Page 160 of The Book of Summer

“Excuse me for a minute?” she says.

He nods, unable to answer. Bess pecks him on the cheek and finds Cissy, who is standing alone at the edge of the dance floor.

“You made it!” Bess says, and gives her mom a hug. “I was getting worried.”

“I had to finish packing! It’s a big job.”

Bess laughs and shakes her head.

“Packing?” she says. “A big job? You don’t say. I’m so glad you’re here, Cis. You look spectacular.”

“So do you.” Cissy takes her hand. “How are you?”

“Oh I’m fi—”

“No, how are youreallydoing? Don’t give me the pat wedding-reception answer.”

Bess considers this.

“Actually, the pat answer and the real one are not so far apart,” she says with a smile. “I’m fine. Better by the second.”

Cissy smiles in return and touches her daughter’s cheek.

“I love you, Bessie. I’m heartbroken for what you’ve been through.”

“Me, too,” Bess says. “But suddenly it all looks so different. Like for the first time, everything might turn out fine.” She snorts. “I guess because by the time you realize something truly sucks you’re most of the way through it.”

“That’s my girl.” Cissy pulls Bess in for another hug and a strong kiss on the lips. “You’re a remarkable person. Thanks for being there for me.Literallythere. In Sconset, at Cliff House. I couldn’t have gotten through this on my own.”

“Yeah, you’d still be on that veranda if not for me.”

“Oh, I would’ve moved on eventually.”

“You keep telling yourself that,” Bess says.

Suddenly the microphone crackles. The band changes tune. A rough, familiar voice ripples through the room.

“Wow,” Cissy says, and whips around, a grin erupting across her face. “Is that… ‘A Piece of My Heart’? I’m impressed. You generally don’t get Joplin at a wedding.”

“Oh, God!” Bess cries, though these are happy tears.

“Oh my. Is that…?”

Bess peers around Cissy’s wide, wide hair to see Evan clutching the mike. His shirt is partially unbuttoned, the periwinkle tie is gone. Sweat shimmers on his face as if he’s been singing all night.

“Holy shit,” Bess says.

“Are you being… serenaded?” Cissy asks, then twists up her mouth.

“Holy shit,” Bess says again as she realizes that yes, she’s being serenaded.

And he’s lifted the entire room to its feet.

I want you to come on, come on, come on, come on and take it…

The other guests flood the dance floor. Soon, the entire room is singing, shaking from the power of their voices. Evan Mayhew has brought the house down.

Chappy takes Cissy’s hand and pulls her onto the floor. Meanwhile, Bess’s heart flops all over the place. She is wildly charmed by the gesture, but it sure would be nice to have someone to dance with. Bess prays this won’t all end in the “Macarena.”

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