Francesca.
“Her's my auntie?”Dani asked her mom in a cute squeaky voice.The look of shock on her face made me laugh softly.
“Mmhmm,” her mom said.“Uncle Stefan is marrying Francesca.That makes her your auntie.”
Dani's eyes grew big, and her mouth dropped open.“Whoa.”
That made us all laugh.Dani's pretty eyes narrowed at me.“You gotted me coloring stuff at the hos-a-ble.Right?When Uncle Stefan had a big boo-boo?”Her gaze held mine.Almost like her smart little brain was rewinding back all those months ago.When I’d taken her to the nurses' station to find some coloring sheets and stickers.
“Yes, that was me.We had fun at the big desk with all the pens.”
She nodded.And then suddenly—
She bolted forward and wrapped her teeny arms around my neck—nearly bowling me right over.“You fixed Uncle Stefan.You made him all better.”
I held onto her small body—somehow managing not to drop my bouquet.“The doctors did that.I just changed some bandages every so often.”I downplayed what I'd actually done.But it wasn't like I'd actually healed Stefan.A great surgeon, and many rounds of antibiotics did that.
“Nuh, uhh.Momma and Auntie Evie tolded me.They said you fixed him.”Her arms grew tighter around my neck.But that wasn't why I had trouble breathing.
Nope.
Giselle and Eve were looking down at me with teary, glassy eyes.Then they sniffled and blinked their eyes like crazy.
Then they gave up—and hugged each other.
“Well, if your mommy and auntie said that—it must be true.”I picked her up and held her close.
“Do you lub Uncle Stefan?”Her arms slackened enough so she could move back and see my face.“Momma said he lubs you so much.Do you lub him, too?”Her bottom lip pushed out, still slightly suspicious of the woman staking claim to her uncle.
I gave her a smile.“I'm marrying him.And people who get married are usually in love,” I answered the question—without answering the question.I mean, yes, I loved her uncle.But, no.I didn't want to admit that in this hallway to near-strangers.
“Are you going to kiss him?”Her eyes assessed me carefully, waiting for my answer.
Gosh.
She was a sharp one.
Eve and Giselle finished their hug.And Eve lifted Dani off me and set her on the floor.“Okay, Miss Daniella.It's time for you to take your place.Do you remember what to do?”Eve went over the series of events that were about to take place.
Dani nodded and wiggled from side to side.“I know, I know.”
Giselle frowned at her daughter.“Hey, no being sassy to your auntie.”
Dani rolled her eyes but immediately said a dutiful, “Sawry, Auntie Evie.”
Eve kissed her on the forehead.“It's okay.We're all a little nervous, I think.”
Eve's phone pinged, and she looked down at it.“They're ready.”She peered up at me with a wide grin.“Showtime.”
And so, Dani was told to start walking down the long staircase.She tossed a petal or two on the first step—taking a while to do it.Giselle whispered from around the corner, “More!”
Dani turned her head and nodded.Then she tossed a huge handful.
“Not so much!”Giselle said this time.
Dani rolled her eyes at her mom and turned back around.
“That girl is going to be really interesting as a teenager,” Giselle muttered under her breath.Then she gave me a quick, short hug.“Good luck out there, honey.You look beautiful.”She turned and started walking down the stairs after her daughter.
