Page 40 of Before We Say I Do

“But, truthfully, are you okay? Do you need therapy? Because Kyle knows someone.”

Mr. Jones looked to Kyle, and Kyle nodded.

“I have an excellent recommendation if you’re willing to give therapy a try.” Kyle referred to the therapist he used to work through the reasons for his dreams of Trevor, his late brother.

“I would like that.”

London’s heart felt light suddenly. There was light at the end of the tunnel and she was profoundly filled with hope.

“But in the meantime, I don’t want you to ever worry about me again.”

“That’s just simply not possible.”

“Okay, well, not in this way. I realize I’ve affected you so much that you’ve been visiting Dexter.” Mr. Jones grimaced, and London’s eyes fell. “I’m sorry I put you in a position that made you go to him for answers. I really dropped the ball there.”

Mr. Jones paused, lifted his nose to the air and sniffed, his eyes squinting. “Baby girl, are you high?”

London’s eyes lurched, and muffled laughter could be heard from the patio. Mortified, London held on to her embarrassment just as the patio doors slid open and Carla traipsed back inside, her laugh now a chuckle.

“I’m sorry for interrupting,” Carla said, “but please, don’t pay me no mind. I was just leaving.”

Sashaying past them all, Carla took a glance at London and winked and laughed again on her way out the room towards the door.

“Hey!” London shouted.

Carla paused, then turned back around.

“Call me when you get home, so I’ll know you made it safely.”

“I gotcha. Have a good night, folks.”

With that, Carla left the room, and the closing of the door indicated her departure.

“I’ll be in the back when you need me,” Kyle said, deciding to give Mr. Jones and London some privacy.

London watched him leave, and her stomach tightened. Kyle had postponed the wedding, and although he said the ceremony would only be pushed back a few hours, London couldn’t read him and that scared her.

Mr. Jones squeezed London’s hands, bringing her attention back to him.

“You should go to your husband. You two need to be together. I want to let you know before I leave, I will be there to walk you down the aisle, and I’ll be in…” Mr. Jones took a step back and twirled on his feet, a smile on his face as he snapped his fingers and pointed at her, “…my usual silly state of mind.”

Low laughter tinkled from London. She was genuinely happy about that.

“Thank you, Daddy. You will get through this, and I’ll be here for you every step of the way.”

He waved her off. “Listen to you, sounding like the adult.”

“Dad, I am an adult.”

“Humph.”

Her smile was replaced with a question. “How did you get here?”

“My son-in-law. But your mother is picking me up, and she should be here anytime now.”

A horn honked outside, and Mr. Jones smiled. “That’s probably her now.”

He turned to walk toward the door, and London followed him as she murmured.

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