Page 145 of Fire Island
“You’ll see. Hopefully,” I add.
“Hopefully?” Now his brow raises as the truck pulls away from the curb.
“Yup. The timing has to be right, and we’ve been monitoring the progress for days.”
Em’s gaze alternates between me and the road. “Now I need to know...”
All I can do is smile at him as I give him the rundown on the gift I’ve been wanting to give Evie since the day she told me about T and his dead-insect-laden letters.
The sun sets behind me as the officiant beams at me.
Em stands to my right. Iris at my left.
My family.
Which is about to go from a party of four to five.
A lone fellow Scot stands on the dune where the grassy island meets the shore, bagpipes at the ready. The first note he plays whines through the air, and we all turn in unison.
Evie walks past the older man who plays “Caledonia”in traditional highland dress, his kilt waving in the late afternoon breeze. Holding a cluster of flowers from the greenhouse, Evie passes the island’s boundary where land meets sea, padding down the sand toward us. Her dress sweeps over the sand, its silken material fitted to her elegant curves. The sweetheart neckline is held in place with two fine lacy-capped straps.
Em and Iris take a step back, Iris sliding her arm through Em’s, her elegant frame leaning into his side as her green dress tangles around her legs.
Brown eyes find mine when I turn back.
My arms, previously crossed over my body, fall to my side before I clasp my hands together. Grinding my jaw shut, I tamp down the emotion currently closing over my throat.
A trio of people I don’t fully recognize, escorted by Reese, walk across the grassy area following behind at a distance.Better late than never.Reese brought them over on Firefly. The boy has taken to the sea like a duck to water. A little something Iris arranged for Evie’s wedding gift.
And I can’t wait to meet them. Evie comes to stand in front of me, turning and handing her flowers to Iris. It’s then she catches the people crossing the island casually. Like they’re not about to wreck my girl’s heart in the best way possible.
“Oh! What?!” Her face breaks. Hovering, she searches my face. “Cal?”
“That was all Iris, baby girl.”
She looks to Iris with a sob before hitching up her long dress and flying back up the sand to her parents and who I assume is Allie.
“Thought they couldn’t make it?” Em whispers, leaning over to where I stand.
“Yeah, it took a few video chats to get her old man to come around.”
“You’re her old man now.” Iris snickers.
“Goddamn, Irry,” I growl.
“The hell?” Em says at the same time.
The moment is like a catalyst of joy as laughter splits the air around us.
“Daddy, this is Cal,” Evie says, dragging her father behind her. He’s tall and lithe like his daughter. You can see where she gets her dark features from.
“Pleasure to finally meet you in person,” Carl says.
“In person?” Evie’s mouth gapes.
“We did that online chat thing a few times,” Carl offers.
“Video call?” Evie asks, her face looking like she could die from embarrassment at any second.
