Abby looks startled. “What? But—But your friends—”
“Will understand,” Dee says. “You’re a part of my family now, Abby. I want you standing next to me when we make it official.”
Abby looks close to bursting out into full-on tears, and I clear my throat, trying to save her from it.
“Thankfully, you’ll have a very good-looking partner to walk you down the aisle,” I cut in.
Dee rolls her eyes. “Who says you’ll be the best man?”
“Who else is he going to ask? Sanchez?”
“Jankowski looks really good in a suit…” Dee teases.
I give her a light shove. “Yeah, yeah. Go home to yourfiancé.”
“I think I will,” Dee says, beaming.
She reaches out to give me a hug as well, squeezing me tight. “Love you.”
“Love you more,” I murmur into her hair.
We watch her go together. We shared a ride here, so they both know I’m taking Abby home, but I suddenly have plans that would keep her here a little longer. I wait until Dee is far enough away before I lean in closer to Abby, asking, “Do you want to see something?”
“See what?” she asks, still looking a little worn down.
“It’s a surprise,” I tell her.
Her eyes narrow. “I don’t love surprises.”
“You know, that checks out,” I chuckle. “Still. I promise it’ll be quick.”
She heaves a sigh, but in doing so, she looks a little more like herself, thankfully.
“All right,” she concedes. “But it better not be something weird.”
“Weird is my middle name,” I say.
She looks wary as she says, “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
The little park behind St.Michael’s is smaller than I remember it being, hidden behind a small coppice of trees on the grounds behind the main building. I can remember many days sitting out here, playing with a much smaller Dee, and just being back brings a whole slew of memories that are bittersweet.
“A playground?” Abby asks.
“Mhm,” I answer. “Wanna try the swings?”
“I don’t know if I’ll fit,” she says, eyeing the small seats.
“Your ass is perfect,” I tell her. “You’ll fit.”
I watch her flush deliciously, grinning as she smacks me on the arm. “Shut up.”
Still, she dutifully walks over to the swings to drop down into one of the rubber seats, and I waste no time moving behind her, giving her a gentle push. Her feet drag along the ground beneath her, but still she lets me sway her back and forth, her hands coming to grip the chains that hold up the seat.
“How did you know this was back here?” she asks.
“I used to come back here a lot with Dee when we stayed here.”
“Oh, I see.” She shifts a little in the seat. “Wait. Isn’t this where those paps caught Ian and Lila?”