It took me a long while to make the rounds. And it was definitely a familyaffair.
Brody was one of the first to give me a hug. He told me baby Nick sent his love, but he was home with asitter.
All of Dirty was here, of course, with their partners. Including Elle and her enormous baby belly. She’d flown home from the tour a couple of weeks ago, just in case, and she was literally ready to pop at any second; she was actually three days past her due datenow.
Matt was here,solo.
Jude and Roni were here, and so was Jude’s brother, Piper, who’d always been pretty tight withZane.
My two cousins on my mom’s side, the only living relatives I had besides my dad, were here with theirfamilies.
Some of Dylan’s family was here, too, and Elle’s sister and her parents. Katie’s parents, and her sister and her husband. Katie’s best friend, Devi, and her date, some cute model guy. Amber’s sister Liv, one of our favorite video directors, and her girlfriend, Laura. And Seth’s foster father, Ray, a lovely man I was meeting for the first timetonight.
All the members of Steel Trap were here, withdates.
Ashley Player was here, though I wasn’t even sure if he’d brought a date. He didn’t seem to be drunk, either, which was a nice change from the last several times I’d seenhim.
Alec and Talia and some of our key crew from this tour had come, along with Jude’s entire security crew. And Woo, Dirty’s record producer, our Vancouver publicists and several other people both Zane and I had worked closely with over theyears.
Rudy, Zane’s AA sponsor, had come up from L.A. with his wife, Laney. I spent quite a while talking tothem.
Definitely felt like they were family now,too.
I gave Rudy a long hug that ended with me in tears, again. I felt like I owed a huge debt of gratitude to this man for playing a role in saving my husband’s life, probably on many occasions, and helping him in ways I’d never evenunderstand.
“Thank you,” I said to him, not even sure how to put all of that intowords.
“You’ve got a good man, there, Maggie,” was all hesaid.
And then I sat down withDolly.
I found her, sitting alone, on one of the many beautiful antique couches, close to where Jesse and Katie stood. She was sipping a mocktail and she offered me a cheers. I clinked my glass tohers.
“Let me see…” she said, in her kindly way, looking me over. “Sorefeet?”
“They’re actually quite comfortable,” I said, kicking up my foot as we admired my newshoes.
“They’rebeautiful.”
“Jessa picked themout.”
“You’re beautiful, dear,” Dollysaid.
“Thank you.” I put my foot down and looked in her pale blue eyes, so like her grandson’s. “Uh… I feel a little silly. I never actually talked to you about the fact that I married your grandson, or that I was in love with him or anything. Right now, sitting here with you, that feels like such afail.”
“It’s alright,Maggie.”
“I should have. I should have talked to you. It feels…disrespectful.”
She laughed. “Why? You should’ve asked me for his hand inmarriage?”
“Maybe.” I shrugged. “Something like that. Between him and me… you’re the most important parental figure we haveleft.”
I could see that she took that to heart, and her eyes got a little misty. “Maggie, dear. I love youdearly.”
“I love you, too.” I gave her a hug, and in her arms, I got very emotional. It was hard to get the words out of my mouth when I said, “Thank you for taking such good care ofhim.”
When we drew apart, she looked across the room, and I followed her gaze. We could both see Zane sitting on the other side of the dance floor, talking to Elle, Seth, and Matt. He was smiling at whatever Elle was saying and as we watched, he laid his hand gently on herbelly.
