Chapter 24
Drew’s backyard sparkled with lights all over the yard and fairy lights in the trees.
The food station was set up on one side of the deck.
Shirley had brought three or four different desserts that had been added to the food table.
Two large galvanized tubs had been filled with ice along with soft and alcoholic drinks.
Yacht rock was playing from a stand where a DJ sat, near a dance floor that Drew had rented.
Chairs and tables were scattered all over the yard for seating.
He’d done a great job.
Rarity wondered if it was Jonathon and Edith’s anniversary. Savannah was toddling around the yard, one hand on Romeo’s back and the other waving as she chattered in her own language. She’d been dressed in a pink tutu dress and looked like the resident house fairy for the evening.
Archer brought her a beer, and they sat down at the table watching the gathering. She moved her chair closer and rubbed his arm. “Drew did good. Is this an anniversary party? Maybe for Joanna and Manuel?”
“No, they were married in October. And before you ask, Edith and Jonathon were married in June. And that’s all I’m going to say. I’ve been sworn to secrecy.”
She sat up and stared at him. “Okay, now I really want to know. What is stronger? An oath to a friend, or honesty to a girlfriend?”
“A best friend since we were kids. Blood brothers. We even pricked our fingers.” He held up a finger then took her hand again. “Anyway, it looks like you’re going to find out now. Drew’s making an announcement.”
She turned and watched as Drew walked to the DJ stand, swooping Savannah up in his arms. After planting a kiss on her head, he gave her back to his sister. He took the microphone from the DJ, who kept a soft song running in the back. Ed Sheeran, if Rarity remembered correctly.
“Friends, family, thank you for joining me tonight. And don’t worry, this isn’t the start of karaoke. I needed a minute with someone special. Sam? Would you come up here?”
“I don’t know. Do I need a beer first?” Sam called out as she made her way up to where Drew stood.
“Maybe,” he admitted as he kissed her lightly. “Anyway, I have a question to ask you, and I needed witnesses in case you forget your answer.”
He fell to one knee, pulling out a ring box from his pocket as he went down.
Then he flipped it open. “Sam? I adore you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to have babies and choose a dog with you. Hopefully, it will be larger than Killer but smarter than Romeo. Anyway, I’m rambling. Sam, will you marry me?”
Rarity watched as Sam froze. Everyone in the backyard seemed to be holding their breath for the answer. Even Romeo and Killer were watching the couple.
Then Sam looked into Drew’s eyes and smiled. “Yes. A thousand times yes.”
He slipped the ring on her finger, then swung her around the dance floor. When he finished, he picked up the microphone he’d sat down and said, “If you missed that, folks, she said yes.”
Everyone clapped and hooted their happiness. Archer pulled Rarity close. “This is why I’ve been avoiding discussing our future with you for the last couple of weeks. Drew needed to finish this out. I’m so glad she said yes.”
“She had to. She’s in love as well. She’s just a little quieter when the stakes are high, like this.” She kissed Archer. “Let’s go congratulate the happy couple.”
As they did and everyone talked about the upcoming wedding, Rarity saw Shirley standing on the deck, watching. She grabbed a glass of champagne for both of them and walked over to her friend. As she handed her a glass, Rarity asked, “Are you okay?”
“Of course, I am. It’s a lovely evening for those two, and long overdue.
He’s a true romantic.” She wiped her eyes with a napkin.
“I was just thinking about when George asked me to marry him. He wasn’t as confident as Drew, nor as romantic.
So he asked me when we were at the drive-in movie.
The Graduate was playing. Dustin Hoffman was looking at that half-naked woman and George blurted out the question.
I thought he was kidding. Now, he doesn’t even remember the movie.
Not our engagement, our lives, our kids, not even the boring Saturday nights when we were too broke to do anything but pop popcorn and watch a movie on television.
Dementia’s cruel to take all that from him.
And me. I don’t have anyone to talk about those times with anymore. ”
Rarity took her hand. “You have me. Anytime you want.”
Terrance came up to them and took Shirley’s glass away and sae it on a table. “You’re not having fun. This is a party for these kids, and you’re lost in the past. Come dance with me. One dance, maybe two, no commitments.”
Shirley smiled and nodded. “And then I have this guy trying to make me smile all the time.”
They moved toward the dance floor, and Rarity watched.
No one knew the future. Sam was marrying a cop.
A dangerous profession, but Jonathon and Edith had made it to retirement.
Their daughter was married with a child running around the yard.
Everyone was in a different part of their lives.
Young, old, midlife, they all meshed into her found family.
Rarity wondered if this moment was what Madame Zelda’s cards were talking about.
The death of a friendship, the start of a true relationship for Sam and Drew.
Her friendship with Sam would change too.
Not stop, but change. Drew would be her person now.
But Rarity would be there for Sam at every step.
Just like Sam had always been there for Rarity.
Rarity didn’t know what she’d do without any of them. She hoped she didn’t ever have to find out.
Tonight, unlike the rest of the world, was perfect. Usually you had to settle for good. Or maybe even boring. But tonight, the stars aligned and it was a perfect evening.
And for that, she was thankful. Nights like this armed her for fighting for more. A fight she could win.