Part of Your World(104)

It was incredible how whole I felt. How he completed the final piece in my mosaic. I would have never been right without him. Even if I’d never met him or ever knew who he was.

The band started playing “True” by Spandau Ballet. Daniel raised an eyebrow. “I don’t suppose you want to dance with me?”

I smiled. “Yes.” I nodded. “Of course I want to dance with you.”

I put an arm around his neck. He put a palm over the one on his heart and started to turn me in this magical room full of flowers and twinkling stars.

It felt like a fairy tale. He looked like a prince in an enchanted forest.

But then he’d always been a prince. It was just the first time everyone else saw it too.

We were the only ones on the dance floor. The huge poof of my dress swept around as he spun me, and a spotlight clicked on and began to follow us.

The whole room was watching. I wanted them to.

I wanted everyone to see me with the man I loved. Because I was proud to love him in front of my world. I would have been proud if he’d come in his jeans and a T-shirt, mud on his boots, tattoos and all. He could have walked in with Kevin Bacon, and I would have smiled and dove into his arms.

“So what does this new job mean?” he asked, turning me. “Are you gonna have to travel to other clinics when they open? Are we nomads now?” he joked.

I laughed a little. “No. My job is just to make sure the clinics are funded. Basically, I have to go to a lot of parties. We should probably buy this tuxedo,” I said, tugging on his lapel.

He pulled on the collar. “It’s really uncomfortable. I’ve never worn one before.”

“You should try Spanx.”

He laughed.

“So, I guess I’ll have to move you into the big house. You’ll need the closet space for all the ball gowns.”

I smiled. “Can we have the damask room?” I asked.

“Of course. But…” he said, giving me a stern look, “I can’t live with you there unless we’re married.”

I gasped playfully. “What? Why not?”

“That’s my grandparents’ bedroom. Can’t do the things I want to do with you in there unless you’re my wife. Wouldn’t feel right.”

I pretended to think about it. “Hmmm. Plus, it’s haunted. I’m not sure I should be in there alone. We should probably get married right away. I had to promise the hospital board not to drop my last name, but I think Dr. Alexis Montgomery Grant has a nice ring to it, don’t you?”

He narrowed his eyes. “You wouldn’t mind being married to a carpenter in a tiny town in the middle of nowhere?”

“I can’t really think of a better way to spend the next fifty years. And anyway, we sort of have to. Doug bet me a hundred bucks that we wouldn’t live happily ever after.”

He laughed, and his whole face lit up.

Dr. Alexis Montgomery Grant.

It occurred to me that one day Daniel and I would be remembered with yellowing framed newspaper articles hung on the walls of the VFW like the Grants before us, and the idea made me feel so proud and complete, I couldn’t even articulate it. It was better than stately paintings hung in hospital hallways or articles in Forbes or documentaries on the History Channel—though we’d probably have those too.

We would have the best of both worlds. I could dance the night away with him at an extravagant ball and then let him take me home to care for our town, our people—our family. Because sometimes family isn’t what you’re born into. Sometimes family is found.

And I’d found mine in Wakan.

I’d found mine in him.

I started to tear up again.

“Why are you crying?” he asked gently.

“Because I’m just so happy.” I peered up at him through my wet lashes. “Let’s never leave this place. Let’s just stay here in this moment forever.”

He peered around, bobbing his head. “Well, I’m not saying I’d like to build a summer home here. But the trees are actually quite lovely.”

I laughed so hard, he pulled me closer to him by the waist to put his forehead to mine.

I beamed. “Kiss me, Daniel Grant.”

He looked scandalized. “Right here? In front of everyone?”

“Right here. In front of everyone.”

He stopped turning me, and we stood under the huge crystal chandelier in the middle of the room, the entire gala watching, all eyes on us. He hovered his lips an inch from mine.

“As. You. Wish.”





Epilogue

Daniel

Seven Months Later



Doug nodded at my wife across the VFW. “A hundred bucks if you can get her to give me Monday off.”

I laughed, racking up the billiard balls. “That is between you and your boss.”

“Come on, man. I’ve got a hot date.”

I paused to look at him over my shoulder. “She’s seen the pictures of you and she’s still coming?”

Brian laughed.

Liz looked up from behind the bar and smiled at the sound, and Brian grinned back at her.

Doug worked part-time at the clinic. He got his EMT certificate and was the Royaume-Wakan clinic designated ambulance driver. It was an extremely part-time job that consisted mostly of making sure the rig was stocked with supplies and gas, and then driving someone to the hospital in Rochester, should the situation require it. They had inventory Monday.