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“Hey, honey. Why aren’t you safe and warm in the house?” He brushed his hands off and removed his gloves. “Are you okay?”
Sage put her arms around him and hugged him. “I’m sorry, Dad.”
He rubbed her back. “For what?”
“For not being one hundred percent supportive of you and Ember.”
He stepped back and looked at her. “I get it, Sage. I understand how you feel about it. And I don’t resent you for having those feelings.”
“I know. Because you’re wonderful and I’m not.”
Jake laughed. “Honey. Where’s this coming from?”
She dropped onto a bale of hay. “Granddad. And Xander.”
“Who?”
“The man at the bakery. He’s never laid eyes on me before and he could tell I wasn’t totally onboard with the wedding. And if he could tell, then obviously you and Ember can tell. I’m just really sorry. I love Ember. I really do.”
“Well, I’m not sure how it’s Xander at the bakery’s business how you feel about your oldman getting married again.”
“It’s not. But that didn’t stop him from pointing it out to me. Apparently he’s Betty’s nephew.”
Jake thought for a moment. “Oh, right. I remember him and his older brother.”
“That’s what Granddad said. They must’ve been very unforgettable.”
“They’d come spend summers here and help Betty in the bakery. They were good kids. Stopped coming after high school, though.”
“How come I don’t remember these good kids?”
“They were a few years older than you. You would’ve been in grade school.”
“Hmm. He’s back. At least until Betty returns.”
Jake crossed his arms over his chest. “So, are we okay with the wedding and all?”
“Yes. We are. It’s going to be great. And I’m sincerely happy for you.”
“Good. Because I’m pretty damn happy for me, too.”
Chapter forty-three
"You never bring a date to a wedding."
The wedding was in two hours, but Sage didn’t trust anyone else to oversee the delivery of the cake. At least, that’s what she told herself. The caterers were more than capable of receiving the cake. But Sage was a little curious to see Xander again.
But he was late. She’d told him to be there by two. It was two-fifteen. When the door to the reception hall opened, she turned to see Xander come through it. He was wearing a dark blue wool peacoat and a beanie, which he took off when he saw her. He tucked it into his coat pocket and attempted to straighten his hair.
She gave him a polite smile. “I thought you got lost.”
He grinned, which made his crooked smile even more so. “That’s hard to do in this town.”
“I assume you brought the cake?”
“Yes. Can you man the doors for me?”
“Sure.” She followed him back outside to theblowing snow. It wasn’t gathering yet, but it would soon.
