I realized I was being as unsubtle as the hostess, so I finally tore my gaze off him and set it on the champagne popping in the glass I’d unconsciously plucked off thetable.
“Sorry I’m late.” Before taking his seat, he kissed his mother’s cheek, then his hand gripped my shoulder gently, and my heart jumped high, as though trying to reach his palm. “Happy birthday, Dimples.” He handed me a littlepouch.
Heart still suspended, I set my champagne down. “You didn’t have to get meanything.”
“It’s nothing really.” He smiled, and I sensed we were okay again. It had just taken him a week of one-word text messages to comearound.
I undid the ties on the pouch, then dipped my fingers inside the velvet until I came away with something warm and smooth: an intricate carving of a palm tree on a metal keyring. A grin broke over my lips as I stroked the perfect little piece ofwood.
“I heard you got a car. I thought you might need something to put your new keyon.”
“Is that a palm tree?” Isobel asked, leaning in closer to look atit.
I nodded, the hair I’d blow-dried straight fluttering over one of the dresses from Sarah’s reject pile. The frock was as red as Evelyn’s lipstick and draped off one of my shoulders before tapering at the waist and flaring out. It had this vintage flair that made me think of something a Hollywood star wouldwear.
“They’re my favorite trees,” I explained, then added, “Apparently.”
“Apparently?” Isobel quirked a painted-on eyebrow. Like her hair, which was covered by a wig, her real eyebrows were growing back, but the process wasslow.
“Apparently I sketched my dream house when I was a kid, and it had a palm tree in the middle. August reminded me ofit.”
“Can I see the carving?” Jebasked.
I handed it over, and heoohed andaahed at the detail before passing it along toFrank.
I mouthed athank youto August, and it won me a devastating smile, which made my navel tingle behind my cinchedwaistband.
Nelson lifted his champagne. “Before the food arrives, we wanted to say a little something. Ness, you’re like a daughter to Isobel and me, and although we know we can never replace Maggie and Callum, I hope you know you can come to us with anything you mightneed.”
My bottom lipwobbled.
“We will always be here for you, sweet girl,” Isobel said, making my attempt at keeping it togetherworse.
“Nelson, you just stole my entire toast,” Jeb chided, humor lilting his tone. Directing his attention on me, he said, “Ness, I know you’re eighteen now, andlegallynot mine to keep, but I hope you’ll choose to stay with me a couple more years. I really enjoy having someone to take care of, even though”—his Adam’s apple bobbed underneath his gray-blond scruff—“even though you take better care of me than—” He stopped talking abruptly, his eyes growing red and shiny withemotion.
As Frank patted my uncle’s back, tears trickled down my cheeks. I palmed them away, hoping they weren’t dragging down the mascara I’dapplied.
“I’m not going anywhere, Jeb,” I managed to whisper. “At least not withoutyou.”
He smiled, and my heart squeezed because in that moment, he looked so much like Dad. He didn’t have his dimples, but he had the samesmile.
“Six years ago, I met a sweet little girl with blonde pigtails who would not let me into her apartment,” Evelyn said, “and yet, the same little girl ended up letting me into her heart.Querida, I never had the chance to become a mother, so I never imagined I would have the chance to become a grandmother, but you made this dream of mine cometrue.”
So much for staying stoic and well made-up. I lifted my napkin from my lap and blotted the corners of my eyes, leaving behind little black smudges on the palelinen.
“I do not know if I am any good at it, though.” She lowered her gaze to her ornate plate and added quietly, “I want what is best for you, but maybe I have been wrong about what is best foryou.”
A beat of silence descended upon thetable.
I nibbled on my lip, my heart accelerating. I prayed I was the only one who knew what she was referringto.
Whomshe was referringto.
“I’m happy your father didn’t take well to the pledge drink, Ness,” Frank blurted out, which made Evelyn’s gaze jerk off herplate.
I laughed, which was a nice change from all thecrying.
“What about you, son?” Nelsonsaid.
