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“It’s great,” she said. “This will work.”

“We don’t want it to work, Allison.” He placed his hand on her forearm in earnest. “We want it to astound you. Are you astounded beyond measure? Really think.”

She paused and met his gaze, trying to impress upon him how thoughtful she was. “Yes,” she said, finally. “I find this strawberry filling to be astounding beyond measure.” Just easier that way. Megan would have laughed her ass off at this guy.

“I love every second of this,” he said, as if she’d just made the most crucial decision of her life.

“Me, too,” she said, matching his overly reverent tone.

“Shall we head to floral selections? I have us scheduled for a two o’clock and a three at my two favorite shops. There are some gems I think you’re going to clutch your pearls over.”

“Let’s do it. I left my pearls at home, though.”

“Sweetheart, I have a spare set.”

She went through the motions, checking items off her Jason-created to-do list over the next few days, having snagged some time off work to make it all happen in the shortened timeline. Before she knew it, she was one week from getting married and a little shocked about that.

“How are you feeling?” she asked her father after dinner at her parents’ house after a long day working with Jason. Her mom’s spaghetti, meatballs, and garlic bread comfort meal was just what she’d needed. She’d be thrilled to get back to school tomorrow and let him see to all the follow-through. She’d made the decisions, and now he would handle the rest.

“Oh, I’m good. Got a little more wind in my sails. Been going to bed earlier.” He smiled. “I’m happy if you’re happy.”

“I am. Mom says that that you have a meeting with BeLeaf about the Dash Bar. That’s pretty great.” Of course the talks were back on again now that the happy couple was on the way down the aisle. Typical, but she was not about to lose this opportunity for her family, even if the timing did irk her. She’d love to tell Dalton Carmichael where he could shove his negotiations. Unfortunately, her parents needed his stores.

“It’s a relief to have something encouraging in the pipeline.”

“Maybe you won’t have to sell the house after all.”

He smiled at her warily. “You know that all those things are justsecond place to you, right? I don’t care if we have to move, or abandon the bar and find a smaller store. I don’t care about any of that as long as you girls are happy.” He stared at her as if he was able to see right through her, to the essence of who she was, to her soul. It was unnerving that he seemed to see her so clearly, but then her dad had always been extra intuitive, a sensitive guy.

She blinked against the tears that gathered in her eyes. “It’s been a roller coaster of a year. I can admit that. But I’m really doing okay and feel that things will only get better after next week.” It was more her hope than her belief. But it was all she had.

“There’s no harm in waiting a little longer, you know. Making sure that your heart is where it’s supposed to be.”

She placed her hand on top of his. “This is the path for me. I just needed some time to see that.”

“Then why are you all misty?” he asked.

Well, that did it. She blinked back the tears, but a couple spilled out, traitorous suckers. “I don’t know. Just under a lot of wedding stress. My app says it’s normal.”

“Just know that you can change your mind at any point, okay?”

“Well, I won’t be doing that. Ever since I said yes to Brent, I feel like I can breathe.” That part was true. He threw her a lifeline when she was drowning, and thank God for that. She now had a sense of direction, purpose, and she would maybe find a way back to the light once again.

“If you say so.” He didn’t seem convinced. “But I’ll be ready with the Nissan in gear, ready to drive you out of there if you give me so much as a nod. Pedal to the metal.”

“That’s because you’re the best dad.”

“Be sure to tell Betsy. She raided the fridge and fussed at me for drinking whole milk.”

“We’ll gang up on her next time.”

“Deal.” He looked behind him at the dinner dishes. “Guess I better do my part. She cooks. I clean.”

“I’ll help.”

Side by side, they systematically washed and dried, and turned the spaghetti-splattered kitchen back into its original self. The busywork coupled with the familiarity of her family’s kitchen settled Allison’s emotions, and when she returned home that night she was moredetermined than ever to walk down the aisle, having gathered her ambition once again. She closed her eyes with a sigh, hoping against hope that a pair of brown eyes didn’t overtake her dreams the way they so often did. It was time to move the hell on. She would be so much better for it.

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