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I grin. “You’re going to hang around though, right?”
“That’s the plan.” With a hand to my arm, he pulls me to a stop. “The photographer is waving at you.”
Photographs are taken and eventually the photographer gets the hint that I’m impatient and stands back.
Sighing heavily, I turn back and watch as my brother and his wife are shown to their seats. As much as I’d wanted to exclude them today, in the end it wasn’t something I could do. We have only just been getting back on track until Jenny became vocal with her thoughts on Sirena. But nevertheless, my brother has been warned to keep Jenny well away from Sirena, and me, so hopefully it will be smooth sailing.
“Sorry we’re late,” Rachel, I think it was, says dashing past with her sister, Paige, and cousin Ryan.
Ryan I do know because he’s the assistant manager at Kenza, the nightclub that his father, Ruben, started many years before. Once a year they hold a homeless dinner around thanksgiving, which I’ve donated to for the past four years.
Their cousin, Alexander, follows with a furious look on his face, but smiles in passing. It doesn’t meet his eyes as he quickly takes his seat beside his sister, Olivia. She gives him a look before a frown mars her brow. He shakes her off.
“I think I’ve met the guy in the dark grey suit before. Can’t place him though,” Derek mumbles to himself.
“That’s Alexander McKenzie. He’s th
e man behind Nirvana,” I supply the information, jogging his memory.
“He’s young.”
“But knows what he’s doing. They all do at McKenzies.”
“Hmm.” He mutters. “I think you’re being summoned again.
I glance over and see Michael McKenzie trying to get my attention, while he helps an elderly man into a chair. “I think that’s Sirena’s grandfather.”
Elias McKenzie is sitting with Michael, and looking at them both together it’s obvious that they’re father and son. Even though Elias is wrinkled with age, he’s still a handsome man, and the old devil knows it.
“You better take good care of my granddaughter,” he says in greeting. “She’s headstrong that one, but has a heart bigger than Texas.”
“You have my word,” I shake his offered hand, “that she’ll be treated like a princess.”
Michael smirks, his eyes full of mirth. “I do believe that she’s about to have everything she’s ever wanted.” He’s thoughtful, and then adds, “My daughter has always gone after what she wants without thinking of the consequences. She’s needed to have the few bumps in the road so that she can finally get it right for once.”
I’m lost for words listening to my future father-in-law, and only manage a choked, “Thank you,” before Derek snags my attention.
26
Sirena
“I remember my wedding as though it was yesterday,” my grandma says with a wistful smile on her lips. “Elias was so handsome in his neatly pressed blue jeans and white button down.” She chuckles. “It was a relief actually because minutes before I saw him, my mother was trying to give me the birds and the bees talk.” She takes my hand, mirth in her gaze. “I thought it best to stay silent about the fact that I probably knew more than she did.”
I chuckle and feel a blush starting to work it’s way up my neck.
“Sirena probably does too,” Charlotte mumbles.
“Considering she’s carrying my first great grandchild, that’s a certainty,” grandma says. “I never thought I’d live to see the day when one of my grandchildren got married and started a family of their own.” She wipes at a tear. “I can’t tell you how happy it makes me.”
“Oh Grandma.” I take her hand and hold it while she pulls herself together, which she does with a smile.
“You have us all teary eyed.” I reach up to dab at a stray tear just as my mom catches my wrist.
“I’ll mop you up before you ruin your make up.” Mom tilts my face up to her, but grandma hasn’t finished.
“I remember when your mom and dad first met. Michael couldn’t keep his hands to himself.”
I glance at Charlotte who has the same look of horror on her face that I’m sure is reflected on mine.
