Esme beams.
Amanda sucks in a breath that comes with a hitch that I feel in the pit of my stomach.
She’s touched too.
I subconsciously reach for her hand. She meets mine halfway.
Three to go.
Just our grandparents now.
The hardest of the bunch.
Silence descends among the early party guests as everyone watches my family approach us. Dad’s not here. Lorelei’s not here.
But if Uncle Rob is here, they’re likely not far behind.
Uncle Rob extends a hand to me as he reaches us. “Never too late to admit you’ve been wrong and start over, is it?”
“It is not.” I’d like to be more eloquent, but I wasn’t prepared for this and I’m not always quick on my feet.
Uncle Rob turns to my fake fiancée. “Amanda, I apologize. You’ve done nothing to me or my family that would justify the way I’ve treated you.”
“Thank you,” Amanda says. “I know this isn’t easy for anyone, and I can’t begin to express what it means to Dane and me that you’re all here and willing to try to get along for our sake.”
“It’s a summer Christmas miracle,” Esme murmurs.
“I just married into this baloney,” Aunt Teeny says.
Kimberly smiles at her. “Same. Did I hear you quilt? I’ve always wanted to learn.”
Esme hugs me. “I’m so proud of you,” she whispers. “It’s about time someone ended this so that no one else ever has to suffer in love.”
There’s something in her voice that has me lifting a brow at her.
What’s in it for her if our families make up? She was in Amanda’s brother’s grade in school, but to the best of my knowledge, they weren’t secret friends.
But they could’ve been.
She blushes, then gently shoves my arm. “That was a long time ago,” she mutters.
I look at Amanda. Then back at Esme. “Did you—” I start, but she cuts me off.
“I’m a happily married woman with the best daughter a woman could ask for. Don’t go telling yourself stories.”
Amanda’s eyes are dinner plates. “Wait, wait. Did you and my—”
“Happily married woman,” Esme repeats.
“You gave us the letters,” Amanda breathes. “Winona said she didn’t. Butyoudid.”
“What letters?” Kimberly asks.
“Mama, can I have a gingerbread man?” Jojo asks.
“Absolutely,” Esme says. “Let’s go find the prettiest one. Thank you for the invitation, Kimberly. It’s fascinating to see how Andersons party after all of these years.”
Amanda whips out her phone, mutters something about time zones, and fires off a text. I’m not trying to spy, but I can’t help but notice it’s a message to her brother in all caps and demanding an answer to the same question I have.DID YOU HAVE A THING FOR ESME SILVER IN HIGH SCHOOL??
