we’re early for whatever it is.
The SUV pulls up to the front of the building and stops.
“Come on.” My mom exits the vehicle without waiting for the driver to come around to her side, and I follow behind her.
“Mom, what is this?” I ask.
She loops her arm through mine and pats my hand. “You have so many questions.”
“Wouldn’t you?” I ask with a small chuckle.
She leads me through the building until we reach the doors of the main room, where she stops and faces me.
“Now, don’t be mad at me but I wouldn’t have gone along with this plan if I didn’t think this was what is best for you.”
“Go along with what?” I step back as my heart rate picks up.
She cups my face in her hands, effectively stopping me. “Garrin called me and asked me to bring you here.”
Tears spring to my eyes and a painful lump forms in my throat. “Mom,” I say in a strangled whisper.
“I listened to everything he had to say, his whole story, and you should too. I don’t know if it will make a difference to you or not. But there’s no way you can move on with your life without at least getting closure.”
I shake my head. “I don’t want to see him.”
She presses her lips together and looks at me with sadness in her eyes. “I don’t think that’s really true. However mad I was at your father, deep down I always wanted him around.”
“We’re not you and Dad.”
This time her smile is full of mirth. “Oh, honey. You two are exactly like your father and me. Which is why I agreed to bring you here so that Garrin could try to win you back. In the end it’s your decision and I’ll respect whichever one you make, but don’t let the fear of being hurt stop you from finding true love. Some things are always worth the risk.”
“But…”
“It’s okay to be afraid. But know that even if I’d known all those years ago when I met your father that I’d lose him the way I did, I still wouldn’t change anything.” She leans in and kisses my forehead, just like Garrin did so many times. “Now go in there with an open heart and an open mind. It’s what your father would have wanted.”
My lips tremble, but I nod and turn to face the door. She gives my hand one last squeeze before I push the doors open.
I gasp when I step inside. The room stretches out before me—all wood flooring with an ornate wood ceiling. The far end has floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over a garden. Tables have been set up around the perimeter with beautiful floral centerpieces, and a DJ booth sits at the far end off to the side of the windows. In the center of the dance floor stands Garrin.
Hearing me enter, he turns, and I lose my breath. He’s dressed in a dark navy tux with black lapels and he looks handsome. Though he looks nervous, he smiles and closes the distance between us.
A huge part of me wants to run, but my feet are glued to the floor. I can’t seem to move.
“I’m so glad you came,” he says when he reaches me.
Finally, I find my voice. “I didn’t really have a choice. My mom didn’t tell me where we were going.”
Hurt flashes across his face, but he schools his features quickly. “Did you know before you opened those doors to come in here?”
I nod slowly.
“I’ll take that as a good sign, then.” He reaches forward, almost hesitantly, and holds out a corsage.
“What is all this?” I gesture to the space around us.
“You never got to experience your senior prom. I don’t know if you remember, but this is where it was held. I had our party planner from the wedding recreate it. Even the centerpieces are how they were that night.”
I blink back tears.
“I don’t know what to say.”
I appreciate the gesture, and if we were still together, I’d be over the moon, but all of this doesn’t automatically erase all the hurt.
“You don’t have to say anything. I was hoping you’d just listen, and then if you have something you want to say to me, I’m all ears.”
I inhale to calm my racing heart. “Okay.” My mom is right, I need closure.
“Can I put this on you first?” He holds up the corsage. “Every girl going to her prom needs one.”
I nod and he steps forward, the scent of his cologne