He chuckled softly and kissed my forehead.
I closed my eyes and then placed my cheek against his chest. Being so close to him, being held in his embrace, was the highlight of my day. Unexpectedly, I had fallen for the kind of man I was certain I should avoid.
But love had a funny way of steamrolling over caution and proving fear was never wisdom to begin with.
Chapter 31
Tallulah
Blossom and Manuel's wedding couldn't have taken place on a better day. The September afternoon was warm enough that jackets hung forgotten on chair backs, but cool enough that the breeze carrying the scent of autumn did so without causing guests to shiver.
The venue, an old converted barn with exposed beams soaring overhead, glowed with vintage black lamps mounted on the walls. The wedding colors—burgundy, terracotta, and olive—transformed the space, adding warmth and rustic beauty to our surroundings.
After sitting for what seemed like an eternity, I stood near the edge of the space, watching my daughter dance salsa with one of Manuel's uncles—a man in his sixties who moved with amazing agility. Somehow, my daughter matched him step for step, her hips moving, her face radiant with joy.
Was this real life? My baby was married.
Hours after the ceremony, the reality of the day made me emotional. The same little girl who had trembled in my arms because she was terrified of thunder no longer needed me. She had a partner now who would be right by her side, and they would weather the storms of life together.
"Look at our little girl."
I had been so enthralled by my daughter and her dance partner that I hadn't noticed Karl coming to stand beside me. He held the remains of a taco from the food truck parked outside. He had shaved his beard, but his tawny skin bore the shadowy remnants of the facial hair he had worn for years, as if his skin were dyed with ink. His expression appeared softer than I'd seen in a long time.
"She's beautiful, isn't she?" I said.
"She sure is." He took the final bite of his taco and chewed thoughtfully. "Where did she learn to dance like that?"
"She and Manuel took salsa lessons."
"Huh." We watched Blossom spin under her partner's arm. "Her sense of adventure comes from you. Always willing to try new activities and jump into the unknown."
Surprised, I swung my head in his direction. I couldn't remember the last time he had paid me a compliment, particularly this kind. For most of our marriage, my willingness to try new things had been framed as impulsive, demonstrating a lack of planning.
Manuel made his way to the floor and cut in to claim his bride. Blossom melted into his arms as if they had been made to hold her.
"Manuel seems like a good kid," Karl commented.
"He is. I've gotten to know him well. He's responsible and quite wonderful, actually."
"And his father?" Karl's tone became extra neutral, but I caught the curiosity underneath. "You two seem... close."
Heat crept up my neck. I had barely spoken to Jamison all day, yet somehow Karl had picked up on our connection. Was it obvious to everyone that we were involved?
"We are close," I admitted.
"I figured." His gaze slid to me. "I hope he gets you. You deserve that. I never did understand your ways and kept trying to turn you into someone you weren't. I shouldn't have done that."
The admission hung between us. His honesty was overdue and strangely freeing.
"I appreciate you saying that. We both made mistakes, but we did a pretty good job with Blossom."
"I agree with you there." His smile was genuine, reminding me of the early days of our marriage, before our incompatibility became too big to ignore and crushed the lightness between us. "I should get back to my table. Laverne's probably wondering where I wandered off to."
"Tell her I said hi."
"I will." He disappeared across the room.
After a moment, I had the distinct impression I was being watched and noticed Jamison standing near the bar, talking to his older sister. They had the same gray eyes and dark hair. Though in conversation with his sibling, his attention remained locked on me.
