“There will daffodils.”
She squeezed my hand. “I’m so happy for you. And for Dorian. Also, I would like to say I was right about him. You know you have to let me have that.”
I laughed. “As much as I love to be right, I don’t always have to be. And in this case, I’m really glad I wasn’t.”
“As am I.” Seraphina looked into my eyes. “You have no idea how much I admire you. You’ve been strong all these years. Now it’s time for you to be less so. Enjoy yourself. Let yourself have all the love you deserve.”
We hugged again and promised to never fight again. After I said goodbye to her, I got in my car and headed home to Annie and Dorian.
25
DORIAN
I'd hosted dozens of signings in my mother's store and never once been nervous, which made the sweat working down my spine that evening an unusual experience. The place was packed to the shelves. Seraphina drew a crowd, always had, since the days my mom had first invited her to Ink & Anchor for a signing. This afternoon, the line ran past Poetry and curled into Fiction. Seraphina sat at a table signing hardcovers, smiling, asking people to spell their names for her, thanking them for coming.
I stood aside, restocking her table with books when needed. Nothing unusual. Except for my speeding pulse and sweaty palms and the diamond ring I’d placed around Poe’s collar that I planned to present to Delphine. He was currently in the carrier in my office, supremely disgruntled by the poor treatment, but full from the copious treats it took to get him into the carrier in the first place.
Finally, when the last of the customers had their signed book, I put theclosed for a private eventsign up on the window. I pulled down the shades for privacy. I’d planned my marriage proposal for the store, with a party afterward. I’d wanted a way to surprise Delphine, and she would never suspect it to come after Seraphina’s signing.
She had no idea what was coming. At least, I didn’t think so.
Her best friends and their husbands were in attendance, as were the nine kids between them, plus two babies. Lucky and Trevor had to stay home. Poe would not have enjoyed their company.
“What’s going on?” Delphine asked. “Why the sign?”
“We’re having a party,” Annie said, bouncing on her toes.
Tyler appeared with the cat carrier. Poe meowed loudly before Tyler unlatched the cloth door and Poe shot out like he'd been launched from a cannon. He ran straight to Delphine, winding around her ankles, butting his orange head against her shins, demanding to be picked up. “Poe, what are you doing here?” She bent and scooped him up, murmuring something to him before looking at me. “Why is he here?”
“He has an important job,” I said. “So he had to endure the carrier.”
“What job is that?” Delphine asked.
It was then that the diamond ring tied around Poe’s collar caught the light. Delphine gasped. Annie took hold of Poe, slipping off his collar and handing me the ring. I dropped to one knee. Everyone else gathered close.
“Delphine, Poe chose you from the first time he ever met you and, I have to admit, so did I.”
Delphine had her hands over her mouth, wide-eyed and a little pale. For once, I was ahead of this woman.
I held the ring between my thumb and index finger. “Will you marry me?” Poe jumped from Annie’s arms to return to Delphine’s ankle, trying to steal the spotlight as usual.
“Yes, I will marry you.” Delphine’s eyes were glassy as I slipped the ring on her finger.
Everyone cheered, even baby Leo, clapping his chubby hands.
I rose to my feet and grabbed Delphine in for a kiss. “Thank God you said yes. That would have been embarrassing.”
“You know I would say yes.” She smiled up at me.
“Annie and I were pretty sure, as was Poe,” Dorian said.
Delphine looked at Annie. “You were in on this too?”
“Obviously, Mom. Poe’s participation was my idea,” Annie said, grinning. “We weren’t sure Poe would cooperate, but he did good.”
Everyone moved in for hugs and congratulations. I noticed the kids were all clumped together, looking very pleased with themselves, and I overheard Robbie say, “Our work here is done.”
“The party’s moving to our house,” Seraphina said. “We’ve had it catered. Just so everyone knows that I didn’t try to cook and risk poisoning you all.”
