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They pull apart and my mother truly smiles at Sandy. Something deep inside me unclenches. I was worried about this moment, but I didn’t have to be. Both women love me and are putting any past weirdness behind them for me.

“The bride and groom are here!” Silas hollers from somewhere.

We turn to see Elias walking Nora into The Icehouse. They wearing matching looks of awe as they take in all the work Sandy put in to make this place look like a magical winter wonderland. Nora tears up and then hurries over to her mother. They hug and laugh and even cry a little.

“This is amazing,” Elias says as he comes to shake my hand. “Thank you for being a part of this.”

We chat a bit about the food and music. Then, Elias’s dad finds the mic and clears his throat.

“Thank you all for coming,” Rudy says. “We’ll get to eating all this amazing food soon. I just wanted to welcome everyone.” He beams at the crowd. “Looks like all of Budgie Bay decided to show up. We’re all just one big happy family.”

People clap and cheer.

I realize I’m finally feeling a part of this family-like community. All my life it felt like we were outsiders, but now I’m here with them all.

“While we all help ourselves to the food, why don’t you all take turns coming up to the mic to tell stories about Nora and Elias?”

Silas raises his hand and then saunters over to the microphone first. I try to listen, but I’m too focused on watching my beautiful pregnant daughter as she grins at each person who goes to speak. At one point, when she starts to cry, I find myself tearing up. Sandy hooks her arm around mine and leans her head on my arm. Her touch comforts me.

After we’ve eaten, Rudy gives the itinerary for the rest of the evening. There’ll be a little dancing, then they’ll cut their cake, and finally they’ll do family pictures.

The first dance is for Elias and Nora. He holds her tight against his chest, cradling her like she might break if he lets go. I love how intensely this man loves her. I know they’re going to be okay. They’ll have a long and happy marriage. They deserve it, too.

When the song ends, Rudy calls me and Sandy up, but not to dance with each other. Sandy is whisked off by Elias and I find my girl. Nora beams at me when I hook her waist with my arm and clasp her hand with mine.

“Never thought I’d have a daddy/daughter dance,” she says, blue eyes twinkling. “Thank you.”

I keep our movements slow so I can stare at her. “It’s going down as one of the best moments of my life.”

“Mine too.”

“I’m so proud of you,” I tell her, voice choking up. “So very proud.”

“That means a lot,” she murmurs. Then, she sighs happily. “Life is good, Dad. Is life good for you?”

I glance over at her mother before dragging my attention back to Nora. “I’m going to marry her. That okay with you?”

She laughs. “Umm, yeah. Better late than never.”

“We won’t wait long. It’s long overdue to have her as my wife.”

Nora hugs me and then rests her cheek on my chest. Her hair smells like cherries. I memorize the scent.

Far sooner than I’d like, the song ends. I give her a kiss on her forehead. As everyone joins us on the dance floor, I find Sandy and pull her to me.

“This night is magical,” she says, glittery blue eyes on mine.

“It sure is.”

I kiss her deeply and don’t even care when my brothers give me crap about it.

Sandy yawns and it takes everything in me not to scoop her up to take her home. There’s still a lot of cleanup to do.

When I catch Silas’s gaze, he gestures to Sandy and then juts a thumb up toward the ceiling. The message is loud and clear. Take Sandy upstairs and they’ll handle the cleaning. I give him a nod and a smile of thanks.

“Come on,” I say as I grab Sandy’s hand. “Let’s take a break.”

She nods, grateful for the reprieve, and follows me up the stairs. Once upstairs, I walk us over to the only chair and sit down. A squeal escapes her when I pull her into my lap. She curls up in my arms, lips brushing over my neck.