by Laura Ward
Landon stood next. “Grace, this toast is to you. You took my best friend, just as he is. You never tried to change him, you accepted him. But here’s the thing. He changed just the same. Because Dean realized that to keep a woman as good as you, he had to up his game. Thank you for being the only person I know special enough to take on Dean.” The group of family and friends laughed again. “And Dean. I love you, man. You have always been my family, and I’m so happy that Grace and Finn are part of that family now, too.”
Landon lifted his glass. “To Grace and Dean!”
We all repeated his toast.
Damian nudged Daisy, and she stood, along with Devin and Dianna. Dean groaned, hiding his face in his hands. Dean’s siblings were notorious for teasing him, and he was braced for it.
Damian lifted his glass. “First, to Grace and Finn. Thank you for agreeing to marry our brother. We owe you big-time for taking him off our hands. We all agree he’s punching well above his weight with you, so seriously, thank you.” Again, we all laughed, and Dean threw a sugar packet at Damian, laughing as it bounced off his forehead.
Damian picked it up, shaking his head at his older brother. “I heard a saying once that marriage is about annoying someone special for the rest of your life. We all feel like you are pretty special, Grace, and Dean is most assuredly annoying. So, we think you two will have a marriage made in heaven.” More chuckles came from the group.
“Now to our big brother.” Devin, Dianna, and Daisy raised their glasses alongside Damian. “You probably think we’re going to give you a hard time like we usually do to each other and remind everyone here of some of your most embarrassing moments.”
Looking over at Dean, his eyebrows were raised high, his expression wincing, bracing for the worst.
“But we wouldn’t do that to you. No, we’d never mention that time when you mooned the audience in your preschool Christmas pageant, or when you got caught with your pants down with your first girlfriend… at age nine. We’d never tell anyone about Dad catching you drunk your freshman year and then taking you to the dump the next day to volunteer, knowing the putrid smell would make you yack your brains out. Or how in your sophomore year, you got caught hiding under the bleachers during cheerleading practice, looking under their skirts when they took water breaks. Or how during junior year, you thought you had toilet papered the hot Nancy Landy’s house, but tee pee’d the assistant principal’s. And she made you come and clean her yard every weekend for six months. Not to mention all the fun you had senior year giving sweet Emma here a hard time. Is anyone else thinking what I’m thinking? High school Dean was kind of a jerk.” Damian said.
Laughter ensued as we all teased Dean for his younger years of stupidity.
“But the fact is, Dean, you’ve been an incredible big brother to us. We all knew, every second of the day, that you had our backs. That you loved us. And we love you. Thanks for the protection, thanks for the laughs, and thanks for being the role model that sits in front of us today.” Damian’s eyes looked glassy as he toasted his role model. “To Dean and Grace!”
We cheered for the happy couple once more.
I waited a few minutes as waiters and waitresses placed plates of salad in front of us. I knew Ricky was too shy to ever get up in front of the room, so when it looked like no one else was giving a toast, I stood, clinking my glass with my fork to gather attention.
My stomach felt like it was full of rocks and suddenly I was parched. I swallowed hard and looked down at Daisy. Her eyes were huge. After the fight with Dean, I doubted anyone expected me to give a toast tonight.
“I’d like to start off tonight with an apology.” A few out of town relatives who didn’t know our history laughed, but quieted down when no one else joined in. “In the beginning, I didn’t think Dean was good for Grace and vice versa. But they proved me wrong. In fact, they’ve taught me about love. You see, growing up, there wasn’t a lot of love in my house, so I didn’t believe in it.”
I looked over at Dean. His eyes were narrowed and his lips flat as he listened. Sitting next to him, Grace smiled, nodding for me to go on.
“But I watched Dean care for another person more than he cared for himself, and my mind was blown. Not to mention seeing Dean with Finn. He fell in love with you too, Finn, just as hard.” I looked over at a beaming Finn and smiled back. “And you helped make him a better man, too. I’m so happy for you, Dean.”
