Twist of Fate Louise, Tia (read dune .txt) 📖

visit. It quickly shifts to party music interspersed with Olivia Newton-John, of course… and I couldn’t leave off “Red, Red Wine.”

“You are so dead.” Daisy cuts her eyes at me as I lead her to the dance floor grinning.

“You make me feel so fine.”

Melody is dancing on the feet of her cousin Jesse, who’s trying to take my place as her favorite guy. They’ve been inseparable since they met. He’s teaching her to play football and looking out for her when I’m not around.

“Maybe they’ll be the next dynamic duo.” My older brother meets me on the side of the dance floor.

“They are a lot like we were.”

“He wants to know if Sunny can play football when she’s bigger.” He shifts his six-month-old daughter on his shoulder, and I step around to catch her big blue eyes watching everything.

Blonde hair covers her little head like a halo, and she looks so much like Hope—who skips up to us.

“Hey!” She smiles that cheerful, Hope Eternal smile as she tries to take the baby from him.

My brother lifts an elbow. “What are you doing?”

“I thought you might be tired of holding her.”

“I’m not.”

Hope holds up both hands, raising her eyebrows. “Sor-ry!”

That makes me laugh. “If anybody can keep him in line…”

She gives me a hug. “Gorgeous wedding, and that flower sculpture? I could die. I have to have one for the grand opening of Pancake Paradise!”

“Whenever that happens,” I tease her.

“It’s his fault.” She elbows J.R. “I was all set to go last year, and he got me pregnant.”

My brother doesn’t look at all sorry, and I don’t blame him. Sunny is a beautiful baby girl. “We’re going to need an RV for our next road trip if we keep having kids.”

“We’re just so good at it.” Hope wrinkles her nose, then her expression turns serious. “Have you spoken to your dad?”

J.R. makes a noise, to which I concur. “No.”

“Just try. I think he wants to do better. The motivation is inside him.”

“It’s what he’s inside that’s the problem.” Evil Becky.

Hope leans close and whispers, “She’s the worst.”

I kind of love that she never wants to say bad things about my brother’s ex-wife in front of him or Jesse. It’s so Hope.

“Scout!” Lorraine’s voice is louder than the band. “Gorgeous wedding, doll. Thanks for the invite. We need to talk!”

She’s in a mauve suit-dress, and her nails are two-inch scarlet claws. Her bedazzled glasses have slid down her nose, and I’m pretty sure my agent never stops working.

“What’s up?” I put my hand on her back and step away from the infant.

“Cameron Scott has a new pirate movie filming in Charleston, and he wants you in it.” Her foot-long cigarette holder has an unlit cigarette on the tip.

“How much lead time have I got?”

“Two weeks. I’ve been chatting with the casting director for this region. You’re on her list. You’ll get a call for whatever comes to town. I got it in writing.”

“That sounds like above and beyond, Lor!”

“Only the best for my favorite client. The casting guys love you.”

I give her a hug. “Well, I love you.”

“Agh, I’m old! You know I can’t handle such affection.” She pats my cheek. “I’ll call you.”

Daisy is with Sly and Coco’s mom Emberly by the cake table. Emberly made all our cakes, and she’s here with Chad and his wife Tabby.

Coco is now on the floor dancing with Jesse and Melody, and I wonder if they’ll grow up together as friends like we all did. I’m contemplating the prospect when my dad walks up, Becky on his arm.

“Congratulations, son.” He holds out a hand to shake, and I reluctantly do so.

Daisy wanted to invite him, with Hope’s support. They say it’s important for us to try and build a bridge. Daisy added it’s for Melody, but ever since I learned Becky convinced Daisy not to tell me she was pregnant, I don’t really want them around my daughter.

“Thanks… Dad.” I have to force out the word.

“It was all very beautiful.” Becky stands at his side in a beige sweater set and pearls. She’s only a year older than me, but she acts fifty. “We’re leaving a bit early. Your father can’t handle all that loud music.”

My eyebrow arches, and I glance at my dad. He looks okay to me. “Yeah, no worries. Glad you could join us.” Fingers crossed.

Her lips do something approximating a smile. “I see John is here with his new wife and baby.”

I narrow my eyes at her. “I’m sure you don’t care.”

“I thought she was going to open that silly restaurant, and now she has a baby.”

“The baby was J.R.’s idea. We actually want to have kids with our wives.” I keep the bitch part to myself. Becky and I have never seen eye to eye.

“How very provincial.”

I’m done. “Well, drive safe.”

I’d better go before I torch the feeble bridge I’ve built.

“Son, can I have a word?”

Again, if I say No, it’s bye-bye bridge. “Sure.”

We step to the side, and he hands me a narrow envelope. “It’s not much, but I wanted to give you a gift.”

“You really didn’t have to.”

“You were always my favorite, Scout.”

My eyes narrow. Who says that? “I appreciate how you showed it.”

“I couldn’t support you on the gay porn thing. That was too far.”

Exhaling heavily, I remember my brother’s advice, Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself…

“Let’s just leave it in the past. Good luck to you, Dad.”

He blinks and smiles, and I guess he feels absolved.

I feel like finding my new wife, which is exactly what I do.

Later that night, after the festivities have ended, and we’ve consummated our wedding… several times… I’m holding Daisy in my arms, watching the ceiling fan turn slowly in her small apartment over the store. Melody is spending the night with Coco, and we moved a bed from the store upstairs for when she returns.

Daisy props on her elbow, smiling down, and I wrap a golden curl around my finger. “You’re so pretty.”

“You are,” she leans forward to