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God, I loved that man.
The rest of the chairs were filled with both strange and familiar faces. Hal, the cook from the diner. The owner had approved closing the diner until the show was done, and then he was offering an ice cream cone special. The couple who owned the theater were in attendance. Cashiers and stockers from the grocery store filled the seats. Attendants at the gas station. People I hadn’t seen out of their cars but who would wave as they drove by when I walked between Thelma’s place and Cody’s house or sat in the park.
I rubbed my hands together. “Welcome.” The word came out tenuous. Shaky. My cheeks heated.
I was a performer. I showed my tits to crowds every night for how many years? I could do this. “I’m glad you could make it. The kids are very excited to show off their skills, and they have worked so hard. I’m impressed with each and every one. At the end of each dance, every performer would like to have a moment to speak.” I clapped my hands together. “Now, without further ado, it’s my honor to present ‘Summer Dreams.’”
I turned to the side and flung my arm out to welcome them on stage.
Vienne was in the wings. She hit a button on her phone, and music streamed from the Bluetooth speakers we positioned on either side of the curtain. I backed off the stage once Grayson moved. My smile was going to swallow my face. My nerves were gone. Only happiness was in its place.
This.
This was what I was supposed to be doing with my life. And the man I wanted to do it with was in the audience.
If I could give another performance, my mom would be in the audience.
Life couldn’t be better.
* * *
Cody
I hadn’t heard about the kids giving a speech, but after the first dance, the weak spotlight hit Grayson as he stepped forward. “I’d like to dedicate this dance to my mom. She liked to work hard, and I think she’d be really proud of how hard I worked.”
Goddamn. Emotion slammed into my chest, stopping my breath. Grayson was right. Meg would be so fucking proud of her little dancers. And Tova had given him the stage to acknowledge it.
I snuck a glance at Curtis and Lauri. Their eyes were shining, as I was sure mine were.
After the second dance, it was Ivy’s turn. She executed a perfect curtsy. “I’d like to dedicate this performance to my mom because she used to braid my hair the best. And I’d like to dedicate it to my dad for trying so hard to braid like Mommy.”
I chuckled, which helped me keep the swell of pride and appreciation and grief at bay. Tova peered out, her mouth puckered like she was nervously chewing on the inside of her cheek. I caught her eye and dipped my head. She was fucking perfect, and I’d have to spend my life showing her.
The rest of the kids’ numbers went by with equally sweet dedications. Each kid received a giant round of applause.
Grayson looked confident and happy in a way I’d never seen, not when he was playing with his toys or when he was at the ranch. Ivy’s boisterous energy had found a natural outlet, and my kids were the stars of the show. The parents and families of the other kids probably thought the same about their kids, but I didn’t care. Mine were stars.
This summer had been good for them. It’d been good for me. For all of us. We’d found our place, and I found someone I wanted to spend my life with.
Tova felt like coming home. To a home I hadn’t ever experienced. Meg and I had been compatible and loyal, but we didn’t fit together. We’d had to change ourselves—our ideals—to have a life with each other.
Tova and I could be ourselves with each other.
“I’m so excited to see Catherine,” Aggie whispered next to me.
My sister was barely pregnant, but whenever I saw her, I was so damn grateful to be a part of her life. That my kids and I would be right on the other side of the road and across a pasture from her. Our kids would grow up knowing each other.
Catherine tiptoed out as new music started. Vienne slipped from behind the curtain to sit in a free chair next to Sutton. The girl would be babysitting my kids when I took Tova on date nights. More signs this community was perfect.
Tova would be in a dart league with Vienne, my sister, and Sutton. And after tonight, she’d have so many damn signups for her dance academy she’d wonder why she ever worried it wouldn’t work.
Christ, I was so looking forward to my life with her.
When Catherine was done, she dedicated her performance to her mom. Vienne snuck behind the curtain, dabbing at her eyes, and another melody played. An instrumental tune that made me think of summer, birds singing, and sunshine.
I’d get to see the woman of my dreams doing what she loved.
Tova twirled out, her skirt swirling around her long legs. Between her shirt and the fabric of her skirt, she was like a ribbon caught in a graceful wind, moving to the beat and evoking emotion from the audience. Happiness. Contentedness. Relaxation.
