To Sir, with Love

“Just a good old-fashioned talk,” Alec tells me, framing Lily’s face with his hands. “We decided that families come in all shapes and sizes, and if ours stayed a family of two until the end, we’d count ourselves blessed to have each other.”

My eyes water. I want that.

“Of course,” Lily says playfully, “we didn’t mind learning the day after that talk that we’re going to be a family of three.”

Her words don’t register at first. And then all of a sudden they do, along with the previously missed detail that Lily poured me a glass of wine, but not one for herself.

“Wait. Oh my God. Are you pregnant?”

The twin grins on their faces answer the question, and with a happy squeal, I wrap my arms around both of them. “I’m so happy for you. Oh my God, you’re going to be parents! I’m going to be an aunt! I have to learn to sew. And of course plan a Disney movie regimen. And—”

“Gracie?” Alec says, a little distracted, since he’s busy kissing his wife.

“Yeah?”

“We love you. Get out,” Lily answers for him.

“Okay, okay.” But I sneak in one last hug before grabbing my purse and giving them their privacy.

Out on the sidewalk, I can’t stop smiling as I hum “I’ve Got the World on a String.”

Nor can I stop thinking about what Lily said about updating my fairy tale. No more waiting for Prince Charming.

No more waiting, period.

If I want happily-ever-after, I’ve got to go get it.

I pull out my phone and send a message.

To Sir, with a hope and a prayer,

I know we don’t know what this is. I know we’ve been careful not to label it. Screw that. Let’s find out what to label it. Let’s meet. Let’s give this thing a chance.

I have an art gallery opening next Saturday. I’m an artist. Have I ever told you that? There’s so much I want to tell you. So much I want to know about you.

Please come.

Lady

* * *

My dear Lady,

I’ll be there.

Yours,

Sir

Text Message from Gracie to Sebastian

Well. I did it. I asked him to meet, and he said yes. If he turns out to be a weirdo who starts out the conversation asking me what sort of saws cut through bone, this is on your head. :-)

Sebastian to Gracie

Don’t overthink it. I’m sure he’s something perfectly respectable. Like an aspiring magician or a mermaid aficionado.

Gracie to Sebastian

Is mermaid aficionado a real thing? Forget painting! I’m on the wrong career path…

Sebastian to Gracie

Not that I’m not enjoying this stint as Gracie Cooper’s career coach, but how did you get my number?

Gracie to Sebastian

Myron. Told him we’re friends but that I’d accidentally deleted your number from my phone.

Sebastian to Gracie

Are we? Friends?

Gracie to Sebastian

Depends. Will you come to my art opening?

Sebastian to Gracie

I want nothing more, but I have something going on that night.

Gracie to Sebastian

Ah. Finally decide to make it the Right Moment with Ms. Complicated?

Sebastian to Gracie

Actually, yes. Wish me luck that I’m not too late.

Gracie to Sebastian

Ooooh, sorry. I’m going to be needing all the luck in the universe that night to make sure that my guy doesn’t have any weird collections or fetishes.

Sebastian to Gracie

Some friend you are. But you’re right, you DO need all the luck. At least I know what Ms. Complicated looks like. YOUR guy could be super into face paint.

Gracie to Sebastian

With that kind of attitude, you’re never going to get an invitation to the wedding.

Sebastian to Gracie

Wedding? You move fast.

Gracie to Sebastian

Cinderella knew in one night.

Sebastian to Gracie

Cinderella also wore shoes made of glass.

Gracie to Sebastian

Good idea! I’ve got just the dress to pair them with.

Sebastian to Gracie

Are you nervous?

Gracie to Sebastian

About cutting up my feet? A little.

Sebastian to Gracie

Gracie.

Gracie to Sebastian

Heck yes, I’m nervous. I’ve been so worried about him not living up to my expectations that I’m only now starting to realize something far worse: What if I don’t live up to HIS?

Sebastian to Gracie

Impossible.

Sebastian to Gracie

… But in case he seems less than enthralled, you could always cook for him. I’ve heard you make a mean crab cake.

Gracie to Sebastian

Hilarious. I think I liked you better when we were enemies.

Sebastian to Gracie

Ah-ha! But you admit that you DO like me…

Twenty-Five

“Okay, I think the fact that Mystery Man signed it Yours means something,” Keva says, handing my phone back and rummaging in her makeup bag. “That’s the first time he’s signed it that way?”

“No, he always signs it Yours, but it’s usually sort of playful. Like Yours in something relevant to the conversation… ice cream, understanding, constipation—”

“I’m sure he’s never signed it yours in constipation,” a male voice interjects from across the room. “If he has, you should seriously reconsider this meeting.”

“You said if you were going to stay, you wouldn’t interrupt girl talk,” I tell Sebastian with a scowl from my kitchen table where Keva is putting finishing touches on my makeup for the gallery opening in an hour.