After hurling one too many insults at me, David had marched me back to the car. It was with heavy hearts that we’d left, but I’d known we’d run out of options.
David and I hadn’t gotten married right away. With his ring on my finger and, finally, my entire heart in his hands, he respected my request that we wait a respectable time after the divorce was finalized. We’d had a small, intimate affair held amongst the peacefulness of the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool, followed by a bigger party for all our friends and extended family. My mom hadn’t attended, but I’d had my dad along with David’s family, who’d become mine, too, and who couldn’t have been more loving and supportive.
And, of course, Mack Donovan had also been in attendance as he was tonight.
“I haven’t had a chance to thank you properly since you left right after the wedding,” Mack said as I made him a margarita. “You and David are both angels,” he said warmly. “Just like my Davena.”
“Contributing to Davena’s foundation was the least I could do for both you and her,” I told Mack. I vividly remembered David’s and my conversation one evening as we’d sat at our new kitchen table, planning the wedding.
“Is there anything you want that you don’t have?” David asked. “Anything in the world, baby.”
I smiled at him and moved from my chair to his lap. My arms wound around his neck. “Nothing.”
“Think really hard. Anything at all.”
“Nope.” I shook my head and kissed him on the lips.
“Then, in lieu of wedding gifts, I think we should have our guests donate to the animal shelter,” David said.
My eyes watered instantly as chills lit over my body. David always prioritized me, no matter what, and sometimes I thought he knew me better than I knew myself. “I love that idea,” I whispered. “But I have a better idea. What if they had the option to donate to the foundation Mack set up in Davena’s name, too?”
He touched the tip of his nose to mine. “And I’ll match the final donation to both.”
“Oh, honey, you don’t have—”
“Shh,” he said softly. “I want to. My gift to the bride.”
I blinked back tears and kissed him again, this time for his generous and loving spirit.
When I saw Gretchen leaning against the bar outside by herself, I made a beeline for her. She’d recently cut her hair shorter and was wearing it straight these days. She looked happier and much less angular, having put on a little weight, which suited her.
“So, how was the tripreally?” Gretchen asked. “Did you put a dent in Europe from all the fucking?”
“Yes,” I confirmed. “It was amazing. You’d love Spain.”
“I have no doubt.”
“In fact, I brought back a special Spanish wine just for you,” I said, walking behind the bar to grab it. “Want to try it now? It’s yummy.”
“Um, well, no,” she said, picking at her fingernail. “I’m not thirsty.”
“Notthirsty?” I asked, gaping at her. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you turn down an alcoholic beverage.”
She gave me a slight smile that slowly spread across her face as she failed to suppress it. “By the way,” she said, “I hope you’re free next month. Brian and I are moving up the wedding, and we’re doing it here at home.”
“Wait,what?” I exclaimed. Ever since Brian had proposed, Gretchen had been talking non-stop about her grand plans for a destination wedding. “Why?”
“Well, I don’t want to look like a porker in my dress,” she explained.
I frowned, confused. A few pounds did not a porker make. Gretchen looked fabulous. Was she planning to put on more weight?
That made no sense. Unless she was . . .
An arm landed around my shoulder, and I looked up as Brian squeezed me to him. They exchanged a look.
I gasped, and my gaze shot back to her. “Are youpregnant?”
She nodded and walked into Brian’s open arms. “We’re having a baby,” she said. “A happy accident.”
