As I watch my sister walk away, her last few words hit me hard. Have I taken Carol and Nick for granted? Have I been so blinded by anger that I’ve been reluctant to accept all of the good in my life?
Gazing down at my daughter, I feel the sting of tears in my eyes.
Holy shit.
Dilynne is right.
I’m the one who gets to choose if I keep fixating on my past instead of fighting for my future, a future with my daughter that I never imagined having. But I do, and now it has to be my main focus.
God, I’m such a fucking moron, but at least I have the ability to change that.
“You look like you’re having an epiphany,” Fletcher says as he comes up behind me.
I twist to face him head on. “Well, I sort of am.”
“Is it a good epiphany?”
“Yeah, but not for my heart rate.”
Fletcher reaches up and clasps my shoulder. “Look, I wanted to apologize about last night.”
“No. You have nothing to apologize for, man. You were right.”
“I was a little harsh.”
“I needed to hear it, Fletch. In fact, between you and my sister just now, I think something finally clicked.”
“Really?”
My eyes move to the right just in time to see Elodie making her way toward the stage for a sound check. A man hands her a microphone and asks her to say a few words. People instantly start clapping and cheering, even though we still have another half hour before she starts performing.
“Fuck.”
I—I think I’m in love with her,my mind finishes for me.
Fletcher slaps me on the back. “Yeah, it slams into you fast, buddy.”
I turn to face him. “I have to ask her to stay.”
“I know.”
“If I don’t, I’ll—”
“Always regret it.” He nods. “I know the feeling well, my friend.”
And that’s when I decide that it’s time to make this woman mine, come hell or high water.
***
“Blossom Peak! How are y’all doing tonight?” Elodie greets the crowd, and their cheers go on for minutes.
I show Remy how to clap her hands, assisting her with the motion until she attempts to do it on her own. “Say, ‘Go, Elodie!’” Remy squeals when she sees her nanny walking across the stage.
“Well, I’m so honored to be performing for you all tonight, and I hope you like country music.” The crowd cheers in response. “Growing up, my momma always had music playing, so this first song goes out to her. And if you’re here, Mom, I just wanna say thank you.”
A sharp pang of guilt cuts through the center of my chest as I watch Elodie search the crowd for her mom only to come up empty.
I kept trying to hold out hope that her mother would appear, even standing by the entrance to the winery until the very last second and asking Dilynne to save a seat for me and her if she showed up. Unfortunately, the woman I chastised on the phone the other night is nowhere to be found, at least that I’ve seen for myself.
