Page 75 of Hello Handsome
I chuckled at the unexpected request. “Of course. Will you eat all the fresh pineapple you can for me?”
He smiled back. “Deal. I’ll see if I can mail you those macadamia nut cookies you love so much.”
I clapped my hands together excitedly. “And Kona coffee. I can’t get that at the diner either.”
“Of course,” he promised.
I looked him over, to remind myself he wasn’t broken like he’d been in the hospital bed. He was strong, recovering moreand more every day. Then I nodded and gave him another hug. “Call me whenever you’re missing home.”
“We’d never get off the phone,” he said with a laugh. I still couldn’t tell if he was joking. “And say hi to Gray for me. I’m sure he missed you while you were gone.”
I brushed off the comment. “I’m sure he didn’t miss me too bad. We’re just friends.”
“Mom.”
I raised my eyebrows, waiting for his words.
“You might not be together, but you’re not just friends. Everyone knows it but the two of you.”
I cupped his cheek in my palm, remembering when I was young. How everything seemed possible with the power of love. Getting older had only taught me that sometimes, love just wasn’t enough.
48
GRAY
I walkeddown the hallway to Hayes’s old bedroom in disbelief that my son was getting married today. And to a woman as incredible as Della, no less. Hayes was getting ready in the main bedroom downstairs while the ladies used all the bedrooms and the bathroom upstairs to get ready for the big day.
For a long time, I thought Hayes would be a bachelor forever. But Della was exactly what he needed. It was clear in the way he lived his life now. Before he fell for her, it was like he wanted to live as fast as possible.
Now, he slowed down. He savored his time with Della instead of racing it away.
I reached the last door in the hallway and knocked.
Soon, the door opened, my daughter-in-law Liv there to greet me. She looked pretty in a mint-green dress, her hair twisted up into a bun. “Hey, Gray,” she said warmly.
I smiled at her. “You look lovely.”
“Thank you,” she replied with a grin. “You’re so handsome in a suit, Gray.” She straightened my lapel for me.
“Any chance I can get a second with the bride?” I asked.
Liv peeked back over her shoulder, then looked back at me. “Sure thing. I’ll give you a few minutes.” She walked past meand left the door open, showing Della sitting in front of the desk where Hayes used to do homework… when I could convince him to do it.
My mind flashed back to my little boy who felt everything so deeply. To my surly teen no one seemed able to reach. To the young man who made a life for himself as a mechanic and business owner. God, it had gone by so fast.
It was hard to believe my son had grown into the man marrying this stunner of a woman.
Today she wore a champagne-colored dress with a full skirt that spilled around the chair she sat in. But the dress paled compared to her. She wore simple makeup, her curly red hair pulled into a loose bun at the base of her neck. “How did my son get so lucky to marry you?” My throat felt tight.
Della smiled, getting up to hug me. “I feel so lucky to be with him and to marry into this family.” She patted my cheek gently. “You should be incredibly proud of yourself for the men you raised. They wouldn’t be who they are without you, Gray.”
A ball of emotion formed in my throat, and I had to swallow it down. “Thought I wouldn’t cry today,” I managed.
Her eyes shone as she smiled. “I got you something just in case...” She walked to the corner of the room where a tote bag sat on the nightstand. Then she reached in and pulled out a folded piece of fabric.
Passing it to me, she said, “A handkerchief for you.”
I took it in my hands, studying the sunflower embroidered in the corner next to a blue heart.
