Page 97 of Second Dance
“I’m happy for you,” Gillian said. “For all of you.”
I let go of her to hug Grace. “This is one for the good guys, Alex,” Grace said.
“Yes, it sure is,” I said.
“Thanks for letting us be here for it,” Grace said.
“It wouldn’t have been right without you and your mother,” I said.
It was time to make us all one family. I had just one person to ask before I proposed to Gillian. Grace. I needed her blessing before I could slip that ring on her mother’s finger.
The next morning, I pulled up to Gillian’s house. The fog had burned off, leaving that sharp, perfect kind of Willet Cove light that made everything look scrubbed clean. The blue hydrangeas along her front walk were in full bloom, bobbing slightly in the breeze. My pulse thudded.
Esme answered the door, her eyes lighting up the second she saw me. “Well, hello.”
I held up the bakery box in my hand. “I brought scones.”
“How sweet. Any particular reason you’re here?” she teased, her eyes dancing.
“I have something to ask Grace,” I said.
“Oh, this is so wonderful.” She spontaneously hugged me. “Welcome to the family.”
“Thank you. That means a lot.”
Esme grinned, stepping aside. “Grace is out back with Madison. Gillian’s still at the studio, which I assume you timed on purpose.”
“I did, yes.” I returned her smile. “I’m nervous.”
“Don’t be. You’re going to make them both really happy,” Esme said.
The smell of lemon and sugar drifted through the house as I crossed the kitchen and stepped onto the back patio. Grace and Madison were sitting at the outside table, their heads bent over a half-finished puzzle.
“Hey, you two,” I said.
Madison looked up. “Hi, Mr. Alex.”
Grace smiled. “Hi, Alex. What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to talk to you about something.” My heart suddenly started hammering again. Turning to Madison, “Mind if I steal Grace for a quick talk?”
Madison opened her mouth as if to protest, but Esme appeared in the doorway with perfect timing. “Come on, kiddo. Alex brought scones. You want one?”
“Yay. I love scones,” Madison said.
Esme winked at me as she led Madison inside.
Grace tilted her head, looking curious. “What’s up?”
I sat across from her at the table, the old wood warm beneath my palms. “There’s something important I wanted to ask you.”
Her brow furrowed slightly. “Is everything okay?”
“Better than okay.” I exhaled and clasped my shaking hands together. “I’d like to ask your mother to marry me, but I wanted your blessing first.”
Her mouth dropped open. “You want my blessing?”
“I do. Because if she says yes—and I hope she will—it won’t be just her and me. It’ll be all of us. And I’d never want to take that step without making sure you’re okay with it.”
