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“It took you too long to get of the car,” she teases, and when I pull back, she’s giving me a knowing look.

Yep, she definitely saw me kiss Robin in the car.

“We’re still on time.” I shrug.

She hugs my girlfriend next. “Good to see you again, Robin.”

“You too,” she says, handing Darlene the wine bottle.

“Oh, that’s my favorite,” Darlene exclaims happily.

I give Robin an “I told you so” look as we’re ushered into the house.

Darlene’s house isn’t what you’d typically expect from someone her age. There is no old, outdated furniture or dusty knick-knacks from decades ago littering her shelves. Her furniture is simple but modern, her decor tasteful, and there’s always a big bouquet of flowers making the air fresh and fragrant.

“You have a beautiful home,” Robin says as we follow Darlene into the kitchen.

“Thank you, dear.” Darlene grabs wine glasses from the cupboard and sets them on the white-marble kitchen island. “Everyone want wine?”

“Not me,” I say. Stopping next to Robin, I instinctively wrap my arm around her waist. I can’t stop touching her, and Darlene seems to already know we’re together anyway. I bet she knew before she even saw us kiss in the car. She has too many friends in this town to remain clueless about our relationship.

Darlene loves gossip, and her favorite kind of gossip is anything relationship related. Although she never married herself, she’s always loved love. The idea of two people finding each other and living happily ever after brings her joy. I don’t think I have ever had a phone conversation with her during which she didn’t ask if I was seeing someone.

So I’m not surprised that her eyes twinkle with joy when she notices my hand on Robin’s waist.

“I’ll have some,” Robin says politely.

The two of them chatter away while Darlene finishes cooking dinner. We offer to help, but she simply glares at us at that suggestion. I stay mostly quiet, enjoying listening to them talk and laugh.

My stomach growls when my aunt places a hefty portion of pasta in front of me, the smell of garlic and butter making my mouth water.

We give her a few updates about the funeral while we eat, and she practically glows.

“I am looking forward to my funeral,” she says, chuckling at her statement.

“Words that have never been said before,” I mumble, giving her teasing glare. I’m not worried about her anymore. The last few weeks have shown me that she is in excellent health. “Will you ever tell us why you wanted this?”

“Don’t you have something to tell me?”

“Um,” I say, looking between her and my girlfriend, “Robin and I are dating?”

She throws her hands in the air dramatically. “I know that. I still have vision.”

Robin snickers into her water glass.

“I was talking about your eventful encounters with your father and brother.”

I sigh. She really does know everything. The rumor mill has for sure twisted the details, and I’m not certain whoever told her had the full story right. Yet this evening has been so wonderful, and I don’t particularly want to bring up the encounters.

“Robin yelled at my dad at the gala because he was shit-talking me, and then I punched Chris because he was shit-talking Robin,” I say simply.

“Ugh, men.” Darlene sighs. “You don’t know how to tell a story. I want the juicy details.” She cocks her head toward Robin. “Please, I am dying for a better story.”

While Robin tries to give her a more detailed version of the events, my mind circles back to the night of the gala. I’ve been trying to forget it ever happened, burying it in a deep corner of my brain, but my father’s face flashes before me again. His words cut deeper than I’d like to admit. I have no love or respect for him, yet I can’t let it go. The pure disgust on his face when he called me worthless. I felt like a teenager again—one who always disappointed his parents.

It takes me a second to realize that Darlene asked me a question. I glance back and forth between her and my girlfriend, noticing they both look worried now.

“Sorry, I checked out,” I say, scratching my jaw.