Page 173 of Dirty Like Zane
“You know, when I look at him,” Dolly said softly, “I still see that little boy in my kitchen, getting all under my feet and asking me to play with him while I was trying to make dinner. His parents were gone from his life too soon, Maggie. And he just wanted me to play with him. ‘Will you come play with me, Grandma?’ How many times did he ask me that? Must’ve been thousands over the years. I can still hear his little voice, and see that bright look in his eyes. He thought if he turned on the charm, if he was just cute enough, I’d drop what I was doing and come play with him. It usually worked.” She laughed a little and I sniffled, trying not tocry.
Jesus, this party was gonna killme.
I looked at Zane’s grandma as she fixed her blue eyes on me again. She placed her soft hand on myknee.
“All that boy wanted was to be loved,Maggie.”
And I understood her. I knew what shemeant.
Zane had pursued me, for my love, from the moment we met, and I was pretty sure he would’ve pursued me to the ends of the Earth and the end of his days trying to getit.
I took her hand and squeezed gently. She felt so frail, but there was strength in her yet. “I love him, Dolly,” I told her, and it felt like apromise.
She nodded. “All I ever wanted for him was to be happy and to be truly loved.” Then she cupped my face with her free hand. “What more could I wish for him thanyou?”
* * *
After my talk with Dolly,I beelined across the room for Zane, feeling a little lightheaded. I scooped him away from Elle, pulling him aside. He wrapped me gently in his arms like he could sense I needed thesupport.
“You okay?” His eyes were soft as he searched myface.
“I’m great. Just had a little talk withDolly.”
A smile tugged at his lips. “Good?” he asked, still trying to read my face as I blinked back the tears that hadn’t quitefallen.
“Yeah. I can’t believe all the people you brought together here for me. For us.” I gazed up into his eyes. “I noticed my dad’s not here,though…”
“Yeah.” His expression hardened a bit. “I didn’t invite Dizzy. Didn’t want you to think I did and he didn’t show, but I also didn’t want to give him the chance to disappoint you. Kinda wrestled with that decision. Hope I made the rightone?”
“Yes,” I told him. It was sad, but it was the right decision. “I just want to be surrounded by people who really love me rightnow.”
He gathered me tighter in his arms and lowered his face down to mine. “Likethis?”
“Yeah,” I said, and kissed him softly on the lips. “Just likethis.”
“Besides,” he said, “Dizzy was the only one who got to witness our first wedding. Figured it was only fair we give our other friends and family a chance thistime.”
“Fairenough.”
“So where do you want to doit?”
I peered up into his eyes, where I glimpsed the evil gleam I knew all too well. “Uh, doit…?”
“Our vow renewal. I’m ready if youare.”
“Oh. Right.That…”
He grinned at me, and I grinnedback.
* * *
In the end,we decided to renew our vows out on the balcony, under the moon andstars.
There was a long, beautiful balcony loaded with flowers that opened right off the ballroom, overlooking the city and the mountains and the dark of the waters beyond. It was a May evening, the flowers were fragrant and it was a little cool but not cold in mydress.
I was pretty sure no one could even hear us from the ballroom, but it didn’t matter. These vows were for us, a private moment between Zane andI.
And our impromptu wedding party. It was small, just two people, because making it any bigger just got us into a sillyargument.
