“Not today.” Her voice was a little above a whisper. “Today’s too happy for that story.” She finished the rest of her wine. “And one day you’re going to have to tell me what happened to Ben’s mom.”
“Today’s too happy forthatstory.”
“I understand, trust me. I just want you to know I’m never going to try to take the role of being his mother. He had a mother. But Ben will always be extremely important to me, and I’m grateful I get to be in that little boy’s life.” She wiped the corner of her eye. “And when you’re ready to tell me that sad story, I’ll share mine, too, and we can have a sob-fest together.”
“Deal.”
“Tonight’s going to end on a positive note.” She nodded toward me. “Because of you.”
I let out a soft moan of pleasure. “You’re saying yes to moving in and you’re leaving the rehab center and you’re going to work part-time for Dr. Kaplan.”
“And because I’m so in love with you.”
“Look at them together,” Grandma said, standing next to me in the private dining room of the restaurant Jordan had reserved for his engagement party. She was referring to Ben and Emily. Emily had just taken Ben to the restroom, and now that they’d reentered the room, Emily was kneeling down, fixing Ben’s tie. Ben was laughing at something Emily had said, both of them smiling. “He’s dazzled by her.”
I murmured, “That makes two of us, Grandma.”
“Oh, my darling boy. You have no idea how happy I am to see you in love.” She looped her hands through my arm and held on. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time. I knew it would come. But I’m beyond thrilled that it’s with Emily.” She gave me a side look and a side smile. “She’s quite the gal, Gavin.”
“She is.”
“You’re going to marry her, aren’t you?” She released me to adjust the ruffled collar of her dress, clinging right back on once she was done.
“I am, Grandma.”
“And you’re going to give me more great-grandbabies, aren’t you?”
I laughed. “As long as Emily wants that, which I believe she does, then yes.” I stared down at her. “You’re not demanding or anything ...”
“I’m eighty-four, my darling. I’m not getting any younger.”
“But you’re not looking any older either.”
She tapped my arm. “There is a reason I love you, and that right there is one of them.”
I chuckled as Maya made her way over to us.
My soon-to-be sister-in-law was holding a glass of beer, smiling at Grandma before she focused on me. “Future brother-in-law, I have something extremely important to tell you.”
“And that is?” My brows lifted.
“If you hurt my girl, I will hurt you.” Even though she was stopping herself from grinning, I knew she was serious.
Maya and Emily had an indestructible friendship. I wasn’t at all surprised that Maya was threatening me. I would be disappointed if she didn’t.
“You have nothing to worry about,” I told her. “That woman is going to be mine forever.”
Maya waved her finger at me. “She better be.”
“You know,” Grandma started, “if he hurts her, I’ll also be hurting him.”
Maya put her hand on Grandma’s shoulder. “I love that you have my back and Emily’s.”
One of Grandma’s arms released me so she could clasp fingers with Maya. “Always, my gal.”
“What are you guys talking about?” Emily asked as she and Ben joined us, Jordan not far behind them, my brother putting his arm around his fiancée.
Maya glanced up at Jordan. “I was just threatening to hurt your brother. You know I take my bestie duties quite seriously.”