I turned and looked at each of his siblings and then Dale and Dorothy. “I’m happy for all of you. This family is so special. So loving. You all have taken me in on holidays and vacations for years. This family gave me something I didn’t have in my own home.”
I looked back at Dean. “A place where I belonged.”
I swallowed back against the rock lodged in my throat and faced Dale and Dorothy again. “And so my second apology goes to both of you. You took me in this year and let me live in your home. I never should have accepted. That was wrong. Because the fact of the matter is, I’ve been in love with your daughter for a very long time.”
Dale stood, but so did Damian, and he looked at his father and shook his head, motioning for him to sit and wait.
Dale did, but his face was red and eyes filled with anger.
I looked at Daisy, with her cheeks pink and eyes glistening. “Daisy, I loved you first as a friend, when you were too young to be anything else to me. But now, I know. The kind of love I feel for you is what I learned about from the people in this room.
“Landon and Emma,” I looked at them, next to Dean and Grace, both watching me with big, shocked eyes. “From you guys, I learned that sometimes you have to wait to be with the one you love. I did. And I will again if need be. But I will be with her, just as you both have made your lives work to always be together.”
“Dean and Grace.” I turned to them, Grace now smiling from ear to ear, and Dean looking just a bit less angry. “From you I learned that when you love someone you don’t have to pick them over other parts of your life, you can chase your dreams, you just do it with the love of your life beside you.
“And finally, Dale and Dorothy.” I turned around to them. Dorothy wore a small smile, but Dale looked just as pissed. “For years, you’ve been the goal I never thought I would attain. A strong, loving marriage, a family that protects one another. You said it to Dean in your toast. I, too, want a life as good as yours. I always have, I guess it just took me a while to realize it.”
I focused again on Daisy. “I’ve found that kind of love. The one that doesn’t happen twice. And so thank you to everyone in this room who helped me see real love. And most of all to Dean and Grace.”
The room toasted the couple one last time, clinking forks against their glasses to encourage them to kiss.
Daisy wiped tears from her eyes, mouthing, I love you to me from across the table.
A gruff voice cleared his throat behind me, and I looked behind me to see Dale. “Daisy. Jon. Let’s talk in the hallway.”
We followed him, Daisy holding my hand tightly in hers. When we found some privacy, Dale stopped walking, and we stood in a circle.
Daisy rested her other hand on her father’s forearm. “Dad, I love him.”
“What about next year, Flower? You want to go to New York, Jon will be away at law school, and we want you here with us. What happens then? When you’re apart?” Dale looked at his daughter with pain in his eyes.
“I’ve thought and thought about this. I’m going to New York, Dad. I’m eighteen, and I’ll do it on my own. With or without your permission,” Daisy said in a loud, strong voice.
“She has my permission to go,” Dorothy added as she walked up and stood next to Dale. With a surprised look from her husband, she said, “She’s ready, dear. She took this year and grew up, just like we asked her to.”
Dale reared back. “What about money? What if I refuse to pay for school or living expenses?”
“I’m paying for her school. All of it.” Dean neared our group, a serio
us look on his face.
Daisy spun around. “What? Dean, no.”
Dean grinned. “Don’t start. Grace and I planned this all along.”
“This doesn’t take away that my Flower will be living in that crazy New York City all by herself,” Dale said, his voice rising in volume and irritation.
“I forgot one thing,” I broke in. “I also got accepted to New York University, School of Law. With your permission, Mr. and Mrs. G, and if you want, Sunshine, we could go to New York together.” I looked at Dale. “I could watch out for her.”
Daisy’s mouth hung open, and she flung herself into my arms again. Holding her, I looked at Dale and Dorothy.
“But the age difference. I’m just not sure you should date someone so much older,” Dale protested, his voice a bit weaker.
“Dear, you’re four years older than me. So, they’re five? Ten years from now that will seem like nothing,” Dorothy told him, hands on her hips.
