“I think some heal and we’re able to move past whatever damaged us, and other cuts never fully close, so we have to figure out how to survive around them.”
I had a funny feeling he might not be referring tomywounds, but his own. Though I didn’t get the chance to ask before we were interrupted by Edmund’s booming voice.
Jagger set me back down and walked over to the side of the boat the sound had come from. He immediately moved down the narrow walk that led from the bow to the stern of the boat.
“Whoa there,” he said, disappearing from sight. He came back a few seconds later, holding onto Edmund. “You’re gonna fall over, big guy.”
Edmund’s response was a hearty laugh. “I’ve already fallen, son.” He placed his hand over his heart and began to sing some song about falling in love.
Jagger looked at me, amused. “It’s Hootie and the Blowfish.”
Edmund sang his heart out, while Jagger helped him sit down on the bow. My stepfather was a great guy, but his personality was usually somewhat stoic, definitely not the type who sang about being in love.
I smiled and enjoyed the playful moment of him bellowing with his hand over his heart, until his memory seemed to run out of words. After, he let out a hearty laugh, and Jagger and I joined in. It was impossible not to. And it was alsoexactlywhat I needed.
I moved over and put my arm around my stepfather. “I didn’t know you could sing so well, Edmund.”
“That mother of yours could make a grown man bark like a chicken.”
I chuckled. “I didn’t realize chickens barked.”
He waved me off. “Whatever. I came to check on you. I feel like I’ve subjected you to so much these last few weeks—with the speedbump.”
I smiled. “It’s fine. I get it. He’s married to your daughter.”
He pointed his finger at me. “I’m going to make it up to you. Next time we get together, I’ll make you my famous slow-cooked ribs, and it’ll just be the three of us.”
I loved that he cared so much. “You don’t have to, but I’ll also never turn down your ribs.”
Edmund gestured to Jagger. “And this guy. This guy can come too. We need him to get to know you so he can see for himself how special you are.”
Jagger winked at me, spreading warmth through my belly. “Pretty sure I already know that, Ed.”
My stepfather slapped his hands to his thighs. “Welp, let me get back to my birthday princess.”
Jagger took Edmund’s arm, helping him up. “How about I make sure you get there in one piece?”
***
“Thank you for helping me herd everyone in and out of thecar,” I said.
Jagger and I stood in the kitchen of Edmund’s summer house later that evening. My stepfather had driven to the marina earlier but hadn’t been in any condition to drive home tonight. So I’d driven his car and the others had jumped in an Uber. Thankfully, Jagger had come with me, because Edmund had grown shaky on his feet by the time we got home. He’d just helped him into the bedroom.
“No problem. I’m glad they cut loose and had a good time.”
“I think they might wish they’d had a little bit less of a good time when tomorrow morning comes around.”
“True.” Jagger smiled and pulled out his phone. “I’m going to call an Uber and get going.”
“I’ll drive you.”
“It’s fine. I don’t want you to get lost. The backroads aren’t lit out here.”
I picked up Edmund’s keys. “I know you haven’t driven in a while, but we have this thing called navigation now.”
He shook his head. “Wiseass.”
“Come on.”
