"Yes," I answer, without shame or hesitation. "And I'll bite it again, if you serve it up to me like that."
"Oh, Sailor," she says, pulling one of her floral dresses over her head. It skims the floor, and she adds an oversized sweater that opens in the front. "We are going to have so much fun together."
She slips her feet into her shoes, and I pull her close. "I'm yours, Daisy. Body and soul. I meant what I said to you. This is the truest of true love, the kind that will walk through fire if called upon to do so."
"You are far better with words than you give yourself credit for." She rises on tiptoe to press a kiss to the corner of my mouth. "I always hoped you would return, Penn. I dreamed it, and I prayed for it, and I imagined what it would be like to see you again. But all of this? I couldn't have dreamed it this way." Hertongue traces my lower lip, changing course and returning, this time with a tug of her teeth. "I love you, Penn."
"I love you too, Daisy." It takes everything I have not to throw her over my shoulder, march her out to my truck in full view of everybody in the reception hall, and drive her the hell out of here. The only thing stopping me is how much work Hugo and Vivi put into this day.
Hand in hand, we leave the building. The midday sun shines bright, doing its best to break through the cold front that has moved in.
Beside me, Daisy smiles, the sun glinting off the diamonds in her earrings. "You broke up my wedding."
"Ehh…" My head tips back-and-forth. "Sounds to me like it was already broken up."
"You know what I mean," she says, shouldering into me. "You arrived prepared to object."
"That I did."
"You restored my faith in true love. Your words, and your actions."
"I had some help."
"From?"
"Hugo."
Her eyebrows raise. "So he was here this morning, working with his event planner on the first wedding hosted at Summerhill, all the while knowing you were going to show up?"
"I didn't tell him I was coming here. He came to my house last night and gave me a very parental talking-to." Daisy laughs. "And this morning, Margaret brought me my mother's favorite sandwich." Daisy's jaw drops. "Something about that got to me. Drilled right through the layers of bullshit, and made me see everything clearly. It almost felt like it was my mom, reaching out. Giving me a push in the direction I needed to go."
"I miss your mom," Daisy says, smiling at me sadly.
"I miss her, too."
"We'll make her a part of our day, ok? Whenever that day comes, we'll make sure she's represented."
I pause outside of the reception hall, pull Daisy in close. "We were made for each other, Daisy. I knew it when we were kids, but I could never articulate it. And then I saw you again, here, and it was like everything inside me sighed in relief. My heart had finally come home. Not just to Olive Township, but to you."
"You woke me up, Penn. I was living this muted existence, but it was no life."
I kiss her again, a kiss we could both sink into and stay for a while, but Vivi interrupts us. "Hey, lovebirds. You know you're standing in front of a window, right?" Hugo, quiet beside her, rolls his eyes. "Come in. Enjoy yourselves. Don't worry, Mr. Hampton is not in here."
Daisy winces. "What about Duke?"
Hugo shakes his head. "I don't know where he went, but he's not here."
Vivi pulls Daisy out of my arms, dragging her through the open door. "Happy Rectified Fools' day," she announces.
"No way." Daisy shakes her head. "That is not going on the town calendar."
"We'll see about that," Vivi says cheekily, handing Daisy a margarita.
For the next half hour, people approach Daisy, unsure of what to say, but trying their best. She is gracious, explaining that things got a little messy, but they're back on track now. She promises that Duke is fine, they're still great friends, and she is right where she wants to be.
Margaret pulls me aside. "It was the sandwich, wasn't it?"
"Maybe," I say, chuckling.
