Page 63 of Honeyed

I clear my throat from the lump lodged in the middle of it. “Thank you. You know when it comes to my past, I’m … I don’t want it clouding anything in my present. But you’re right.”

“I know.” She gives me a small smile and then takes a few bites as I polish off my grilled cheese with a happy sigh. Leona’s food is medicinal in a way.

“Now, tell me you’re going to let me plan a little wedding for the two of you.”

I chuckle through my emotions. “So that’s why you came over here.”

“To help, but yes, to meddle. I think giving Thomas his walk down the aisle with his daughter will allow him to move on more quickly from this hurt. And heck, I want to plan a wedding for her. I’ve thought about it since she was born. Even if it’s small, will you help me surprise her?”

“You know she doesn’t love surprises,” I hedge, nervous just at the word because I know the woman I love detests them.

Leona scoffs. “Oh heck, she’s surprised us enough for a century in the last few months. Least I can do is throw a party without her knowledge. Let me do this for you.”

On the one hand, a big party celebrating our marriage in a real way that includes all our friends and loved ones is exactly the kind of thing I want to give Alana. She’s a woman with a big personality who deserves a big celebration. But, on the other hand, she might kick me in the balls for surprising her like this.

I’m willing to wear a jockstrap at the reception for the risk of throwing the wedding.

“Yes. But only if you help me sort and fold these shirts and sweatshirts because I’d rather chew my hand off.”

26

WARREN

“An hour until open and we can’t find a giant pair of scissors, whatever will we do.”

August taps away on the point-of-sale system computer at the checkout counter in Lily, mocking Alana and me for running around like chickens with our heads cut off.

We extended the manager position to her a few days ago. Of course, I watched as the insecurities her mother planted in her reared their ugly heads when she asked if we were sure she could do the job. Alana knocked down that question pretty quickly, building our mentee up quickly with all the examples of how she’d helped the restaurant since she started working there.

With summer employees coming on at Hope Pizza, August is more than able to take on more shifts at work for Lily. Leona said she’d be able to grab a waitressing shift whenever she felt like it, but the position at Lily will give her résumé a leg up for college jobs and internships alike. Being a manager, no matter where it is, shows responsibility and initiative.

And August has brought her signature sense of calm to our finishing process to get the store open. She works diligently with little complaint, knocking tasks down one by one without getting rattled. She kept my wife and me in check when we stressed that we wouldn’t hit our deadline for opening, and now she’s sticking it to us by taunting us an hour before we plop the sidewalk sign out for the first time.

“Sometimes, I wish my attitude was unflappable as yours, kid.” Alana chuckles at her.

I’m carrying a bunch of candles, making sure I don’t smash them all over the floor, as I put them up on a shelf as backfill items. Newton Street is already buzzing with summer tourists and locals alike on this weekend morning, and a very small crowd is waiting outside the door for our opening to start. It helps that Evan is passing out small slices of breakfast quiche he whipped up this morning and that Nonna has an espresso machine brewing cup after cup—for free. Our family knows how to show up when you need them.

“You two just need to chill out. People are so excited about this, Al, you’ve seen the social media stuff and comments. It’ll be a success. Plus, I won’t let you down.”

“You never have.” I give her a thumbs-up. “We’re just nervous. We’ve put a lot of work into it.”

“So let it show and take a deep breath,” August advises, and Alana scoffs at me like she can’t believe an eighteen-year-old just said that to us.

“When did you get so wise? I’m so proud.” Alana bats her lashes at August and then walks down to tickle her side in a warm gesture.

“Oh, I also have some news.” August’s face is painted with nerves and anxiety.

My stomach drops because when it comes to August, you never know what will come out of her mouth. And I’m used to it being something terrible where her mother is concerned.

“What happened? Are you okay?”

She waves me off. “I’m fine. Better than fine, actually. That scholarship you sent me? I got it. A full ride to my top choice provided by this scholarship fund.”

August is trying desperately hard to keep any glee or emotion off her face, but I see the small smile that breaks through. For her, it might as well be hysterical laughter shouted from the rooftops.

“Auggy! Are you serious? That’s incredible!” I act completely surprised, even though I’m the one who drafted the email back to her before Alana hit send.

“Oh my God! What? How come you didn’t tell us sooner?” Alana may have just hinted that we sent that email two weeks ago and August has been keeping it to herself, but our young employee would never know that.

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