The Presence of Grace (Love and Loss Book 2)(62)

All I could think about was Jeff. I’d like to think if I were still married and another man came along, I wouldn’t bat an eyelash, but comparing Jeff and Devon was unfair to both of them. Jeff paled in that comparison, and I could only thank my lucky stars that Devon had come along, even if I had to endure a painful divorce to get to him. I hoped in the end it would all be worth it.

“I’ll be really honest with you, Evie. I was really upset when I found out about your relationship with Devon. I knew there’d be complications getting involved with a widower with young children, but I love those kids and I was really up for the challenge. I hadn’t anticipated competing with another woman.” Evie tried to interrupt me, but I powered through, holding up a hand. “But I spoke about it with him and talked it through. And while I understand your relationship is complicated, I also understand it isn’t romantic, even though at one time you both thought it might have been.” She seemed to relax at my words. “If I really thought Devon was romantically invested in another woman, I wouldn’t be here.”

“I’m glad to hear that. You’re a wonderful woman and you deserve a great guy. And Devon is one of the best.”

“I agree,” I said with a smile. “The best thing for Ruby and Jax is if we’re all friends, so that’s what I’d like, but I’d like to be friends even if it weren’t for the kids.”

“To friendship,” she said, raising her wine glass.

“To friendship.” We clinked our glasses and took a sip.

“Olivia would have really liked you,” Evie said after a few quiet moments.

Her words were unexpected, but the really unexpected part was my reaction to them. I hadn’t ever considered what Devon’s late wife would think of me, but the idea of her approval was overwhelming and I found tears welling in my eyes. I dabbed at my eyes, trying to maintain my composure, but felt compelled to speak.

“Even if it doesn’t work out with Devon, and it’s not meant to be with us, him and those kids deserve the best, Evie. They’ve been through too much to tolerate anything less. And frankly, I’ve had a pretty bad run myself. So, if they get even one tiny fraction of the happiness from me that I get from them, well, that’s all I can ask for.”

I watched as Evie dabbed away her own tears and then the sliding door opened and Devon walked out.

“Oh, no. Too much wine,” he joked as he took his seat, making both Evie and me laugh through our tears.

“No such thing,” Evie quipped.

I reached forward and clinked my glass against hers again, making Devon smile. I loved his smile. Especially when it reached his deep blue eyes and the little crinkles at the corners came out.

“I was just telling Grace that Olivia would have really liked her.”

Devon went quiet for a moment, but his smile never faltered. Then he reached over and took my hand, threaded our fingers, and brought the back of my hand to his lips, leaving a kiss there.

“Yes, I do believe she would have.”

“Really?” I asked, new tears stinging in my eyes. I didn’t have a clue as to why the idea made me so emotional, but it did.

“Aw, come here, babe.”

I rose up and took two steps to him, then sat on his lap, my arms winding around his neck, pressing my face to his chest, trying to keep the tears to a minimum.

“You don’t have to cry,” he said as he ran his hand up and down my back. “She would have loved you. And trust me, if she could pick anyone for me, it would be you.”

“Stop,” I said, sniffing against his chest.

“Okay,” he said, laughing a little. “But you ladies have to lay off the wine. You can’t drive home like this. I’ll have to take you.”

“Oh, no. I’m sorry. I didn’t even think about that.” I pulled back and wiped my tears, but Devon wouldn’t let me get far and kept his arm wrapped firmly around my waist.

“It’s not a problem. Evie’s more than capable of being alone with my sleeping children for a half hour so I can drive you home.”

“I don’t mind one bit,” she said with a firm nod of her head. “But before you go, I wanted to tell you both something. Well, Nate wanted to be here too, but that didn’t work out.” She took a breath and smiled widely. “We’ve picked a wedding date.”

“Really?” I exclaimed. “When?”

“We want to have a Christmas wedding, in Hawaii.”

“Oh my goodness! That’s going to be beautiful!”

“That sounds amazing, Evie. I’m so happy for you,” Devon said, gently putting me down and standing to hug her.

“Thank you,” she said, hugging him back. “We want the kids to be in the wedding. Ring bearer and flower girl. Or maybe Ruby can be in the bridal party? I don’t want to make her feel like a child.”

“I think Ruby would love to be a part of your wedding in any way,” Devon said.

“So, you’ll come? Both of you?” Evie asked, her eyes darting between us.

“We wouldn’t miss it for anything,” Devon replied, hugging her again. When he pulled back, I moved to hug her too. There was so much happiness between all three of us, it almost felt like electricity in the air.

“Congratulations,” I said as we hugged, meaning it with everything in me. Evie wasn’t a threat to my relationship with Devon; I’d learned that. And if we’d met outside of those circumstances, I would have become fast friends with her.