Page 64 of Hardy

“I love it,” Rosesaid.

“We’re not even insideyet.”Taking her hand, Hardy led the way, hoping she loved everysecond of it.

****

Hardy thought of everything.Rose had herpicture taken, and there was a glittery ball that glinted down onthe floor.The main doors to the back of the clubhouse had beenopened up, and the whole place looked like a high school.Well, ahigh school for adults.They grabbed a plastic cup of punch, andHardy took her outside.She recognized Angel and Lash who weredancing close together on the dance-floor.They looked beautiful,charming, and utterly adorable.Anthony was standing with him,dancing with Tabitha and Miles.Eva and Tiny were close tothem.

The whole club was a family.She evennoticed that Daisy, Tabitha’s friend, was also there by her side.Rose doubted the family was even there.Daisy’s family was known asdrunks, and didn’t really care about their daughter.Eva and Angeltook care of Daisy more than her own parents did.

“What do you think?”Hardyasked.

“I can’t believe you didthis.”

“Are you happy that I keptyou away for it to be a surprise?”

“Yes, I’m so happy about it.”Sheleaned her head on his shoulder.“This is the best promever.”

“The high schoolis going to be sopissed with me.I’ve set the bar this year.”

She giggled and closed her eyes.Hewrapped his arm around her shoulders, and she knew everything wasgoing to be more than okay.

“That punch doesn’t havealcohol.With the kids, and the pregnant women, I voted againstspiking the punch,” Hardy said.

“You’ve thought ofeverything.”

“You bet I have.I wanted tonightto be perfect for you.”

“It is.”She released a little sigh, finishedoff her fruit drink, and took his hands.“Will you dance withme?”

“Yes.Be warned, I’m not avery good dancer.”

“I don’t care.”The songturned to a slow number, and Rose believed it was bliss just bybeing in his arms.“You can dance slowly.This we canhandle.”

“Yes, I can handlethis.”

“I can’t believe you didall of this for me.”

“I made a mistake.I’vemade a lot of mistakes.I’m not going to continue makingthem.”

“You’re making a woman feelingloved.”Rose knew she should be pissed that Hardy read her diaries,but she wasn’t.Those dairies were where she’d bared her soul.He’dnot cared enough to ask her how she was, or to even talk.They’dtalked a hell of a lot more in the last three weeks than they hadin ten years of marriage.After all this time she couldn’t evenbegin to tell him the kinds of things she had to the open pages.Noone cared about what was written on those pages.She didn’t have toworry about hurting a person’s feelings, or that her words wereunkind.The pages gave her an outlet to bare her soul.

“You are loved.”

The song continued to play, and Roserested her head on his shoulder.“What’s your favoritecolor?”

“Red.”

She smiled.

“You?”

“I love green.”

“That color contrasts withyour hair.”

“I know.I think it’s why Ilike it.Chicken or steak?”

“Damn, that one is a hard one.Ithink steak wins.You can do so much with it, and you can grind itup for meatballs.”

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