Page 110 of Dreaming of Dawson

“I guess there was always something else… refurbishing the bar, making it work, fixing up the apartment.”

“So you never discussed it?”

“Of course we did. Not all the time, but it came up in conversation every once in a while. Neither of us was making excuses. It was just there was always a reason to put it off for another six months, or another year. Stevie was only thirty-two when she left me. It felt like we still had time.”

“So it wasn’t that you didn’t want to?”

“No. Not at all…” I stop talking, realization dawning, or rather hitting me like a freight train. “Hold on a second. Are you trying to tell me something?”

“Like what?”

“Like that you’re pregnant?”

“I’m on birth control, in case you’ve forgotten.”

“I haven’t, but I also know it’s not infallible.”

“It is in this case. I’m not pregnant.” I feel slightly disappointed about that, but I hold it in, because I’ve got another question. “Can I take it you’d like to be? Is that what you’re saying?”

“I guess what I’m saying is that I need to know you’d like me to be… one day. I mean, there’s no rush…”

“There isn’t? We’ve rushed everything else. Why should we make an exception for this?”

She smiles and says, “Has it occurred to you that maybe I’m not ready to share you yet?”

“That’s supposed to be my line, isn’t it?”

“Maybe, but it’s nice to know we’re on the same page.”

I lean down, my lips hovering over hers. “Always, Mace.” I close the gap and kiss her, holding her close, only pulling back when I realize the room has gone quiet. We both glance around and notice everyone else is sitting down. Tanner’s standing at the front, looking across at us, a smile etched on his lips, and even Nash is grinning at me. They’re wearing matching gray suits, and I chuckle, shaking my head at the pair of them, and with Macy blushing to the roots of her hair, we make our way to our seats in time for the ceremony to begin.

“Can you explain something to me?” Macy says as everyone stands, applause ringing around the barn, while Tanner andZara walk, arm in arm, down the aisle together as husband and wife.

“What’s that?”

“Why doesn’t Zara know anyone in the town? Peony mentioned it earlier, but I didn’t understand what she meant.”

“Zara only moved here in the fall, babe,” I say, taking her hand in mine.

“She came here to be with Tanner?” she asks.

“No. They didn’t know each other before she arrived here. They met last September, right before she started her job at the elementary school… the one Sabrina got her fired from.”

“Are you saying they only met five months ago, and they’re getting married already?”

“Sure. Tanner proposed to her within a few days of them meeting.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah.” I lean in and she looks up, surprise written all over her face. “That’s the thing with love, Mace… when you know, you know.”

She giggles, shaking her head. “Are you gonna introduce me to them?” she asks.

“Of course.”

I crane my neck, looking toward the back of the room. Everyone is milling around now, talking, but I can see Tanner clearly. He’s with Zara, their heads bent close together, and keeping a firm hold on Macy’s hand, I pull her through the crowd, coming to a stop in front of them.

“Macy, I’d like you to meet my oldest friend, Tanner, and his wife, Zara.”

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