Page 165 of Fire and Icing

“I’ll see you at five,” I say, shutting the door behind me.

“I meant to tell you,” Alana says while we’re all getting into their rental car. “You’re obviously invited to the wedding.”

“Oh, thank you. Dustin had said that, but it means a lot coming from you directly.”

“Of course. Who knows, one day we might be family.”

Mitzi claps her hands together. “Two sisters! I feel like all my childhood wishes on stars were answered. You two have no idea what it was like growing up with two brothers.”

“I can only imagine,” I say, thinking of Dustin as a boy.

We drive through the neighborhood and through the downtown, past a gated community where some of the wealthier families in town live. Then we head into a section of town where a lot of the older houses have been converted into law offices or accounting offices, one is even the dental office. The trees are nearly finished losing their fall leaves, and people have fall decor out on their porches.

There’s even a restored Victorian home that’s been split so the bedrooms are a bed and breakfast. The downstairs in the back still has a living room for those guests, but the front parlor and library have been converted into dining areas so they can serve brunches and lunch, and occasionally open to serve a couples romantic dinner by reservation only.

We park in front of The Dogwood House and get out of the car. A cool breeze whips around, lifting my hair. I tug my sweater around myself and follow Gran up the front porch stairs.

“We thought we’d take you to high tea,” Mitzi says.

“And then we’re all getting mani-pedis!” his mom exclaims.

“Even me,” Gran says. “Lord knows how long it’s been since someone painted my toenails. I almost feel bad for the gal who has to do the job.”

“Nonsense,” Mrs. Reed says. “You’re a girl like the rest of us. And all girls need pampering now and then.”

“I don’t know about you,” Mitzi leans in toward me. “But I rarely take time to do things like this.”

“Rarely just about sums it up for me,” I confess. “But I’m getting better at it now that your brother is in my life. He’s always telling me to take time off or to do something special I would normally not indulge in.”

“That’s so wild to me,” Mitzi says. “He’s always been thoughtful in his own way, but I’ve never seen this side of him until you came along. He’s so protective, and you can tell he thinks about you and what you need all the time.”

“He really does.”

“Well, you’re definitely the only woman I’ve ever seen him put out this kind of effort for.”

“Really? I’d think he would have been super affectionate to anyone he was interested in.”

“He’s always been extra. But not in that way. If he likes someone, they know it. But you’re different. That’s how I know you’re the one.”

I smile at her. It might be odd to hear about Dustin’s previous relationships. But I don’t mind. He knows about Drew. And Drew means nothing to me. I’ve put all that behind me too. It didn't take me long to agree to spend some time with Evan. He and Sydney are serious about their relationship. He apologized to me and said he never liked how his family treated me, but he didn’t want to go against his mom, so he stayed neutral. I took his neutrality as a sign of agreement. Since we talked that first time, he’s been around to see Syd during our workdays. He pops in and takes her to lunch. Dustin and I have even been on double dates with them.

This town’s too small to hold a grudge. Not that people don’t. There are plenty of generational feuds here and there, but Evan and I aren’t going to be one of those.

Gran and Dustin’s relatives and I enjoy our high tea, laughing and getting to know one another better. Gran shares a few embarrassing stories about me, and Mitzi and Mrs. Reed tell afew choice stories about Dustin. Afterward, we drive to the salon to have our mani-pedis.

They drop me off at my house afterward and I freshen up while everyone sets up for the party in my back yard. I’m under strict orders to stay upstairs until I’m summoned to come down. Whatever Dustin’s up to, it’s obviously somewhat big. Not just baking me a cake—which feels big enough considering what it means he had to go through to learn how to actually bake something.

The sound of the front door opening and shutting and people talking filters up the stairs and I’m so tempted to look out my window or just go downstairs, but I know how important surprising me is to Dustin, so I stay put. I try to read, but my mind won’t focus.

Finally, it’s almost five and Syd comes upstairs.

“We’re ready for the birthday girl,” she says.

“You know all the secrets, don’t you?”

“I do!” She’s giddy.

“Should I be nervous?”

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