“Don’t you think people will—”
“Mind if I cut in for my turn?” Alice sways onto the makeshift dance floor wearing a wobbling smile and flowing blue gown. She’s been crying off and on since Sutton met me at the altar. There’s still a ball of tissue crushed in her small fist.
“I suppose, mom.” Sutton releases me with a sigh. She tugs on my lapels and I tip down, pressing our mouths together for a searing moment. “Don’t be gone long, Gray.”
I grin into our kiss. “Couldn’t if I tried.”
Alice steps into me, one hand slipping into mine and the other perched on my shoulder. “It’s almost criminal to separate you, even for three minutes.”
“I can still feel her.” I tap the spot over my heart.
Her bottom lip begins quivering again. “Oh, Grady. I’m so blessed to have you in our lives.”
“The feeling is very mutual, Alice.”
“Is it too soon for me to call you son?”
A broken piece buried deep inside of me wiggles loose. Her words smooth the jaded edges. I slide my eyes closed with a sigh. “Absolutely not.”
I receive another watery grin for that. “Okay, good. I don’t want to push my luck, but is it too early for me to bring up grandchildren?”
“Ah, maybe?” I allow my eyes to naturally find Sutton waiting in the wings. She winks and blows me a kiss. “Or not.”
She follows my line of sight, smiling at her daughter. “That girl has been in love with you since she was little.”
A hum vibrates my chest. “I’m finally coming around to believing that. It took a long time, but I realize she’s always felt the same as me.”
“And you should. You two deserve one another.” She gives me a hug as the final notes fade. “Thanks for humoring me with a dance.”
“The pleasure was all mine.” I glance away before adding, “Mom.”
Alice squeaks and waves a hand in front of her watering eyes. “Oh, that’s the sweetest gift. Thank you. Okay, wow. I’m a mess. Go get your girl while I clean myself up.”
I latch my gaze onto Sutton. “Gladly.”
My wife is back in my arms a beat later, where she belongs. We fold into a close embrace while another tune plays. “What did my mother have to say?”
“She wants to call me son.”
Sutton blinks up at me. “That’s so precious. What did you say?”
I kiss her temple. “Of course. She’s always been a mother to me.”
“You totally made her year with that one. What else happened?”
“She’s ready for a grandkid.”
Sutton coughs. “Oh my gosh. Babies? Already?”
I chuckle against her smooth skin. “That’s for us to decide. Let’s take our time and do whatever we want. Traveling might be fun.”
“Oh, that could be fun. Where would we go?”
I lift her in my arms and spin us in a circle. “Maybe Minnesota. I hear they have a lot of pretty lakes.”
She tosses her head back and giggles. “Okay, but not in the winter. It’s too cold”
“Don’t worry, Sutt. I’ll always be here to keep you warm.”
