She leaned back and clasped my face between both of her hands. “You’re here and that’s all I care about.” There was such love in her eyes I couldn’t doubt that she meant it.
I took her hands in mine. “So, are you going to introduce me to this boyfriend of yours?”
She blushed. “He’s wonderful to me, Kal.” A worried look came into her eyes. “Please try to like him.”
I gave her hands a squeeze. “Mom. You deserve every bit of happiness that comes your way. If he’s important to you, he’ll be important to me.”
Tears filled her eyes. “He’s important, Kal.”
I nodded. Message received.
When we stepped back from each other she turned to the man at her side. “Kal, this is Hamilton. Hamilton, this is my son, Kal.”
I shook his hand firmly. He looked me in the eye and didn’t flinch.
“It’s nice to finally meet you,” he said.
“Same,” I answered. A quick glance at my mother prodded me to add, “I’ve heard wonderful things about you. Did you recently buy a new house?”
“I did,” Hamilton said with a smile. “Bring on the grandkids.”
My mother beamed at me. “I completely agree. Kal, I hope you meet someone soon. I’d love for all my grandbabies to grow up together.”
Normally I would have laughed that comment off, but instead I searched the crowd until I spotted Jade. “She’s right there, Mom. That’s the woman for me.”
My mother practically hopped with joy. “Why haven’t you told me about her? What’s her name? Oh, she looks so sweet.”
“Her name is Jade and she’s a marine biologist.”
“Hamilton, that’s what Kal always wanted to be.” Her hand came to her mouth. “Jade. Is she the same woman who found out her fiancé—”
“Yes,” I cut in. That was a memory for another time. “She lives in Florida so that’s where I’ll be as well. I’m done dancing. It’s a little scary to be starting over, but I’m not doing it alone. She’s good for me, Mom.”
My mother made a pleased sound. “I’m so happy to hear this.”
Hamilton added, “Sounds like you’re in a good place, Kal.”
I met his gaze. “I am. I finally am.”
We shared a real moment when he added, “Me too. It took me a while to get there, but I finally woke up to what matters most.”
“Family.” My mother looked at Hamilton with . . . love?
He bent and kissed her temple.
Jade joined us then. In a rush, she said, “Riley and Gavin are coming up the path. Judy found the perfect spot to watch the proposal.” To my mother, she said, “Hi, I’m Jade.”
My mother shook her hand then held on to it a moment longer. “Jade, I am so happy you’re here. This is Hamilton.”
They shook hands as well.
“We should all go,” Jade urged.
I paused to offer assistance to my mother then realized Hamilton was already guiding her to where Dominic and his family were gathered. It felt strange, but also good to see her have someone else she could rely on.
Together we walked across the grass to where Judy was frantically waving for us. When we joined them, I said, “Hi, Judy.”
She hugged me. “Hi, Uncle Kal.”
That also felt wonderful but would take some getting used to. I wasn’t sure how to best greet Leonardo, so I let him decide. He hesitated then gave me a hug as well.
When he stood back, he said, “Thank you for letting me use your submarine until you decide if you want it.”
“Leonardo,” Judy said. “You’re not supposed to say that. Remember what Dad said?”
“He said Kal is probably going to change his mind. That’s why I can’t have it. You’re still considering keeping it, right, Kal?”
I was saved from answering him by the appearance of Riley and Gavin on the lawn. A crowd gathered around them. I would have stepped forward to greet her as well, but I didn’t want the moment to be about me. Riley was floating on air.
Together they walked to a water gun booth. Although it was impossible to hear what they were saying, it was clear that they were a couple in love. They both bent over and shot water at targets in the booth. Across from them, two mechanical horses raced toward the finish line, neck and neck, until at the very end Riley’s won.
The booth attendant handed Gavin a stuffed panda that was nearly his size. From what I could tell, the stuffed bear had a velvet ring box in its paws. Gavin fumbled with the bear, looked like he wanted Riley to hold it, then posed the bear in front of him as if it was proposing to Riley.
Riley burst out laughing, and I decided I approved of Gavin. She said something to him that made him toss the bear to the ground behind him before taking her by the hand and holding out the ring. He then said something that had her wiping tears away and nodding.
From a closer position than we were, my mother called out, “Try for twins.”
They both laughed and he slid the ring onto Riley’s finger. The crowd around us erupted in applause that I joined in on as they kissed. It was a beautiful moment and everything I could have wished for Riley.
Just then Riley turned and saw me. Gavin bent to say something to her then she was sprinting toward me. I met her halfway. We hugged tightly.
“You came,” she said against my chest.
“Of course I did. I’d never miss a moment like this.”
With tears flowing down her cheeks, she said, “I know it wasn’t easy for you to come back and some of what’s going on must be confusing, but it’s all good. Tell me you’ll stay long enough to see how good.”
I nodded. “Get back to your fiancé. I’m not going anywhere. We can catch up later.”
She gave me one final hug, then bolted back to Gavin’s side. My mother and Hamilton were some of the first to congratulate them. I stood back with Jade. She took my hand in hers and hugged my arm to her side. “That was beautiful.”
I looked away from my sister to smile down at her. “It really was. I’m glad you were here to share it with me.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Jade
Considering who was hosting the event, I expected it to be spectacular and it was. If your favorite carnival had a baby with the kind of restaurant that refills your water each time you take a sip—this event was like that. What took me by surprise was how friendly everyone was. I’d wondered if I would have anything in common with anyone there but had quickly been reassured. Judy was a twenty-year-old in a rush to be taken seriously as an adult. Leonardo was the sweetest little boy with a remarkable understanding of all things science. After he and I debated why NASA had begun exploring the deep ocean in hopes of unlocking the secrets to space, I told him he sounded ready to teach at the university. His huge smile had been full of the kind of pride another child might have shown after successfully doing a new trick on their bike.
Alethea had come over to greet me as well. I’d braced myself for her to ask me why I wasn’t wearing one of the outfits she’d chosen for me, but she told me I looked amazing and appeared to mean it. I thanked her for all she’d done, and her answer had been a wink and a promise that she’d always be around if I needed her help again.