Dave tosses away a clump of mud. “They planned a trip to visit his family in Italy in August, and he wants to do it there. Came down to give us the details in hopes that we could make it to surprise her.”
“Are you all going?”
“Yep. We’re buying our tickets this afternoon.” He pauses, turning to look my way. “We’re getting tickets for Tessa and Fable, and I wanted to see if you’d like to come with us.”
I freeze, my shovel halfway into the dirt, completely taken aback. If everything works according to plan, this agreement between Fable and I will be over in August.
That doesn’t stop the hopeful beat in my chest, though. Igive myself a breath to imagine what that would look like—me a part of the Oaks family, traveling and celebrating milestones with them. Fable and I in the beautiful streets of Italy, our arms around each other, color on her cheeks from a day spent in the sun. She’d taste like chocolate gelato when I pressed my lips to hers.
But in the next breath, I cut myself off. Ican’t keep dreaming about more than I can have. It’s bad enough when I’m with her—my mind is constantly trailing into places it shouldn’t, trying to work around the rules and make exceptions.
But I can’t risk her like that.
“Tessa’s fiancé can’t make it,” Dave continues. “But I’d love for you to be there if you want to.”
“I, uh...” My brain scavenges for a good explanation. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to with everything going on at work.”
He nods, his expression thoughtful. “If anything changes, let me know. We’d be happy to have you with us.”
“Will do,” I assure him, getting back to work. It takes me a few moments to realize Dave hasn’t joined me.
I look up to find him leaning his pick against the nearby fence.“You know, I’ve always loved that I had three daughters. I think I was meant to be a girl dad.” He steps closer and squeezes my shoulder. “But damn if I haven’t lucked out in the son department too. I couldn’t ask for better than you and Finn.”
It’s shockingly instantaneous, the pressure behind my eyes. The second he says those words, I can barely keep my face from scrunching up with emotion.
My voice comes out wobbly on the edges when I whisper, “Thank you. That... that means a lot to me—to be included in that.”
He tilts his head. “Youarean exceptional man. You know that, right?”
I can’t lie to Dave and pretend to agree with him, so I stay quiet.
It takes two seconds for him to see the truth somewhere in my face. “Then I haven’t done a very good job making sure you know.” He steps in front of me, taking up all the space in my line of vision as he folds his hands around my shoulders. “I’m proud of you and so grateful you’re part of this family. No matter what’s to come between you and Fable, you’ll always be a part of it, okay?”
Then he wraps his arms around me, and even inches taller than him, I feel small inside his embrace. I’m fourteen again, desperately needing a hug from a kind, gentle man.
He seems to realize that. Maybe he hears my hard swallow. Maybe he feels the subtle shake in my shoulders. But he doesn’t comment on it. He just holds me, even though my shirt is damp with sweat and mud is caking both of us.
Birds sing in the distance. The wind blows through the trees. A horse whinnies in the field. While he holds me tight. Like he knows I need it.
That evening, I’m in my office, finishing up a report on a surgery, when a FaceTime call from Mia appears on my phone. The clinic is silent, everyone else has gone home for the day, so I swipe to answer it.
“Hey!” Mia beams excitedly from her home office. “Whatcha doing?” Bree leans over her shoulder to see the screen as well.
“Working.” I flip the phone around to show her my desk before setting it back down. “Writing a report on Beans’s surgery this afternoon.”
Bree sticks her bottom lip out. “Poor Beans.”
“Don’t worry. He’s going to be better than ever.” I tilt my head. “What are you two doing?”
“Making pasta,” Bree replies.
“Aaaand.” Mia’s practically bouncing in her seat. “We just had a meeting with our wedding planner!”
“Oh yeah?” I lean back. “How’s that going?”
“Great,” Mia says. “We got the gardens reserved for the ceremony, and I think we found a bakery we want to use.” She waggles her brows. “Their lemon raspberry cake? You’re going to want to eat the whole thing.” Her expression smooths into something serious. “But I wanted to ask you a question. Do you have a second?”
“Absolutely. What’s up?”
