CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO #3
“This is all to say,” Spencer said when he and Sean took their turn at the microphone, “that you’re getting the trip you always wanted but never asked for, Mom.
” Sean took over. He held up a package. “This summer, we’re taking you on two-week trip to Jane Austen country.
We’ll go through London, Kent, Hertfordshire, and Derbyshire.
” He paused. “Yes, Sutton and Sophia had to teach me how to pronounce those last two names. They laughed when I said ‘Hurt-ford-shy-er’ and ‘Der-bee-shy-er.’ To be English names, you’d think they’d be easier to say.
” The party crowd laughed, and I could hear people agreeing with him.
“You’ll get to see first-hand the scenery Jane Austen pictured when writing her beloved book.
” He paused. “Well, beloved by you and ninety percent of the female world. I’m not so sure how I personally feel about it.
But I can’t wait to go to England,” he grinned.
People laughed and clapped some more while I sat there dazed.
Sammy came to the mic, Scott holding him up. “So, Mommy, will you come with us?”
I stood up. “Absolutely!” That was all I could say before the tears leaked out and emotion choked my voice.
I didn’t even hear the clapping this time. I was too lost in getting to my family. Two weeks in England? I could barely comprehend it. I hurried onstage and hugged and kissed them all. I hadn’t even known that Scott knew I loved Pride and Prejudice.
Scott stepped back to the microphone, surprising me. I had thought he was done, and the party was basically over.
But I was wrong.
“If everyone would meet us in the side gardens right across from the Indigo River, please.”
I looked at him. What in the world was he planning now?
It didn’t take long, as we all made our way out there, for me to understand what was going on.
I’d been half afraid that we’d see Diane, looking freshly fucked, stumble out of the maze with her lover.
But thankfully I saw her standing with Jack just before we walked outside.
She looked perfectly put together, as always.
I glanced at Carrie and saw her frowning at her parents.
I wondered in that moment if she knew. Did she know her mom was cheating on her dad?
Was she aware of how comfortable Jack looked with Sabine? If not, what was that look for?
She caught me staring and forced a smile.
Then I lost track of her as we all made our way to the empty lawn near the community gardens kept up by the garden club.
I gasped when I saw what was going on. There were dozens of paper lanterns waiting for us to light and send off into the sky. I put a hand over my mouth trying to hold back tears again.
“Can I have your attention?” Sammy’s voice rang out with the help of one of Sadie’s megaphones she used in the co-cheerleading coach position she held at the high school along with Carrie.
Everyone quieted down. “The movie Tangled gets on Mommy’s nerves because she’s seen it so many times over the years. But she loves one part so much, we thought we’d make it part of her party.” He handed the megaphone to Scott who explained how to light the lanterns and let them go.
Then Scott looked at me. “Would you like to say a few words, beautiful?”
I nodded, my heart so full I was afraid it would burst. I took the megaphone from him.
“First, I just want to thank my family for putting this party together… and Calliope Mason. She’s an excellent party planner if you’re ever in need of one.
” I pointed the megaphone at her in case anyone didn’t know who she was.
She looked embarrassed but smiled and waved.
“Second, I want to say thank you for coming to this party. Scott told me it’s as much about a celebration of overcoming all we’ve been through over the past year as it is about our anniversary or my birthday.
It wouldn’t have been the same without each and every one of you being here.
And lastly, I want to ask that everyone make a wish as they send their lanterns into the sky.
Make it something secret, that you’ve wanted for a long time but never asked for or long since forgot about even wanting.
Because sometimes, in the most unlikely of circumstances, at the most random times, you actually do get what it is that your heart has always wanted.
Mine came to me long after I quit daring to hope for it. And I hope yours will, too.”
Everyone clapped, and then they started lighting their lanterns and we watched as they began to hover in the sky together.
It was so incredibly magical that I could hardly breathe watching it.
Some floated high above us, while others drifted in the breeze and hovered just above the waters of the Indigo River.
Some even looked as if they had gone over the waterfall our town was named for.
I hadn’t released mine yet. I was too distracted by the beauty of everyone else’s.
But Scott reminded me it was time. I held it high above my head as he lit it.
When I let it go, I wished that I would always be as happy as I was right then.
Scott held me, my back to his chest as we watched the lanterns drift over and around Indigo Falls.
It had taken a long time, but I’d eventually gotten everything I’d ever wished for.