Thirty-two
“Hey, yourself. This is a nice surprise. When you said you were going to Side Tap, I thought you meant the other one. Great to see you, Gwen. Twice in one day. I’m a lucky man.” Will leaned in to kiss Lexi’s cheek and immediately inhaled the scent of sweet vanilla with a hint of citrus that he was coming to associate with her. “Hey, Mr. Reynolds.”
“Boys,” Mr. Reynolds said, wearing a slightly amused expression. They’d always be boys to Ethan’s dad.
“Oh, this is a happy surprise.” Gwen leaned closer to Will. “Alexandria wanted to show me where she’s working but this man said he couldn’t let us inside without permission.” She was bundled in a long, thick black coat, a red scarf bunching at the neck.
It was nice to see her out again, the cold adding color to her cheeks.
Lexi sighed, looking cozy and chic in a shorter, dark-gray, puffer-style coat. “Mom. It’s fine.” She sent Ethan a glance and Will stepped closer to her, without even meaning to, when he saw the flash of embarrassment. “I should have called you, told you I was swinging by. I actually wanted to ask about a key to get a look at the place. I didn’t know this was your dad.”
“Will, this is your fiancée? There was no picture with the announcement. I didn’t know.” Mr. Reynolds clapped Will on the back, smiling at the others.
Ethan smiled while his dad took it all in. He and Ethan’s mom had divorced while Ethan was in high school. The few times Will had hung out with them, watching a game at Mr. Reynolds’s house or at the bar for a beer, he’d enjoyed himself very much.
“Congratulations. Ma’am,” Mr. Reynolds said to Gwen. “I apologize for not knowing who you all were. It’s a pleasure to meet you. And you.”
It was as if Gwen just realized Mr. Reynolds was someone other than the annoying contractor who wouldn’t let them in. Will slipped his hand in Lexi’s, amused by the furrowed arch of her brows, the gentle squeeze of her hand.
“Let’s make some introductions. Mr. Reynolds, this is my fiancée, Alexandria Danby, and her mother, Gwen Danby. This is Gregory Reynolds, Ethan’s dad. Ethan’s my good friend, Gwen.”
“And my boss,” Lexi murmured to her mother, like a reminder that she might be evaluated by any and all interactions.
Hands were shaken, hellos exchanged. The rain picked up and Ethan jutted his chin toward the door. “Let’s get out of this rain.”
“There’s something that gets said a lot in Washington,” Mr. Reynolds said.
Gwen laughed, light and airy. Lexi’s brows rose again. Will squeezed her hand. Interesting.
When they entered the building, the others started forward, heading for the large square bar that broke up the otherwise open space. Will tugged Lexi to a stop and pulled her close.
“I promise I wasn’t following you,” he said, bending his head for a kiss.
She returned it with a pleased sigh that Will loved the sound of. “So you say,” she teased, then gestured toward her mom with a tilt of her head. “It was her idea to come with me.”
“That’s excellent.” He ran a hand down her slightly damp hair. “I’m really happy for both of you. Family matters.”
She squeezed his hand. “It does. Even when they drive you nuts.”
She tilted her head to the side, gave him a wry look. “What do you think of my mom’s reaction to Ethan’s dad?”
The others were chatting behind the bar, Gwen listening with rapt attention to Gregory as he explained how they’d chosen the wood and the stain.
“I wondered if I was the only one who noticed. Interesting. That’s my only comment on that. But I am glad you got her out of the house.” He figured he might as well go with his gut. It had served him well so far. “I came with Ethan to get my mind off you.”
She ducked her head, traced a pattern on his jacket. “That didn’t work out so well, did it?”
“I’d have to disagree,” he said, lifting her chin with his finger.
Her gaze steadied his heartbeat and made his lungs feel tight at the same time. “Lucky for both of us, then.”
“You two just going to stand over there making out or are you going to join us?” Ethan called.
Gwen laughed again and Gregory told his son to watch his manners. Something Will had never heard him say before.
Lexi backed away but kept her fingers linked with his as she started toward the others. On the right side, floor-to-ceiling windows would let in the light. Even now, with the sometimes oppressive gloom of the Pacific Northwest, it was a beautiful view of mountains and clouds.
To the left, the windows were more standard but still added to the open feeling of the room. The venue didn’t have the raised levels of the original Side Tap, but it definitely had the appeal. High ceilings with gorgeous, thick wood beams added more character. Their shoes tapped against the long wooden floor planks. The contrasting stains of wood were comfortable, classic, and uniquely Side Tap. The bar was wide and perfectly square but for an opening where the staff could come and go.
“It looks great in here, E,” Will said. Industrial-style wrought-iron lighting hung from the beams.
“That’s what happens when you hire a good contractor,” Mr. Reynolds teased, nudging his son.
“That and a large bill,” Ethan said with a grin.
“Worth it when I find you nothing but the best,” his dad returned.
“My husband has a construction business,” Gwen said quietly.
All heads turned her way. Will felt Lexi’s intake of breath, sensed her holding it in.
Gwen straightened and Will could all but see the courage glowing around her frame. “Had. He passed away.”