“Dad, you have to trust me and my judgment. You know Jon. He’s a good man. We made a mistake keeping this from you all, but we learned, and we won’t do that again. Let me be happy. Jon makes me so happy.” Daisy’s voice was strong and sure.
Looking over, Dorothy clapped her hands in joy and Dale looked… well, he looked beaten. But he did finally grin.
“Okay, son. But this means if anything happens to my Flower, if she so much as stubs a toe, the Big Kahuna’s coming for you.” He punctuated his comment with one narrowed eye and a sharp finger in my direction.
I grinned, and he shook my hand.
Daisy slid out of my arms and hugged her dad. “Thank you, Dad.”
He kissed her cheek and closed his eyes. “I’m so happy you found love, Flower.”
Dorothy kissed all of us and danced back into the dining room, dragging Dale with her.
“Dean,” I held out my hand. “I’m sorry we kept this from you, man. Never again.”
He shook it, adding, “Sorry about the punches. I unleashed a bit. Can’t say it won’t happen again, though. You hurt Daisy, and it’s on.”
I grinned, wrapping my arms around Daisy’s shoulders. “If I was ever that much of an idiot, feel free to beat the crap out of me.”
“I’ll give you two a minute, but no more. You need to sit down and eat dinner. This food is really good, and we all know how much Jon likes to eat,” Dean said and walked back in to join his party.
Daisy wrapped her arms around my waist, her face lit up with happiness. I’d never seen her more beautiful.
“We’re going to New York?” she asked.
I nodded, unable to hold back a smile.
“Together?” She pecked my lips with a kiss.
I nodded again, eyebrows raised.
“And you love me?”
“More than I can say, Sunshine.” I kissed the tip of her nose, and she giggled.
My lips found hers, tongues sliding together.
Getting carried away would have been easy. Pulling away, impossible. That was, until every person in the dining room started chanting, banging forks and fists on the tabletop.
“Stop. Sucking. Face.”
“We’re. Losing. Our. Appetites.”
“Stop. Sucking. Face.”
“We’re. Losing. Our. Appetites.”
Gotta love a Goldsmith family party. They might not be classy, but they always keep it real.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Daisy
“OH, GRACE.”
Dianna, Delilah, Amy, Emma, and I stood in my parents’ bedroom as Grace exited the master bathroom.
She looked exquisite in a long-sleeved, ivory, lace gown with a long, full skirt. Her lace-trimmed veil hooked into the back of her hair, which twisted into an intricate set of knots.
She wore more makeup than she usually did, which was artfully applied by a cosmetic artist that did all our makeup today. But it was her smile that moved me to tears.
For someone who had traveled such a rough road to happiness, I don’t think I’d ever seen more joy captured on one face.
Emma smiled, wiping a tear with her tissue. “You look breathtaking.”
Grace looked at each of us in turn. “You all look stunning yourselves! This is the loveliest bridal party ever!”
I always thought Grace had great taste, but she had outdone herself planning this wedding. Her colors were cream and gold, and with her dark red hair, they were an exquisite match.
We wore long, gold, strapless dresses, form fitting and yet flattering in all their A-line shape. We all looked pretty hot, if I was being honest.
“Okay, this is super important.” Amy stepped forward. “Do you have something old?”
Grace nodded, clutching a lace-trimmed linen hankie. “This is a gift from Sylvie. It was her mother’s.”
Amy nodded, a serious look on her face. “How about something new?”
Grace trailed her hand in the air from the top of her dress to the floor. “Brand new wedding dress!”
Amy held up two fingers. “Right. Something borrowed?”
Grace placed her fingers on the cameo necklace pendant that lay against her chest. “My mom is letting me borrow this. It has been handed down generation after generation in our family and worn on wedding days.”
Delilah leaned over and examined it closely. “It looks so old, but it’s still immaculate. That’s really cool, Grace.”
Amy added a third finger. “Finally, do you have something blue?”
