when she saw his eyes light up at the sight of her. He pulled her close to him, planting a kiss on her nose. “Hello, my sweet wife.”

“What are you doing out here?” She looked out into the yard, which right now resembled a moonscape—just mounds of snow covering any previously recognizable objects.

“Just taking a moment. Thinking about my parents. Wishing they were here, hoping they'd be … proud.”

Delaney reached up to take his face in her hands. “They would be, Joshua. I'm sure they're up there somewhere, toasting with heavenly champagne, happy that
you're
happy.”

“You think?” He smiled. “Mom did love a good snowstorm, you know. Maybe she had a hand in this.”

Delaney laughed. “You never know.” She turned her face up to the falling snow, letting it land softly on her cheeks. “I think your parents would be so, so happy to know that you've found happiness … found love … and that someday, this house they loved so much will be full of laughter and chaos and little running feet again.”