My dad did that with me when I left the hospital with Ellis.
I never thought I’d have to be that person for one of my friends, but when the time came, I was grateful I could be.
Now, I look at the man he’s become—a loving, confident father who’s devoted to the woman he loves. A version of him I wondered if he would ever figure out.
I’m happy for him, but sometimes watching him in this new life and role makes me yearn for the life that was robbed from me.
Turning to Fletcher and Laney, Henley asks, “What did we miss?”
“You haven’t missed anything yet,” Laney replies. “But we do need to move over to a larger table so we can all sit together.”
That’s when my father appears from the back of the winery. “Well, look who’s here!” He veers straight to my sister, pulling her into his arms and kissing the top of her head, before reaching out to shake Fletcher’s hand. “Are the bride and groom ready to talk wedding details?”
Laney scoffs. “Dad, I have seen and helped with countless weddings at this place over the years. I know how this works.”
“Yes, but you’re the bride now, which means you’re not working your own wedding. Let Anabelle do her job,” he says, referring to the wedding planner who’s been working at the winery for over a decade now.
“You’re telling Laney not to act like the control freak that she is,” I interject, reaching for my glass of wine that Tom set by me earlier. “I think we can all agree that isn’t going to happen,” I add, taking down the cabernet like it’s the lifeline I need right now.
Spoiler alert: it is—especially if I’m going to get through this evening.
My eyes drift over to Ellis and Joanne playing Candy Land, making sure they’re both still there. That they’re safe.
Old habits and fears never die.
Fletcher stands up from his stool and pulls my sister into his side. “Hey, that’s my fiancée that you’re talking about.”
Rolling my eyes, I stand as well. “Oh, trust me, I haven’t forgotten.” Henley laughs, and I shoot him a look. “You still think this is funny, huh?”
He shrugs. “I mean, none of us saw this coming, but I think it’s hilarious that it still bothers you.”
I shake my head, lifting my glass toward Elliot. “Bet you wouldn’t find it funny if you found out Elliot and Dilynne were seeing each other behind your back.”
Dilynne chokes on her wine and Elliot looks like someone just told him dinosaurs are still alive.
“Jesus, warn a person before you insinuate something that vile,” Dilynne says once she’s regained her composure.
“You’ve lost your goddamn mind if you think that would ever happen,” Elliot adds.
Dilynne’s razor-sharp gaze lands on Elliot. “You could do a hell of a lot worse, Grumpzilla. Oh wait! You have,” she says, clearly referring to his ex-fiancée.
Fletcher covers his mouth with his hand, hiding his smile while Elliot looks like smoke might start pouring out of his ears.
“Trust me, Dil. You’d have to be the last woman on earth left for me to even think about making you mine.”
“That’s comforting,” she says sweetly. “Since I’d never belong to a man, nor would I let him call mehis.” Her placating smile is so sharp it could cut glass.
Laney slices her hand through the space between them. “I think I speak for everyone here when I say please let this go so we can focus on the wedding.”
Elliot and Dilynne are locked in a stare-down, but Dilynne breaks first. “Fine.”
Elliot runs a hand through his hair. “George? You got any whiskey around here?”
My dad meets Elliot’s gaze, chuckling. “Whiskey isn’t going to solve your problem, son.”
“What problem?”
“The one you refuse to see.” My dad shakes his head just as Ellis comes running up to him.
