Page 82 of Finding Us

The night continues with more dancing and talking to people. Garret and I decided not to do the garter belt thing or the chicken dance or any of those other things people do at weddings. We also told everyone not to bring gifts because we really don’t need anything and we don’t have room for much stuff in the furnished house we’ll be renting this fall.

Harper kept insisting on getting us something but I wouldn’t let her. Planning the wedding was enough of a gift. And Sean’s gift was making all the food. Knowing Harper, she’ll send me something later and call it a one-month anniversary gift. She loves giving presents.

I knew Frank and Ryan would still give us a gift so I told them it had to be something small. Ryan gave us a toaster because he says everyone has to get at least one toaster for their wedding. It’s a nice toaster. It even has special slots for bagels. His girlfriend, Chloe, wasn’t able to be here but she still sent a gift; a silver picture frame for one of our wedding photos. And Frank gave us silver candlesticks; not the tall, skinny ones that look like old, stuffy people would use, but cool, modern ones that are kind of short and thick.

Grace is giving us a honeymoon trip for whenever we decide to take one. She told us to pick anywhere in the world and to make sure it’s for at least a week because anything less than that is not a honeymoon.

Pearce didn’t give us anything and I know it’s because he’s afraid the organization would find out. They said Garret couldn’t get any of Pearce’s money and although buying us a gift isn’t technically giving us money, it would be bought using Pearce’s money and he wouldn’t want to risk any of us getting in trouble for that. Maybe later, once some time has passed, he’ll give us something, but right now, it’s too risky. Besides, having Pearce be a good father to Garret is the only gift we need.

Later that night, as a slow song starts playing, Frank gets up from the table and says to Garret, “Would you mind if I steal her away for a dance?”

“Not at all. Go ahead.”

I get up and go around the table to meet up with Frank.

“I didn’t know you could dance,” I say as he leads me around the floor in a circular pattern.

It’s not like he’s moving fast but he seems to have some kind of footwork going.

“My wife, Ryan’s mother, loved to dance. I wasn’t a big fan of it, but it made her happy so we took some lessons and I took her out a few times a month.”

“That’s very romantic.” I look over and catch Garret watching us, smiling.

“That’s important,” Frank says. “Always try to keep the romance going even now that you’re married. It doesn’t have to be anything big. Sometimes the small things are even better than some grand gesture. That’s why I gave you those candlesticks. They make an average dinner more special. Don’t save them for holidays. Just set them out and use them and you’ll see that it changes the whole mood of the dinner.”

“Did you and your wife do that?”

“Yes. It was my wife’s idea. We didn’t have much money so we couldn’t go out for romantic dinners, but we could still have candlelit dinners at home. We received a set of candlesticks for our wedding and my wife used them almost every night.”

As the song comes to an end, Ryan taps Frank on the shoulder. “My turn.”

“She’s all yours.” Frank hands me off.

“You dance, too? What’s the deal with you guys knowing how to dance?”

“I have no idea how to dance, so don’t expect much here.” He’s doing the side-to-side shuffle, barely moving.

“You’re doing fine.”

He smiles. “You look really happy, Jade.”

“Iamhappy.”

“That guy better treat you right or I swear to God I’ll kick his pretty-boy ass.”

I laugh. “Please don’t ever call him ‘pretty boy’ to his face.”

“I accidentally did when we were driving up the coast the other day.”

“Ryan! What the hell?”

“He didn’t care. He’s a good guy. I just don’t like the fact that he’s taking you away from us so soon.”

“He’s not taking me anywhere. I’ll still come home and see you guys.”

“Yeah, but it won’t be the same. It won’t be just the three of us anymore. I know I need to get over it. We’re growing up and that’s what happens. But you’re still my kid sister no matter what.”

“And you’re still my overprotective older brother.”

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