up late in the afternoon. My parents, aunt, uncle, Maddy, and Skylar sort of suck the air out of the place with their presence. They’re dressed up like they’re going to a diamond-level restaurant, but then, my family loves to make a statement. And I suppose I’m no different with the way I dress.
“What are you guys doing here?” I peel off my latex gloves and toss them in the trash. Wiping my hands on my apron, I round the display case so I can air-kiss them.
“Your boyfriend called and said you were hosting an event and that it would be great if we could come out and see what you’ve accomplished,” my mom says.
“This place is so cute!” Maddy says.
“It really is,” Skylar agrees, albeit reluctantly.
My dad pulls me in for a hug. “This really is incredible, Blaire. You’ve done amazing things, and all on your own.”
“I didn’t do it all on my own. Ronan was a lot of help with the event.” Minus the past couple of days, but clearly he’s forgiven for that.
“I mean with this place.” My dad motions to the line of people waiting for cupcakes and cocktails—or mocktails, since there are loads of families at the event. It’s standing room only, with customers ordering cupcakes to go so they can sample more vendors. “You followed your dream, and you did it on your own. I’m proud of you, honey.”
I get misty-eyed at the praise and the acknowledgment that this accomplishment is well and truly mine.
My jaw nearly hits the floor when they all try a cupcake and a cocktail. Even Maddy and Skylar—although they both talk about the two-hour run plus detox they’re going to have to endure because of the single cupcake they consumed.
My dad mingles with everyone, happy to tell them that he’s my father and that I inherited my excellent business sense and my baking skills from him.
By the time we close the doors, the only thing that’s left are a pair of lonely Death by Chocolate cupcakes.
I bring them next door to The Knight Cap, where the band has already started playing. Ronan and I are going to be dead on our feet by the time the bar closes, but we’re taking a day off after all of this is over, so we should be able to catch up on some much-needed sleep and some alone time.
I spot Gramps sitting at the end of the bar, nursing a pint of Guinness. When he sees me, a huge grin lights up his face. I give him a hug from the side and shout over the noise. “Having fun?”
“I sure am. This is the busiest I’ve seen this place in a long time. Dottie would be proud ’a both of you.” He thumbs over to the band. “But I gotta be honest, this just sounds like noise. Gonna finish my pint and head home.”
“Want dessert with that?” I flip open the lid on the box.
“You don’t have to ask me twice.” He winks and takes one.
I leave him to his pint and I sidle up next to Ronan behind the bar. “Gramps is having a great time.”
He glances down at my feet, but doesn’t comment on my lack of proper footwear. “I’m impressed that he’s still here. I would have thought he’d bail so he doesn’t miss the late night rerun of Jeopardy.”
“Thank goodness for DVR, I guess. Did he used to watch it with Dottie?”
“Every night at seven thirty. They’d compete to see who could answer the most questions correctly.”
“Did they keep score?”
“Sure did.”
“He must miss her so much.”
Ronan nods. “He does. We both do. But I think I’d rather have someone to miss than never have the opportunity to witness that kind of devotion. They were each other’s everything.”
“Makes it tough to settle for anything less, I would think.” I tip my chin up, overwhelmed by the sudden surge of emotion. I don’t really know what it’s like to watch a love like that. My parents are the most unconventional people I know, and the idea of finding a soul mate seemed elusive.
Lars interrupts—his timing sucks—to ask Ronan for some help behind the bar, because they’re swamped and I’m monopolizing him. I change into a pair of boots and mix some drinks.
When the band finishes, the crowd slowly starts to dissipate.
“I can’t believe how well this has gone.” I load barware into the washer and dry off the clean ones before I stack them. “Or that you managed to get