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Ugh. I thought about what would happen later, when it was tradition for all of the Parker family members to dance the first dance. I would have to find an excuse to either leave before then or conveniently head to the bathroom. My stomach twisted as I thought about it.
Over the years I had been absent from the benefit dinner, my mother had still managed to tell me that Tripp had always danced with either Amelia or Waylynn. Even if he had brought a date, he always danced with one of his sisters. It had brought me to tears because I knew why he never danced with his dates.
The memory of that last dance together rushed to me.
“You look beautiful, Harley.”
“And you look very handsome, Tripp.”
His blue eyes seemed to shine brighter under the twinkle of the hundreds of lights that were strung up around the inside of the tent.
“This first dance is so important for my mother,” he said, glancing over to Melanie.
“You’ve never told me why y’all always start the dance off before any of the guests.”
Tripp gazed down into my eyes. “My grandparents met in a jazz club. My grandfather asked my grandmother to dance to this very song, and during the dance he told her he would never dance with another woman for the rest of his life. She was it. The love of his life. His future.”
I smiled big. “That’s so romantic.”
“That’s why my mom’s only request from us is that we dance to this song with the one person we love with our whole hearts. If we haven’t found them yet, we either don’t dance or we dance with one of our sisters.”
My stomach dropped as our eyes stayed locked.
“I love you, Harley. And just like my grandfather made that promise to my grandmother, I’m making it to you.”
The tightness in my chest caused me to take a deep breath, which reminded me of my rib.
Damn cat.
“Oh my gosh! Harley!” Waylynn’s voice drew my attention to her.
She made her way over to me. She was dressed in a beautiful blue strapless gown that was covered in what looked like small crystals. Her hair was swept up into a French twist and she was carrying two flutes of champagne. The sight of the pale cream, sparkling wine made my fingers itch for it. I was for sure going to need a few more of these…in case I got stuck and had to watch Tripp and Mallory dance.
“You look stunning, Harley,” Waylynn stated, handing me the glass.
Taking it, I gave her a wink. “So do you, Waylynn. You look like you just stepped off the red carpet.”
She laughed. “Well, living in New York all those years I bought my fair share of gowns.”
“I bet,” I said, taking a sip of the liquid courage.
“Where’s Jonathon?” I asked, glancing around, hoping to catch a glimpse of Tripp but not having any luck.
“He’s with Steed and Tripp.”
And that was all she said. I nodded as I looked back over our surroundings. “It’s so beautiful. I had forgotten how amazing this all is.”
Waylynn looked back with a huge grin. “My mother does a great job with this event. Dad lets her go crazy once a year, and let me tell you, she takes advantage of it. Wait until you see what’s for dinner.”
The cost to attend the benefit dinner was three hundred dollars a plate, and was also your donation. Those who didn’t attend the dinner still made donations. My parents had bought three plates every single year since I had turned thirteen—the age when the kids got to join the grown-ups at the big fancy party the Parkers threw every spring.
“I’m starving,” I said, taking another long drink of my champagne.
Waylynn’s brow lifted. “Do you need something stronger?”
“Is it that noticeable?”
The corners of her mouth lifted into a grin. “Slightly.” Hooking her arm with mine, she guided us through the room and toward the bar.
We stopped a few times to say hello to people either Waylynn knew, or we both knew. Most welcomed me home and almost all wished me good luck on my fight for the clinic.
Yep. Small town living. Everyone knows everyone’s business.
As we made our way past the local town gossips, I saw Corina, Paxton, and Amelia standing with Melanie. They were talking to some men I didn’t recognize.
“That is the Worthington family.”
“Who are they?” I asked.
“They are a family from Austin who bought about five thousand acres outside of town off of Ranch Road twenty-three.”
“Please tell me they’re not going to make it into a subdivision.”
She shook her head. “They want to raise cattle on it. They’ve been trying to talk my father into helping them get things started by hiring him as a consultant.”
“Wow. Do they know anything about cattle?”
Waylynn chuckled. “Not a goddamn thing. Which tickles Daddy. But they’re loaded and were all too happy to throw down some serious money for this event. Hence why my mother and sisters are all currently kissing their asses right now.”
