“What’s going on?” Cooper set down the box, seeming to have forgotten all about it. “Is he okay?”
“I guess so.” Julia frowned in worry. “He and Noelle are asking the whole family to meet at Ocean Breeze Café right now. They have something they want to tell us.”
“That sounds serious,” Cooper said, putting his arms around her. “But maybe it’s not a bad thing. Don’t worry—I can tell it’s freaking you out a little.”
“A little,” she admitted. “But let’s just get our shoes on and go. The sooner we arrive, the sooner we’ll find out what it is they want to tell us.”
They got into Cooper’s car and hurried over to the café. By the time they got inside the bustling little restaurant, the rest of the family—except for Samantha, who was still in school—was already gathered at a table in the corner. Julia took one look at her brother's face and knew that something was wrong. He looked tired and pale, and the corners of his mouth were turned downward more than was usual for him. Noelle too, seemed to be weighed down by something, although she was keeping a brave smile on her face.
They're definitely sad about something,Julia thought. She sat down in the empty chair next to Noelle and squeezed her future sister-in-law's hand.
“Thanks for coming, guys,” Dean said, giving them a smile. “We appreciate everybody coming out to meet us like this on short notice. We got a plate of mozzarella sticks and a basket of chocolate mint cookies. Feel free to help yourselves while we talk.”
Despite how delicious the food smelled, no one touched any of it. It was clear that they were all on edge, wanting to know what it was that Dean and Noelle had to tell them.
“What's going on, sweetheart?” Vivian asked. “Just go ahead and tell us.”
Dean and Noelle exchanged a look and then Dean took a deep breath. “We went to the doctor,” he said. “He gave us the result of my tests and said that the change in medication and continued physical therapy wasn't working. He said that the only thing we can do moving forward to improve my symptoms is pursue surgery.”
A murmur of sympathy passed around the table, and Alexis gave Dean a hug from her chair beside him.
“That's okay,” Vivian said, smiling at her son in a way that showed that she herself was worried but that she wanted him to be at peace. “Surgery can be a great option. It may be the very thing to turn your life around.”
“Surgeries definitely change lives,” Grayson said reassuringly. “I bet this will be great for you, Dean.”
Dean and Noelle exchanged another look and a sad smile. “We're feeling hopeful about the surgery,” Noelle said. “But there’s more to it. The doctor advised that we take the next available time slot next month. He advised Dean to have the surgery as soon as possible, and that's what we both want. But what that means is that we'll have to postpone our wedding.”
Several jaws dropped around the table, including Julia's. For a moment no one spoke. It was clear that everyone felt both shocked and disappointed by the news.
“I'm so sorry,” Hazel said finally.
“It’s okay,” Noelle said. “It’s disappointing, but I love the idea of Dean being able to feel good when we do have our wedding. It’s definitely worth waiting for. And waiting will be a little tricky logistically—there will be a lot of people who we’ll need to informabout the change, and we’ll have to work something out with the venue, things like that—but I’m ready to make all that happen if it means that Dean has the care that he needs.”
“We’ll help you with all of the things that need to get done,” Vivian said. “And we can use this time to add even more special details to your wedding.”
“That’s the spirit,” Julia said, smiling at her family. “You’re right—it’s disappointing, but it means that there’s an even better day to look forward to now. A day that Dean can feel great on.”
“I’m pretty sure I would have felt great anyway, no matter how much pain I was in,” he said with a grin. “I can’t wait to marry this girl.”
“I can’t wait to marry you,” Noelle said, touching her nose to his.
“You guys made the right choice,” Alexis said. “And I second Mom. We’re here for you for whatever you need—whether that’s sending out ‘Change the Date’ cards or bringing you meals after the surgery, Dean. We’ve got your back.”
Everyone murmured their agreement, and Julia felt her heart swell with pride. She was struck again by how fortunate they were to be such a close-knit, supportive family.
They began to discuss all of the things that would need to be done to change the date of the wedding, and Alexis took detailed notes in her phone. They munched on the cookies and the mozzarella sticks while they talked, both of which were mouthwateringly delicious.
As they discussed, Julia noticed Hazel’s phone screen light up with a text from Delilah Bates. Her eyebrows lifted curiously as she watched her sister click on the text. Julia couldn’t read the words, but she saw Hazel’s expression become suddenly emotional.
“Is something wrong?” Julia asked her softly.
Hazel shook her head, even though her eyes had started brimming with tears. “No, not at all. Delilah just sent me—well, she’s arranged a surprise for Samantha, and it’s the absolute sweetest thing.”
“That woman is a treasure,” Julia said, shaking her head. “I really hope she sticks around.”
“I have a feeling she will,” Hazel said, her eyes twinkling. “I think Tom is like a magnet, keeping her here in Rosewood Beach.”
Julia smiled, loving the idea. Not only did she think the world of Delilah Bates and love the thought of her continuing to be around town, but she also wanted the movie star to be able to experience the kind of love and community that her town had to offer. Maybe Tom was a magnet, keeping her there in town—and before long, maybe the town itself would be enough of a magnet for her, and she would want to stay there all the time.