Grace giggled, bending down and lifting the end of her dress so that we could see the underside. Sewn into the tulle was a blue superhero mask. “I let Finn choose my something blue,” she explained.
“Then you are all set.” Amy and Grace hugged.
There was a knock at the door. My mom opened it a smidge and stuck her head through. “Photographer is all set up in the tent, ready for pictures. Dean is turned away from the door, so you can surprise him.”
Grace clapped her hands together. “I’ve never been more ready for anything. Let’s do this!”
We headed out the door, crossing the lawn and into the large white tent where both the ceremony and reception would take place. We faced the ceremony section. Gold chairs lined up in neat rows on each side of a long white runner. At the front of the tent, an altar was marked by huge pots of white roses and tables of gold and cream candles of all different sizes. The ceiling of the tent strewn with thousands and thousands of little white lights, giving the entire space a dream-like feel.
The groomsmen faced us. Dean had his back turned as was promised. They all wore black tuxes and gold ties, looking dapper. I waved to Jon, and he winked back. As much as I wanted to be in his arms again, I was excited to be a part of this special day for my brother and the love of his life.
With Dean’s back to us, the photographer waited to get his reaction when he saw Grace for the first time. Grace leaned forward and blew a kiss to Finn, who caught it in his hand with a giggle.
“On the count of three,” the photographer instructed. “One,” Grace walked forward until she was just a few feet from Dean. “Two…Three.”
Dean turned around, gasping, and then holding his breath. He stared at Grace with glossy eyes, and then bent over, squeezing his eyes shut.
“Grace,” he choked, forcing himself to stand tall and fighting away tears that he couldn’t stop. “You’re an angel. My God, Red. I’m so damn lucky.”
“Dean.” Grace’s fingertips touched his face, neck, chest, arms, almost as if she were memorizing the moment through sight and feel. “I love you so much. I’m so ready to be your wife.”
They kissed, a soft, tender, worshipful kiss, and tears burned in my own eyes. I looked over at Jon, and he was watching me, a look of similar worship on the face that I loved so much.
The photographer’s eyes were wide and glowing. “Well, those might be the best shots I’ve ever gotten at a wedding.”
We laughed as Dean and Grace broke apart, holding their hands out for Finn. Finn ran t
o them and they hugged, Dean whispering words in their tight circle.
“Scratch that.” The photographer shook his head as the sweet trio stood up, holding hands. “Those were the best pics I’ve ever gotten.”
“Just wait.” Landon nudged him with his elbow. “This whole night will be unbelievable. They’re a great couple, and nothing is more fun than watching a former bad-ass man-whore, turned number one dad and hubby of the year, right?”
The photographer beamed and began organizing all of us into our shots. An hour later, formal pictures were finished, and it was go time. We ushered Grace back into the house and touched up her make-up.
As the soft cello and violin notes began to play, we gathered our bouquets and made our way back to the tent. First Delilah walked and then I began down the aisle.
The emotions of the past few days hit me hard. I smiled at my parents, my dad in his tux and my mom in an alluring light gold dress and jacket. They loved me unconditionally and were learning to trust me to follow my heart.
To my left sat Izzy, waiting to wave to her roomie when Amy walked down the aisle. I winked, and she giggled, giving me an enthusiastic thumbs up.
And then I looked at my guy. His smile was huge. He looked at peace, and I realized how hard the past few months had been, and what a comfort there was in truth and the acceptance of love.
Dianna came next followed by Emma and then Amy. My stomach flipped and rolled with the excitement of the moment. My big brother was getting married.
When the music changed to the wedding march, the audience stood.
And in keeping with how the last years of her life had been lived, Grace was walked down the aisle escorted by her first true love.
Her son.
Finn beamed, his tiny tuxedo an exact fit, as he held hands with his stunning mama. I leaned forward to see Dean, fresh tears glistening in his eyes as they approached.
Like the big kid he’s always been, he couldn’t seem to wait for them to get to him. He hurried over, taking Finn’s other hand as they approached the minister.
