Page 84 of Resisting Fate (Hope Falls: Brewed Awakenings 3)

When they were safely out of earshot, Nonna released his ear and wagged her wrinkled finger at him. “Where have you been?!”

“My mom showed up. I had to take her to rehab,” he explained thinking she might understand.

“Why don’t you call and tell anyone where you are? I call, I call, and it just go to your mail voice.”

Josh knew that it was not the time to crack a smile, but he did think it was ridiculously endearing when his grandmother mixed up phrases like voicemail, or when she did things like call UPS ups, like ups and downs.

“I forgot my phone at home.”

Somehow, like magic, she produced a rolled-up newspaper from her purse and the next thing he knew he was getting swatted upside the head with it.

“Stupid, stupid boy! You make us all worried sick. Caleb worried, I worried, and sweet, sweet Audrey worried.”

He wasn’t thrilled with being called a stupid boy, but he loved that Nonna had included Audrey in the group.

“I know. I’m going to make it up to her. I promise. I’m sorry. Can we please go in and watch the wedding of my hopefully future sister-in-law?”

Nonna’s face brightened. “Sister-in-law?”

“If Audrey will have me.” He hoped he hadn’t fucked things up too bad. But he had faith in what he and Audrey had.

Nonna patted his cheek with a smile on her face. “Stupid, stupid boy, you finally smarten up.”

He smiled. Nonna had no idea how right she was. Over the past thirty-six hours he’d had several revelations about himself, his childhood, and how much that had affected his adulthood.

“Come on, we’re going to miss it.” Nonna said as if he’d been the one to drag her out.

When they walked back inside, they slid into their seats undetected, and he looked up at the altar. Audrey had tissues in her hand as she looked lovingly at her sister as Caleb talked about the meaning of love and what it meant to love someone.

Josh didn’t need to hear his friend’s explanation, because Audrey had shown him the meaning of love and what it meant to love someone. Now, he just hoped she’d let him return the favor.

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