Page 90 of The Wedding Toast
Zia clung tighter to Reaves’s hand as he led her through the house toward his dad’s office.It surprised him when he looked down to see that she was scared.He stopped and squatted in front of her.
“Are you sure you’re okay with this?”he asked.
She nodded emphatically but swallowed visibly as she did.It occurred to him that he hadn’t seen her look scared before.It made his chest tighten.
“We don’t have to stay if you don’t want to.”
“Oh, but I do.I want to meet your daddy.But … do you think he’s a wizard?”
He rested his hand on her shoulder.“If he is, he’s only a grape wizard.What I can tell you for sure is that he’s a good man, a kind man.”He winked.“He might be a little bit grumpy sometimes.But he won’t be grumpy with you, I’m sure.Want me to carry you?”
She nodded vigorously, and he picked her up, surprising himself at how natural it felt to sit her on his hip as they continued.When they reached the arched wooden door to his dad’s office, he realized that even that must give the impression of this place being a castle.
When he reached out to knock, Zia clung to him a little tighter.“Dad, it’s me,” he called.Normally he would just walk right in, but he wanted to give both Zia and his dad a moment to be prepared for their first encounter.“I’ve brought Zia with me.”
“Well, bring her in then,” his dad called.“I’m looking forward to meeting this young lady.”
Reaves smiled at her, and she nodded, so he opened the door.
He could tell that his dad was surprised to see him carrying her, but he didn’t comment.Instead, he got up from his large oak desk and came around it to greet them.
“Well, hello there.It’s nice to meet you.”
Reaves had to hold her steady as she leaned forward, offering her hand to shake.His dad chuckled and shook with her as she said, “It’s nice to meet you, too.I never met anyone who lives in a castle before.I’m Zia.”
“Well, you’re welcome in this castle,” said his dad.“I’m Charles St.James.”
It occurred to Reaves that he hadn’t seen his dad around children before.He couldn’t imagine him being comfortable with Zia addressing him as Charles.
She wriggled to get down and then stood staring up at his dad, arms hanging loosely by her side.He held his breath, waiting to see how this would go.His dad shot him a quick smile while Zia studied him.After a few moments she announced,
“You look like a grandpa, and I’ve never had one of those.I think I’ll keep you.You can be Grandpa Grape.”
Reaves didn’t manage to hold in the laugh that bubbled up, and it came out as more of a snort.He felt bad when they both turned to look at him.
“Are you okay?”Zia asked.
“I think he’s fine,” said his dad.“I think it’s that neither of us were expecting him to make me a grandpa just yet.”
Zia came back to Reaves and took hold of his hand.“He’s your daddy.You don’t mind sharing him with me, do you?”
“I don’t.”He met his dad’s gaze.“As long as you don’t.”
His dad chuckled.“Not in the least.Although I’ve never been a grandpa before, Zia.I don’t know if I’ll be very good at it.”
“Oh, you will,” she said.“I can tell.You live in a castle.And you have sunflowers.”She glanced back at Reaves and then lowered her voice as she added, “And you might be a wizard.You’ll be the best grandpa ever.And now you’re mine.”
His dad laughed.“Well, I’m not sure about the rest, but I’m pleased that you like the sunflowers.Although it doesn’t surprise me.You’re a little ray of sunshine yourself, aren’t you?”
Zia nodded emphatically.“That’s what my mom says.Sunflowers are like me, all sunshine and happiness.”
Reaves was stunned to see the way his dad’s eyes shone before he turned away, taking his handkerchief from his breast pocket.It seemed that he dabbed at his eyes before he turned back around.
It had to be about the sunflowers and his mom, but Reaves didn’t know what – or what to say.Zia went to his dad and took hold of his hand, running her little fingers over the skin that he noticed for the first time was weathered and wrinkled.
“It’s okay, Grandpa Grape,” she told him.“I get sad sometimes too.”
Reaves racked his brain to think of something to say that might lighten the moment.There was more emotion in this room than had probably flowed through the entire house in years.
