“Her grandson, Sherman, will be in town for the wedding, and needs a date,” Lola Nene said.
“Oh!” her mother patted Lola Nene's arm. “He's the architect. You could do worse than an architect, C.C.”
“Architects are very intelligent,” her father chimed in. “You'd have smart children.”
C.C. kind of wanted to bash her head on the table, but instead, she said, “I don't need a date.”
“Of course you do,” Lola Nene said. “It's not good for you to be alone. I'm getting along in years and I want to see my grandchildren settled before I die.”
C.C. arched a brow. “You're healthy as an ox,” she said. “You'll outlive us all.”
“I don't know,” Lola Nene said, her voice beginning to shake. “I've been feeling a bit weak, lately.”
“She's fine, Ceece!” Analyn shouted from off screen.
Lola Nene glared off to her left. “Ungrateful child. Maybe you should date Sherman.”
“I already have a date!” Analyn called back.
“Then he's perfect for Cecilia,” she said smugly.
C.C. shook her head. “No, he's not. I've met Sherman and we have nothing in common.”
“Well, how about Barry Bautista?” her mother suggested.
“Or that nice boy from church,” her dad said. “Jerome Ocampo's nephew.”
“Guys—” C.C. tried to interrupt.
“No, he's already engaged,” Gloria replied. “But I think he has a younger brother.”
“Guys—”
“Younger, yes. He's still in high school!”
“Guys!”
As one, the three of them stared at her, open-mouthed. She wanted to protest, to tell them she didn't need—didn't want a date for the wedding. But she knew from prior experience what would happen. They'd set her up anyway. And she'd find herself seated next to Sherman or Barry or whoever they dug up, wishing she could just hide in a corner with a nice, big piece of cake, but instead she'd have to smile and laugh as every aunt, uncle, and cousin made teasing comments about them being the next couple to walk down the aisle.
Yeah, it had happened before. Too many times to count.
So, instead, C.C. said the only thing she could.
“I already have a date.”
And again, as one, all three sat up a little straighter, leaning closer, eyes sparkling with interest. Then, yep, there were Analyn and Marisol popping in.
“You have a date already?” Marisol asked. “Who? You need to make sure his tie matches your dress because—”
“Who cares if his tie matches her dress?” Analyn asked.
“For the pictures!” Marisol's voice began to rise, her eyes taking on a frenzied look.
“I, uh, really need to go,” C.C. said, reaching to disconnect the call.
“Cecilia Clemente DeVera!” Her grandmother's stern voice made her freeze. “Do not hang up this call until you tell us who you're bringing to your sister's wedding.”
“She's right,” Marisol said rapidly. “I'll need to get him a place card, and that means I'll have to redo the seating chart again. I swear C.C., you couldn't have told me this earlier?” She flounced away, still muttering to herself.
“So, who is this boy?” her father asked, crossing his arms. “Is he a musician?”
“Not a musician!” Her mother gasped in outrage.
“Mom, I'm a musician!”
“That's different,” Gloria said, waving her off. “Is he a musician?”
“No,” C.C. replied, mind racing for a way out of this conversation. “He's a—” Doctor? No, where would she meet a doctor? Lawyer? Her dad hated lawyers. “He's an engineer.”
“An engineer.” Lola Nene nodded in approval. “That's good.”
“That is good,” her mom agreed. “What kind of engineer? What's his name? How did you two meet?”
C.C. felt like she was sinking, each lie piling onto her and pushing her down. But no, she needed to breathe, think clearly. This was only a little white lie, after all. Just a way to get her
off her back for a bit. She had so much on her plate right now, the last thing she needed to think about was dating—let alone bringing someone to her sister's wedding, where they'd come face to face with her entire family. That was a lot to ask of anyone. And she definitely didn't have someone in her life who could handle it.
No, this would be fine. When she went home for the wedding, she'd simply tell her family that she and the engineer broke up. It wasn't meant to be. No harm. No foul.
No Sherman. No Barry.
“Cecilia?” Lola Nene prodded. “What's the boy's name?”
“Uh . . .” C.C. floundered under her grandmother's probing gaze. Even over hundreds of miles, she could always see through her.
But she could do this. She just had to think of a name. Any name.
So, she lifted her chin and replied with the first one that came to mind. “Dalton,” she said. “His name is Dalton Gregory.”
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About the Author
USA TODAY bestselling author Victoria Pinder moved cross country and now lives in Denver though her books always take her right back to Miami, where she lived for years. She’s currently expecting another baby and raising the first one, both of whom inspire her writing. Somewhere in between using drama to make her humdrum days seem more interesting and falling in love with happily-ever-afters to offer hope to her readers, she takes to her fictional world where all her characters in Miami might mention or meet each other in one huge world and discovers what her bold heroine and her brainy, sexy hero might need to really find true love.
Taylor’s Legendary Heart: Sweethearts of Country Music, Book 2 Page 18