“I’m so sorry for your loss,” Gregory said.
Gwen met Gregory’s gaze. “It was a long time ago now. This place is lovely. I can imagine it filled with people having a wonderful time.”
Lexi put a hand on her mom’s shoulder. “The original Side Tap isn’t far from our place, Mom. Maybe we could go sometime. I think you’d really like it. Maisie’s coming to the Halloween celebration.” She turned to Ethan. “She’ll be our official photographer for the event.”
“Can’t tell you what it means to me, Lexi,” Gregory said, “to have you step in the way you have. Helping out even in areas that you’re not in charge of has taken a lot of weight off both my boys’ shoulders. Doesn’t matter how old your kids get, you’re still their parent. Still worry about them.”
“That’s absolutely true,” Gwen said with a side glance to Lexi.
Will squeezed Lexi’s hand again, happy for something that might seem small to others but he knew was significant. Just her being here was big but to talk about her husband with strength, to participate actively in Lexi’s life—it mattered. Baby steps.
“As you can see, Lexi, the furniture you ordered is going to fit perfectly. I loved your idea of long benches for some of the farm-style tables instead of chairs,” Ethan said.
“I’m glad you like it. It’ll work perfectly with the relaxed vibe you guys have going.”
Will liked watching her transition into a woman with more confidence, like she pulled on an I can do this cloak.
“This is actually going to happen. We’ve been waiting for the final permits but all the paperwork is done now.” Ethan looked at his dad. “She’s even set up interviews.”
A warm smile graced Mr. Reynolds’s face. “I know, son. We’re all grateful.” He looked at Lexi. “My daughter-in-law says you’re an angel.”
Lexi laughed. “That’s sweet of her. She’s so lovely. And your grandkids are adorable.”
Ethan smiled, crossing his arms over his chest. “Having you step in is a big help but you’re not running yourself thin, are you? You’re still at the Dress Hut full-time, right?”
“Practically. She works so hard,” Gwen said, staring at Lexi with pride.
“I’m helping Bitsy replace me. She’s changing her hours so that’s helping me transition away from there. I think she’s looking forward to spending more hours there herself. I just hope she’ll keep it open. Business isn’t what it used to be for her. And I’m no longer waitressing. Just taking one course at school. My schedule is actually less hectic than it was.”
Will wondered if she’d even realized that she’d accepted the compliments from both men. He wanted her to value herself and how hard she worked.
She looked at her mom, her expression softening. “But I do have a paper to finish, so we should get going.”
Will didn’t want to say goodbye. “How’s the cake topper going?”
Both Gwen’s and Lexi’s expressions went radiant, filling him with warmth and something more than just affection.
“She finished it. It’s so beautiful it made me cry. Maisie and I have both told her she should open an Etsy shop to sell custom miniatures,” Lexi said.
Gwen’s cheeks turned pink. “I sold one to your fiancé.”
Will laughed. “I have no doubt you’ll be able to sell more.” The Danby women were fierce even if they didn’t recognize it in themselves.
“Miniatures? Like that reality show?”
Before any of them could say anything else, Gwen and Gregory began discussing her miniatures. Ethan, Lexi, and Will moved toward the back of the room where a stone fireplace took up a large chunk of the wall.
Ethan looked at Lexi, and Will hoped like hell his friend wouldn’t say something stupid.
“If our parents get together, we could be stepsiblings. Then when you two get married, we’ll be real brothers, Will.” He winked at Lexi.
Hopes dashed. “Shut up, man.”
Lexi laughed. “Slow down. Not only is there no real wedding, I’m not sure if my mom is built to try for forever again.”
Ethan grimaced. “Sorry.”
She shook her head. “It’s okay. It’s nice to see her smile, engage with someone who doesn’t know her as the woman she used to be. Someone’s wife. She’s figuring her new self out, so who knows where that will lead?” She looked at Will with such intensity his heart squeezed in response. “Sometimes the strangest things happen and you could never predict them.”
“I should get going, Ethan,” Mr. Reynolds said, walking over with Gwen. “It was a real pleasure to meet you ladies. You’ve got my card, Gwen. You call me anytime and I’ll take a look at your basement.”
“What’s wrong with the basement, Mom?”
“You’ve been talking about ideas for the house. I’m not ready to sell but Gregory said he could give us an estimate on some renovations that would turn the basement into a suite.”
“He’ll give you a discount,” Ethan said, clapping his dad on the shoulder.
“Mom, we don’t have to make any decisions right now.”
Gwen held up the card then slipped it into her pocket. “It’s just an idea. You’ve been tossing them around for a long while. Be happy.”
She should be happy if her mom was thinking about moving forward and making some changes, but Will sensed that she was more worried than thrilled.
For a minute, he wondered what it would be like to whisk her away, no family, no drama, no business deals or takeovers. Just him and Lexi and no fucking worry on her face. Just happiness. At some point along this strange detour, her happiness had become incredibly important to him. He needed to spend some time thinking about what to do with that. About how to make the fake parts of their relationship real because despite the discord in his life right now, Alexandria Danby was his life raft. Looking at her, he knew, the way he knew a good business move in the depths of his soul, she was it for him.