“You invited Brendan?”
“I didn’t invite anyone. Your mother did, silly.”
“Right.”
“My mom and dad are on their way,” he says. “Hey, is Ava here yet?”
“Her pink head is probably bobbing around here somewhere,” I say. “She always brings the baked goods.”
“Awesome. I’ll do some mingling, then.” Brendan smiles. “You lovebirds behave yourself.”
Ashley squeezes my upper arm after Brendan takes off. “Hey, there’s something I want to ask you.”
“Yeah?”
“Your dad whispered something in your ear when he hugged you last night after we got home.”
Don’t let the past rule you. Be happy, son.
“He did. He told me to be happy.” I deliberately leave out the part about my past. I have to tell her eventually, but our wedding reception certainly isn’t the time or place.
“That’s all I want,” Ashley says. “For us both to be happy.”
I trail my index finger over her soft cheek. “Me too. I love you, Ash.”
“I love you too, babe.” She smiles mischievously. “You ready to party?”
“You should know by now I’m no partier. But you have fun.”
“We’ll both have fun.” She pulls me toward the crowd of people gathered outside in the yard and around the pool area.
“Ash…”
“They’re all here for us. We have to make the rounds, Dale.”
She’s right, of course. I know the drill. God knows I’ve had to feign extroversion during wine tastings and business conferences. And my mom and Aunt Marj’s big parties like this one.
Donny is talking to the middle Pike sister, a friend of Henry’s. I’m ready to tell him she’s too young for him, but then I realize she’s older than Ashley is, so they’re only six years apart at most. I robbed the cradle for sure.
But so did Dad. And Uncle Bryce really did.
What does it matter? We love each other.
But we know next to nothing about each other. What kind of parents will we make?
Looking at my huge-ass family, I can’t help but think about children. Ashley and I haven’t talked about a family. At all. She’s young, so it’s not something we have to decide tomorrow, but what if she wants kids?
I’ve never thought I’d be a good father. I’m too messed up inside.
But if Dad’s been through something similar… He’s a great dad. A really great dad.
I need to talk to him. Alone. And tonight, if possible.
For the next hour, though, Ashley and I make our rounds with the guests, letting them offer congratulations. We do a lot of introductions for Willow and Dennis. The two of them are so bright and talkative that they fit right in.
I spy Brendan with Ava, laughing. Will they become an item? Good thing Ava’s pink hair is naturally brown, like her mother’s. I’d hate to think of what Murphy’s orange and Ava’s pink would do to a kid.
The band—yes, Mom and Aunt Marj hired a local rock band, Dragonlock, to perform—is setting up, and somehow Dad and Uncle Ryan get their hands on the mic.
“Hey,” Dad says. “Your attention, please.”
Most look toward the makeshift stage, where he stands, though some continue to murmur among themselves.
“Thanks to all of you for coming tonight. It’s been a rough week here on the western slope, not just for us but especially for our neighbors the Pikes. Frank, Maureen, we’re here for you.”
Applause.
“But tonight we’re coming together to celebrate something wonderful. I’m thrilled to congratulate my oldest, Dale, on his marriage to Ashley White!”
Thunderous applause.
“And we’re thrilled to have Ashley’s mother, Willow, here tonight, and her brand-new husband, Dennis James. Please give them a Snow Creek welcome!”
And again, applause.
“I’ll hand it over to Ryan, who’ll propose the official toast with his sparkler. Everyone, be sure to get a glass.”
Servers bring around trays of bubbly while Uncle Ry raises his glass.
“Dale is my protégé, as you all know. I’ll be retiring at the end of this season, and he’ll be the master winemaker here at Steel Vineyards. This season, we welcomed an intern. Ashley is not only an ‘almost doctor’ of wine, but she also did something we weren’t sure anyone could ever do. She captured Dale’s heart.”
Applause. Fucking huge applause.
Does everyone think I was that incapable of a relationship?
Apparently so.
“So raise your glasses to Dale and Ashley! And to Willow and Dennis! We wish you all the happiness in the world!”
Everyone sips in unison, and the murmuring begins again.
Dragonlock warms up.
“Tell me about this band,” Ashley says.
“They’re pretty good. The lead singer is Jesse Pike of the Pike winery. He’s Donny’s age and the brother of Callie Pike, who Donny’s been hanging on all night. She’s twenty-six, went to school with Henry.”
“The Pikes, huh? They seem in pretty good spirits.”
Ashley’s right. The Pikes lost way more than we did, but they’re moving forward, with our help. My father and his brothers are so generous. I need to remember that when they’re gone. When I’m in charge of the winery, Bree’s in charge of the orchard, and my cousins are in charge of the ranch.