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“Oh God,” I whisper.
Beside me, Jude chuckles.
“Don’t you dare laugh.”
“Told you they’re loud.”
“You absolutely did not.”
Lily comes toward us, wiping her hands on the apron tied around her waist, and pulls me into a hug before I can prepare myself for it.
“You came!”
I laugh against her shoulder. “I said I probably would.”
“Probably is not yes.” She releases me and takes both my hands, looking me over with a smile. “Oh, look at you. You look beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
“And sunflowers.” She touches one of the embroidered flowers at my waist. “What a lovely dress. Jude used to bring me sunflowers when he was little, you know. He'd disappear into the fields and come back with his little hands full of them.”
I glance at Jude, trying to imagine a younger version of the grumpy man standing beside me, proudly carrying flowers for his mama.
He looks away, and I bite back a smile.
Interesting.
Before I can ask him about it, another voice comes from the table.
“Are we going to meet her or is Mama keeping her for herself?”
Lily waves whoever it is off. “Give me a minute, Cas!”
Cas.
I look toward the table.
The serious one.
Damiano definitely told me about him.
A laugh escapes me before I can stop it.
Jude looks down at me. “What?”
I shake my head as I look at the collection of people waiting for us.
“Nothing.” My smile grows. “I just realized Damiano wasn’t exaggerating.”
“About?”
I look at him.
“Any of you.”
Jude shakes his head, but I catch the smile before he turns away.
“Come on,” Lily says, slipping her arm through mine. “Before these rascals start complaining that I’m starving them.”