Which wasn’t the case, thanks to my meddling, amazing brother. I can never pay back the debt I owe to him for being bold enough for both of us. To go against Esme’s parents’ wishes and contact her on my behalf while I tried to piece my life back together in Alaska. Looking back, I wish I would have fought harder for her. But the pain of her forgetting me was crushing. I was drowning in black waves of despair, and when her dad, Gregory, threatened the restraining order in his attempt to protect Esme, it was the tsunami that took me out.
I shake my head clear, remembering now is not the time to visit that faraway place once more.
Esme loops her arm around my waist as we stand in front of the book table. She leans her head against my shoulder, and I hear a quiver in her voice when she says, “We did it, babe.”
I spin her to face me, and sure enough, there’s liquid gold in her eyes. “I’m glad we get to share our story with the world.” I kiss the top of her head as she buries her face into my chest. “Now everyone gets to know just how head over heels in love with you I am.”
Esme pulls back, a smirk on her face. “As if you haven’t declared it to the town ten times over.” She places her hand on my chest, and I entwine my fingers with hers. I lift our hands and kiss her knuckles.
“I will never tire of letting you know just how loved you are, sweetheart.”
The door flies open, and Esme jerks away from me, but then as if she remembers she is perfectly allowed to be wrapped up in me, she steps right back to my side, once more slipping her arm around my waist. I rest my arm across her shoulders as we greet the owner of Main Street Coffee.
“Y’all ready to get this shindig started?” a spunky woman with sass and attitude for days asks as she struts inside. Danica Carnes wears a pink leopard-print cross T-shirt that matches the pink streaks in her cropped ash-blonde hair. Katie McBride, Esme’s former student, follows in behind her.
“Yes, ma’am,” Esme shouts, though I feel her grip on my orange linen button-down tighten. We set to work to put the final touches on the coffee shop. Katie curated a special menu for the night, full of orange, mango, and other beachy flavors. Sam and Ethan show up, followed by Branda, Ashton, and Vance. They help set up games and tables outside on the town green off to the side of the coffee shop because we expect overflow tonight. Vance and Branda did a phenomenal job promoting the book, even if they bickered their way through it.
Before we know it, the sun is setting and the town green is popping. I expected everyone in Whitney to come out and support Esme, and they didn’t disappoint. It’s almost as crowded as the Blueberry Jubilee held in the area last weekend. Or the Founder’s Day parade held the weekend before that. I swear there is always something going on in this one-red-light town. But as I watch Esme laugh with Sam, Branda, her mom, and other women from the community, I know there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.
“Well, Son.” Dad approaches from behind, clapping me on the back. I embrace him with a full-on hug. “Proud of you.”
“Thanks for coming tonight,” I say as we pull apart. Grandma Lois hobbles up beside me, and I hug her next. “Hey, Grandma.”
“Sorry we’re a little late,” she says, holding up a bedazzled cane that matches her own. “I forgot this at home and we had to turn around. Now where’s Bertha?”
I point across the town green from my position against the red brick wall of the coffee shop. Bertha—who we all call Grannie—is tossing a cornhole bag while leaning on her original bedazzled cane. I hope to be that spritely when I’m her age.
Esme looks back at me from her circle of women, and when she sees I’m with Grandma and Dad, she walks over to us.
“Hey, Link! Lois!” Esme hugs them both, and they congratulate her on the book release, which she blushes her way through. We are still working on her ability to fully accept compliments.
I pull my wife by my side, tucking her close despite the humid June heat, as she catches up with my dad and grandma. I love how easy it was for her to blend into my family and me into hers, once they realized I wasn’t a villain in their story, that is. “This town really loves you,” I whisper into her ear during a lull in conversation.
“They love us,” she responds, leaning her head on my shoulder as kids rush past us in a game of tag.
Grannie hobbles our way, meeting up with Lois and receiving her new bedazzled cane with Southern flair—lots of “Oh, honey, you didn’t!” and “Bless my soul, Lois Marie.”
I don’t know if the women planned it or not, but they are mirrors of one another with their gray hair in buns, black dress pants, and sparkling orange shirts that match Esme’s heels. We will need a family photo tonight; we are all in various shades of orange, white, yellow, and pink.
I hug Grannie before passing her to Esme.
“Your title is still smutty, dear,” Grannie says in Esme’s ear, though it’s loud enough for me to hear. I can’t help the snort that erupts from me.
“It is not!’ Esme proclaims before turning to me. “Noah, tell Grannie our book title is not smutty.”
I smirk, shrugging. “Reveling?”
“All reveling means is to enjoy oneself, particularly in a lively way,” Esme retorts, folding her arms across her chest.
I raise a brow, meeting her challenge. “Quite a connotation it has, doesn’t it, Miss English Teacher? Connotation is sometimes more important than denotation. Have you heard the version where it means to get great pleasure from something…or someone?”
Esme groans, covering her face. “Why did you let me choose that title then?”
I cup my hands to her ear and whisper, “Because Ilikereveling in reverie with you, sweetheart.” I bite her lobe for good measure, and when I pull back, her face is flushed a pretty pink. Checking my watch, I say, “It’s time for the author to read a chapter from her book. Are you ready, Meme?”
Grannie lets out a loud, piercing whistle, and the crowd snaps to attention. Grandma proceeds to shout, “It’s time for a reading!”
Beside me, Esme trembles. I grab her hand and squeeze it three times, letting her know I love her and I’m here. She steels herself when our eyes meet and nods her head. I guide her to the sound system set up between the coffee shop and the town green as applause erupts around us.
