“And you keep doing it,” Mrs. Jones said, turning to gesture at the crowded venue. “We’re very proud of you, Grayson.”
Grayson nodded to her, his jaw tight, as if he couldn’t speak.
“We’ll let you get back to your conversation,” her husband said. “But don’t be a stranger. Let us know how the project is progressing, and if you need any help.”
Grayson nodded and the two disappeared back into the crowd.
For a long time he just stood, looking after them.
Evangeline wondered what was going through his mind. Surely the conversation that sweet couple had been kind enough to have with Grayson should ease his heart and mind just a little.
“I’m not the most generous person here tonight,” he said softly after a moment.
Evangeline took his hand, and he squeezed hers back, letting her know that he was feeling quiet now, but hewas as strong as always, as strong as she needed him to be.
When all thedinner and dessert was eaten, when the kids from the orchestra had packed up their instruments and their parents had picked them up, when Sam had taken the log back to the center, and all the guests were gone, Evangeline grabbed a broom and began sweeping up the massive floors while Rory and Ana bagged up the trash.
Grayson’s parents had taken Leo back to the house when he got fussy so that Grayson and Evangeline could stay.
Before too long, she had the whole floor looking just about like new, and Rory and Ana were carrying the trash bags to the dumpster out back. She was about to go find him when Grayson appeared in the doorway.
He’d been helping the kitchen volunteers clean up and carry their things out and he looked like a man at the end of a long but very good night.
“Hey,” he said, approaching her.
“Hey,” she echoed.
He looked so handsome with the sleeves of his white button-down rolled up and his hair ruffled from running his fingers through it.
“May I have this dance?” he asked, tapping a button on his phone.
Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons started singing “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” and he smiled at her so that it crinkled his blue eyes.
“Yes,”Evangeline said.
She was tired from a long, wonderful day, but when he took her in his arms she felt like she could dance with him all night.
“This was incredible,” she murmured to him as he held her close.
“Every moment of it was because of you,” he told her. “Don’t you ever forget that.”
Her chest felt like it might burst from joy, and she laid her cheek against his chest, memorizing the happy feeling, the scent of his cologne, and the steady beating of his beautiful heart.
When the song was over, they held each other still, soaking in the peace of the moment.
“Come on, lovebirds,” Ana’s voice called out as the door from the staircase opened. “Let’s go to the diner.”
Evangeline pulled back, and Grayson shook his head with a wry smile.
“What do you think?” he asked her. “Do you want to eat diner french fries with me?”
“Always,” she told him, taking his hand. “Do you want to eat diner french fries with me?”
“I’ll follow you anywhere, Evangeline,” he told her solemnly with such love in his eyes it made her feel breathless. “Always and forever.”
***
