I watch everyone take seats again.
I can do my video.
Then Carson walks back in, tall and broad in his tuxedo jacket. His eyes immediately find me across the room. He smiles.
I give him a shaky smile back then walk over to my computer. I was almost ready to go when the cake debacle happened. I move over to Grandpa. “I’m going to do the slide show,” I say to him. “Can you do the intro like we planned?”
“Of course!” He jumps up, a little whipped cream in his mustache.
I grab a napkin and dab it away.
20
CARSON
Ayla’s video is a hit with the family. It’s fun to watch them taking in all the images, laughing at funny pictures, awwing at romantic photos and baby photos. But it’s most fun to watch Ayla, watching her own video and smiling softly as she eats the dessert I got for her.
So there was a little blip in the carefully planned event. Nobody cares and I’d say it’s still a success. Gia seems genuinely thrilled with everything, but most of all, I’d say, she’s thrilled that her whole family, or nearly, is here to celebrate with her. It makes you think about the kind of life you need to live to have your whole family show up for your ninety-ninth birthday. It’s inspiring. And also a little depressing. Because I don’t have that kind of family right now and I’m not sure I ever will again.
I can’t keep my hands off Ayla. It’s been like that all night: sitting beside her, dancing with her, comforting her. It’s supposed to be putting on an act, but it’s fucking real. What am I going to do after this?
I have thoughts. Do I have the guts?
The party wraps up soon after the slide show. Nonna’s tired.
“We still haven’t talked,” Ayla says to Nonna as she prepares to leave.
“I know.” Nonna looks as sad as Ayla. “Let’s do this—we can have breakfast together. Just us.”
“Okay.”
They make a plan for the morning and Vince and Melissa take Gia back to their cottage. The kids never came back to the party; Hannah and Lyla stayed back to put them to bed. Unlike last night, there doesn’t appear to be an after party happening, so I help Ayla with a few last things and then we too head back to the cottage.
Ayla throws herself down on the couch, arms outstretched. “Oh my God. I’m exhausted.”
“You’re amazing. It was a fantastic party for Nonna.”
“Thank you.” She lets her head fall back. “It was worth it, for her. But some of the others…” She exhales a long breath. “I’m not so sure of. I can’t believe they all left before my video.”
“But they came back.”
She lifts her head and gives me a narrow-eyed look. “You left, too. Where did you go?”
“I…”
“Did you round them up and tell them to come back?”
“Well, yeah.”
A slow smile spreads across her face. “Carson.”
Okay, she’s not pissed. I was hoping I was doing the right thing. I couldn’t handle her being so disappointed and hurt. Once again, her family took her for granted and I wasn’t having it.
“That is the—” She stops, sounding a little choked up. “Well. Thank you.”
I walk over and crouch next to her. I pick up one foot and slip the thin strap off her heel, then slide her foot out of the sandal. Then the other foot. I set the sexy shoes aside.
“Ohhh, thank you. My feet are killing me.”
