Raucous country music pumped through the speakers of Jack’s diner, spilling onto the patio where the rehearsal dinner was already in full swing.
Eliza stared at the condensation trickling down the side of her water goblet like sympathetic tears.
Grant had promised her that they’d be there. And yet the rehearsal came and went without so much as a text or phone call.
Throughout the evening, Eliza’s parents kept checking in on her. As did Cassie and Luke, in between introducing Donna to everyone she didn’t already know, as well as filling her in on everything she’d missed.
Donna still seemed skittish. And Eliza recognized the strained look of a mother trying to put aside her own discomfort for the sake of her child. But she was there, nonetheless. Which was more than Eliza could say for Grant.
To add to her befuddlement, Jack frequently shot glances in her direction, as though he knew something she didn’t. And Penny stuck to her like fondant to a petit four.
“Here. Eat something.” Penny slid a plate of tri-tip and coleslaw in front of her, but Eliza pushed it aside.
“No, thank you.”
“Two bites. You’ll feel better,” Penny insisted.
A small, wistful smile tugged at the corner of Eliza’s mouth. Everyone mothering her couldn’t have been sweeter, yet it merely served as a reminder of her own child’s absence, making the emptiness more pronounced.
“Vinny! Stop!”
Eliza’s pulse fluttered at the familiar voice shouting above the music.
“Yeah, wait for me!” Ben’s higher-pitched cry sent her heart soaring.
“They’re here!” Leaping from the table, Eliza nearly knocked over her glass of water. Rushing to the edge of the patio, she froze as a scruffy gray blur shot across the lawn, a bright blue leash trailing behind him.
“Slow down!” Ben giggled, racing past her. “Hi, Mom!” He waved but didn’t slow down.
Eliza gaped as Grant followed close behind, coming to a halt a few feet away. Panting, he doubled over, both hands on his knees. “That little stinker took off as soon as I opened the car door.”
Eliza blinked, glancing from Grant to the lawn, where Ben and a little ball of wiry fur pranced about in a lively game of tag. Ben’s laughter mingled with the scraggly dog’s excited bark.
“Sorry we’re late. We had to stop in Primrose Valley to adopt Vinny.”
“Vinny?”
“Short for Vincent van Gogh,” Grant laughed. “Ben named him. But I have to say, it fits. They both have a beard and mustache.”
Eliza shook her head, all the scrambled pieces slowly coming together. “Wait, did you sayadopt?”
“Yeah.” Grant wore a sheepish grin. “He’s ours. But before you say no, Jack already said I could keep him with me in the chicken coop.”
“Wait, hold on.” Eliza pressed her fingertips to her temple. She hadn’t heard anything pastours. “You’re not making any sense. What’s all this about Jack? And a chicken coop?”
“It’s simple. I’m moving back to Poppy Creek.” Grant beamed, holding her gaze. “Jack said I can stay in his guest house, which he calls the chicken coop because it used to be one way back in the day, before he fixed it up. But that’s another story.” He chuckled. “It’s only until I find my own place, of course. And he doesn’t mind the dog.”
Swaying slightly, Eliza thought she might faint. “You said he was ours?”
“Right. Yours, mine, and Ben’s. I figured it was time we had a family dog. That’s why we’re late. We picked him out at the shelter on our way here.”
Tears of joy stung the backs of her eyes as she stared at him, mouth agape. “You got us a family dog?”
“You’ll love him. He’s feisty. Just like you.”
Eliza blushed at the tender glint in Grant’s eyes. “What about…” She paused, hating to mention anything that could ruin the breathtakingly perfect moment.
“We all have our share of regrets,” he said softly. “My biggest one is letting you walk away.”
