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“She’s not the kind of kid who asks me to buy her stuff.”In fact, she’s just the opposite—she asks for so little.“I don’t mind doing it.”
Gracie raised her eyebrows. “Okay.” At the dressing room, she lifted the heavy velvet drape to let Kinny in, and then let it drop closed behind them.
He went to sit on the pink tufted ottoman. Next to him, a woman said, “I’m surprised to see a groom in a bridal salon, but I guess the times have changed. Back in my day, we cared about all those rules—don’t let the groom see the wedding gown before the wedding. But your generation’s got its priorities right.”
Before she could go on, he said, “Sorry, I’m not the groom. I’m just here to get my daughter a dress.”
“Oh, I thought that was your fiancée. I should learn to keep my mouth shut. Last Christmas, my daughter-in-law walked in the door. She had a little pooch, and I knew they were trying to have kids, so I said, Yay! Congratulations! Why didn’t you tell me? My daughter-in-law gave me a look that made me shrivel up inside. Turned out she wasn’t pregnant. She’d just gained weight.” The woman rolled her eyes. “My bad.”
“No, it’s fine.”
“I saw the way you looked at her. Maybe youshouldmarry her.” The woman laughed.
A vivid image popped into his mind, and in that one instant, he could see his life laid out for him.
Gracie’s cheek dusted with flour, her hips swinging to the beat in their home.
Home.
Me, Kinny, Gracie. He didn’t know if Grace wanted more kids, but he sure as hell did. He wanted them with her. He wanted kids with her bright, fierce, compassionate, and fun spirit. Her creativity, and her zest for life.
A curtain whisked open, and a young woman stepped out in a massive gown. She had a huge smile for her mom, who stood up. “Is this it? Is this the one?”
Her daughter nodded.
“Mazel tov. You found it.” As the clerk led the woman over to the dais for a fitting, the woman turned to Jaime. “We’ve been to three states, thirty shops, and she’s tried on hundreds of dresses. When you know, you know.”
A voice inside his mind said,I know.
It was both a thrilling and an unnerving thought. He got up and paced to the window. Gazing out at the foot traffic, the horse-drawn carriage clopping along the cobblestone road, he could only marvel,Do I really get a life this fucking beautiful?
“Daddy?”
He spun around to find Gracie and Kinsley stepping out of the dressing room. Those two together, the happiness shining in their eyes, sealed it for him. He headed over.
Yes, dammit. I can have this life.
Once he reached them, he bowed. “Princess.” And then, he asked Grace, “Excuse me. Have you seen my daughter? I thought she went into that dressing room with you, but I’m obviously mistaken.”
Kinsley’s smile stretched across her face, lighting up her eyes. “It’sme, Daddy.”
“No, that’s not possible. You see, my daughter’s a little girl. Not a princess like you.”
Gracie curtsied. “Sir, may I present Princess Kinsley Dupree?”
Clapping a hand over her mouth, Kinsley giggled.
The clerk joined them. “Oh, look at you. That dress fits perfectly.”
“I’m a princess.”
“Yes, I see that. And is this your prince?” She gestured to Jaime.
“He’s not aprince.” Kinsley giggled like the idea was absurd.
“Wait, how come I’m not a prince?” he asked.
His daughter flicked her hand toward him. “Princes don’t look like that. You’re the Beast.”
