It takes a second for that to sink in.
“Are you telling me that Tommy is going to propose today? And this is really an engagement party?”
“Uh, not exactly.”
I can see the wheels turning in his brain. Finally, he says, “She thinks she’s planning a party, but really she’s planning her own wedding and he’s going to propose and they will get married all in the same day?”
“You are one smart cookie.”
“Why are they doing it so fast? All in one day?”
“For a few reasons, one being that we’re all together.”
Aiden’s beautiful mouth forms a little frown.
I don’t want to think about Vincent at all today, so I add, “And because they’re Abby Johnston and Tommy Stevens. If anyone had even an inkling of an idea that this is more than a party, then, trust me, somehow the paparazzi would have helicopters flying above it, trying to get photos. It’s a party. That’s it. Do you understand?”
He smiles. “Yeah, I think I do. Really, it’s kind of romantic.”
“Tommy is amazing to Mom. And, yeah, this party should be very romantic.”
“When’s it going to happen?”
“Tommy asked everyone to meet for lunch on the patio for a reason.”
“Would you want to do something like that?”
“Would I want to get engaged and married on the same day? Would I want someone else to plan it. Hell, no. Definitely not. I’ve been dreaming of my wedding since I was old enough to hold a Barbie bride in my hands. Of course, back then, I wanted to marry Ken.”
Aiden laughs. “Will your mom be disappointed?”
“I don’t think so. She had the big wedding when she married my dad. She and Tommy have four kids. This is the perfect thing to do.”
“You’re right, as usual.”
“Oh, gosh. You’ve been talking to Grandpa.”
“What makes you say that?”
“He says that to Grandma when he’s letting her have her way.”
Aiden laughs. “He told me it’s the phrase that keeps a woman happy.”
I laugh too. “He cracks me up.”
“He’s funny. Very straightforward. Asked me a lot of questions.”
“Like what?”
“How you’ve been doing with all this.”
“What did you tell him?”
“That you’re amazing.”
“So, you lied to my grandpa?”
He tickles me, but the tickling turns to kissing, which turns to him pushing me up onto the vanity, the room quickly heating up. It doesn't take much, a gentle touch and my body does the rest.
Sometimes I feel like if we don’t do it, I might freaking explode.
“All right, I’ve got the flower girl dresses to show you,” Kym says, walking into the bathroom and totally ruining what I had hoped might happen next. “Oh, sorry,” she says, then she looks at Aiden and goes, “Um . . . Shit.”
“It’s okay,” I say, as Aiden backs up, letting me slide off the counter. “He figured it out.”
“He what?! How?! Do you think your mom knows?”
“He guessed. Tommy added more flowers?”
“That’s how you figured it out?” she asks Aiden, looking a little scary. I hope he tells her the truth.
“I just thought there were a lot of flowers for a party, you know?” he says.
“Then he was asking me questions. And he had seen something I wrote when I was thinking up proposal ideas for Tommy.”
Her eyes get big again. “Do you know how he’s going to ask?”
“Um, yeah. Don’t you?”
“No. Asshole wouldn’t tell me.”
“Everything will be set up by one, right? Before lunch.”
“Yes.”
“So relax and enjoy a quiet afternoon before things get crazy.”
“Things are already crazy. The butterflies on the gazebo look like they belong at a child’s birthday party. Hair and makeup will be here at two, but Tommy says he can’t say exactly what time the proposal will be, so they will be twiddling their thumbs, wondering what’s going on. The barrels of wine that Tommy ordered haven’t arrived. And the band’s singer has laryngitis.”
“I’ll go look at the butterflies. There is plenty of wine in the cellar. And, hello, Damian is here.”
“That’s true.” She takes a deep breath.
“Can we see the girls’ dresses?” Aiden asks, the question seemingly having a calming effect on Kym.
“Oh, yes. And, here, you will love this.” She hands me a box.
I take the lid off to find a pair of boots. They are distressed brown leather with pale pink flowers embroidered up the sides.
“With the way the front of the dress is short, I thought the boots would be perfect. And I know how you love your boots.”
I give her a hug. “I do!”
“Me too,” Aiden says with big grin. “Me too.”
Anything is possible.
Noon.
Aiden and I walk down to the gazebo to check out the butterfly crisis. The girls are out in the yard, playing, so they follow us down to the pond.
“Where you going, Aye-den?” Gracie asks.
“For a walk. Where are you going, Gracie?”
“With you!” she screams, running ahead of us.