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Her explanation resonates deep in my chest, like a gong that’s been struck and the sound waves rippling out for a long moment after. I’m so distracted I barely hear what she says next. “Plus, it’s sustainable. Unlike the bouquet which, while lovely, is fleeting.”
“No,” I insist, meeting her eyes. “I mean yes, the bouquet won’t last forever, but White Glove is a proud partner of a citywide non-profit. With the last-minute rush of this event I didn’t think to ask Garrett if he wanted to take part but if he does—if you do—the flowers from this event will be sent to a hospital or a nursing home for a patient or resident to enjoy for a few more days.”
Kendall sets the bouquet back in the vase and takes both of my hands in her soft grip. “That,” she says, with a tear in her eye, “Sounds like the perfect way to spread the joy of my wedding day.”
“I’ll make it happen.” I squeeze her hands and relish the ease that has emerged between us. Kendall exudes kindness and generosity and is exactly the type of woman I’d love to call a friend. It’s hard to believe she was a stranger only moments ago, and I can’t make sense of the feeling deep in my gut, but it seems that Garrett’s daughter is someone who was brought into my life for a reason.
“I know another way you can make me happy.”
“Anything.” I respond automatically, although I instantly regret it when a mischievous look crosses her face.
“Save a dance for my dad.”
I walked into that one, but after meeting Kendall, the bright soul Garrett raised once his wife passed away, and getting her unspoken blessing, it somehow feels like the first day of spring instead of the middle of a cold, harsh winter.
“I will.”
CHAPTER8
GARRETT
The doorto Kendall’s childhood bedroom is closed, but she says, “Come in,” in her familiar sing-song voice when I knock. She is standing tall in her dress in front of a full-length mirror that came from God knows where. My eyes find hers in the reflection and my heart leaps into my throat.
I pull at my suddenly way too tight collar as a roller coaster of emotions renders me speechless. My little girl is getting married in a matter of minutes. For years, it seemed like this day would never come, like it was far off in the distant future, something only to daydream about. But here we are and now that she’s all grown up and ready to take the next step, it feels like just yesterday she was a baby I could cradle in my arms.
Two of her best friends are flopped on the bed sipping champagne, but they excuse themselves and slip past me out the door. I’m grateful for the privacy. “Kendall,” I start, but my voice is croaky and strangled. I clear my throat and start again, stepping further into the room. “Kendall—”
“Dad.”
The single word is my undoing. My brilliant, beautiful, compassionate, fun-loving little girl will always be mine, but she’s about to officially have another man in her life. She’ll take him to be her lawfully wedded husband, and she’s not even batting an eye. She’s calm and strong and certain. Her mother would be so proud.
She spins and slips into my arms, still fitting perfectly under my chin. I clasp her to me, not giving one lick if her makeup smudges my suit or if the hug wrinkles her dress. She wouldn’t care either and that’s another reason I love her so. Because Kendall, despite suffering a loss just like I did, never stopped loving with her whole heart and soul.
“Don’t worry,” she mumbles against me with a sniffle. “The photographer you no doubt overpaid for already took my pictures.”
I chuckle and close my eyes, taking a deep breath and trying to burn this moment in my mind. A moment I’m blessed to have and never want to forget. “Justin is a lucky man.”
She squeezes tight and then pulls back enough to look up at me. Her gray eyes, the one feature she got from me, are sparkling with delight. “Either that or he’s completely bananas, but let’s go with lucky.”
I laugh and shake my head and with that the tension is gone, flowing from my shoulders like a balloon slowly losing its helium. “I have something for you.”
“Is it a pony?”
“I’d get you ten ponies if you’d like, but that’s not what I have for you now.”
I reach into both pockets and hold out my hands, fists closed, face down like I’ve done a thousand times before. “This one,” she says, tapping my left knuckles. I turn my hand over and open it to reveal…nothing.
“This one,” she says with a giggle, tapping my right knuckles. This time, when I flip my hand and unfurl my fingers, her shiny gold wedding band is in my palm.
“I wanted you to see this before I gave it to Justin, or whoever’s going to hold the rings for the two of you.”
She picks it up and examines it, turning it over in her fingers and bringing it close to her face. “Forever and always,” she whispers, reading the inscription. “Just like mom used to say. I love you Kendall and will forever and always.”
Every muscle in my body tenses at the words I haven’t heard in ten years. Kerry used to say the same thing to me. I love you Garrett and will forever and always. I brush away the moisture from the corner of my eye. “It was exactly what she used to say. And it’s engraved on her wedding band.”
“Oh, Dad,” Kendall says, fighting back her own tears.
She comes in for another hug and I’m choked up but admit, “It’s days like this I miss her most.”
