Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 70570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
I withhold the story about having met Cissy’s sweetheart son TJ at the T&S Sweet Shoppe and, instead, take hold of her hands. It seems to center her at once. “I really don’t have any bad feelings, Nadine. I’m happy you set me up on that date with Bobby. It may have taken me a long time to come around, but … I think I learned a few things about myself from that experience.”
Her face screws up. “‘Learned a few things’? Hon, you weren’t supposed to ‘learn’ nothin’. You were supposed to have a hot date, fall in love with each other, and have Bobby Parker’s babies!”
It’s never clear whether Nadine is serious when she makes a joke like that. “Thank you anyway, Nadine.”
“‘Thank you’?? Malcolm, I don’t deserve your thanks. Here I was, thinking I’d learned my lesson, and then I push you at Cole Harding when I should’ve sent you to Samuel!”
Still holding her hands, I smile. “Funny you should say that. If my memory isn’t mistaken, I think sending me to find Samuel was the very first thing you did when I got into town.”
She blinks at me, paralyzed with the realization. “Holy frickin’ crap,” she says.
“Don’t give up matchmaking so quickly,” I tell her teasingly.
She shakes her head, still dazed. “And it was already my New Year’s resolution to give up the gig. And also to meddle less. Hmm, no, I think I’ll still resolve to meddle less. Universe is tryin’ to tell me something here, and I’d better listen this time.”
Someone pulls her away to congratulate her on her son, and I’m left gazing back at Samuel, who seems to be in the middle of a discussion involving pet food. I just stand there and listen for the longest while as he goes on and on, sounding smart and studious. At one point, Kirk and Bonnie (the chatty couple he’s been talking to) start telling him a funny story involving their dog and son, and Samuel sneaks a glance my way. A smile spills over his face at the sight of me.
I smile back, feeling happy for his attention.
As he gets sucked back into conversation, I’m left wondering if this happiness is just reserved for today. Is this “Moody Malckie” coming back with a vengeance, to have such a thought? Or is it perfectly reasonable to assume everyone—including myself—is only cheery because of present circumstances? What will happen when the wedding day’s over, Christmas is over, and every reason to celebrate and be joyful is gone? Do I go back to Fairview alone? Do I realize it’s too much effort to maintain a relationship with the busy vet tech from Spruce, whose free time is spent studying to become a veterinarian?
Is it too soon to even call what we have a relationship?
I must have missed the announcement or else the citizens of Spruce have a telepathic connection, because everyone starts to migrate to the back patio and take their seats at a huge spread of large, round tables. The food is brought out, and the conversations continue flowing, along with the alcohol.
Samuel and I are joined by eight others at our table, two of whom are apparently a young gay couple who just drove in from the nearby beach town Dreamwood Isle for the wedding. “Vann’s not really from here, but his mom is,” one rambles on between bites, a sweet-faced guy who talks a mile a minute. “I’m just happy to see my buddy Jimmy getting married to the love of his life. I actually saw the dance that did it.” He swallows his bite of food—which takes him a second as he struggles, eating too much and too fast. “It was so good. A whole Dirty Dancing vibe. Jimmy even came down to the audience and invited Bobby up to the stage to do it.”
“Toby, babe, you gotta chew your food before you swallow,” says his boyfriend Vann, whose short dark hair sweeps down his forehead, giving him major ‘lead singer of a punk band’ vibes.
Toby doesn’t seem to take his boyfriend’s advice. “Mmm, that night truly was inspiring. I owe so much to Jimmy. He gave me the encouragement to be myself and—Hey, seriously, who catered this event? The food is fantastic.”
Samuel of course leaps in to announce that it was Nadine’s restaurant that catered, led by execute chef Mario Tucci: my dad. That leads the whole table into dishing out a wave of compliments my way, despite my having nothing to do with the tasty cuisine other than being related to the chef. But I’m gracious and thank them anyway on my dad’s behalf, assuring them I’d pass along the praise. Once Samuel offhandedly mentions who he is, Toby makes the connection that his best friend Kelsey is actually Tyrone and Omar King’s adopted daughter. That takes the whole table into a new direction of conversation, and I’m mercifully pulled out of the spotlight, able to eat in peace and enjoy listening to everything.