“Oh, thank you. Thank you for that. And this.” She gestured toward the stage just as Jubie came running toward her. Rosa held out her arms as Jubie fell into them. “Thank you, angel, for singing for me.”
Jubie looked into her eyes. “I never saw a proposal before. That was awesome.” Around them, the crowd had started to mingle, talking and laughing.
“Promise me you’ll wait for a man who’ll treat you like this,” Rosa said.
“I will.” She nodded with great seriousness before turning to Dominic. “Mama Soto is very special to us.”
“I understand completely,” he said.
A man’s voice came from the speakers. “Excuse me, folks.” The crowd quieted. Brody Mullen was at the podium. When he spoke, people listened. “Before we hear some more beautiful music from our children’s choir, we have something special to announce. I’d like to ask Doc Waller to come up and do the honors.”
Doc emerged from the clump of folks he’d been standing with and went to the microphone. “Thanks, Brody. I appreciate it.” He scanned the crowd before continuing. “I’d like to invite the Shaw family along with Sophie Woods to the stage.”
Zane, who now held Sebastian in his arms, looked down at his wife. “What’s going on?”
“I don’t know.” She returned his gaze, looking as confused as he, but taking his hand nonetheless and walking up to where Doc stood. Sophie, who’d been entwined with Nico, disentangled herself from his arms to stand next to her brother. Jubie snuggled close to her mother.
Doc spoke into the microphone, his voice thick with emotion. “Zane and Sophie, the whole town mourned with you when you lost the restaurant, but not as much as we did when we lost Hugh. For those of you who don’t know, Hugh Shaw was the type of man who did everything behind the scenes to make this town special. There was never a person he turned away from his restaurant if they were hungry, whether they could pay or not. He made sure no child ever went without something special under their tree. Hugh worked long hours for little money, but I never once heard him complain. He never took a vacation. Every dime he made went to Zane’s college fund as well as back into this community. Even after I diagnosed him with dementia and he knew his cognizant days were numbered, he made sure to hand the Christmas toy drive over to someone. He was the heart of this town, not his restaurant. The Oar was simply the place we went to gain nourishment for both stomach and our souls. When he left us, too soon, like my wife, Lily, and Mae Keene, this town was never the same. But there are seasons to this life. My generation had our time. We worked hard and loved and lost but always together, with the idea that as a team we could make a wonderful community for our children. Hugh, especially, was the embodiment of that spirit. To him, every child of this town was ours. He would certainly have not gone down without a fight if the bar had burned during his lifetime. He would have rebuilt it, better than it was. Because that’s how he was. Nothing kept him down for long. So, it’s with great pleasure that I announce the official renaming of Main Street to Hugh Shaw Street.” Brody came forward with a green street sign. He held it up for everyone to see before presenting it to Sophie.
“What. How… I mean, oh, my gosh.” Honor’s face crumpled into tears. “How did you all keep this from us?”
“That part was hard,” Doc said, grinning. “But we wanted it to be a surprise for you.”
Sophie squeezed the sign against her chest. “This is wonderful. He would be proud.”
Zane was openly weeping, as was Honor. Sebastian touched his father’s face with his hands. “Don’t cry, Daddy.”
“They’re happy tears, Sebbie.” Zane kissed the boy’s hands before turning to Doc, then the crowd. “I can’t thank you enough. This means the world to us. I just wish he was here to see it.”
“He’d have been totally embarrassed,” Honor said.
“But secretly loved it,” Zane said. “Thank you, everyone.”
The crowd cheered once more. When the roar died down, Doc spoke into the microphone. “Because we can’t go back to The Oar to celebrate, we’ve gotten special permission from the city council to close the street for a few hours and have a party.
“Aren’t you the city council?” Lance shouted from the crowd.
“Semantics, young man,” Doc said. “We have beverages and food, all courtesy of Brody and Kara Mullen.”
More cheers.
“And now, we’d like to turn this back to our angel choir for a few more songs, after which our very own Maggie Keene will perform songs from her new Christmas album.”
The angels started to sing, this time “The First Noel.”
Rosa turned to Dominic and held her hand up to show him the ring. “I didn’t think I was capable of being surprised,” she said. “But you sure did.”
“I can’t believe you thought I was going to break it off,” Dominic said. “I’m smarter than that, I can assure you.” He leaned closer to kiss her. This time she kissed him back, no longer worried who saw.
When they parted, she placed both her hands on his cheeks. “Let’s get married tonight.”
“Tonight?” he asked.
“We’re not getting any younger. Let’s do it.”
“Don’t you want a wedding?”
“I think we’ve already got one,” she said. “There’s food, drinks, and lots of people. We even have Maggie to play music for us. I’ve always thought ‘The Way You Look Tonight’ would be a great song to walk down the aisle to.”
“I love that song,” he said. “But who will marry us?”
“Pastor Jim’s standing right over there.” She pointed to Pastor Jim and his wife, who were pouring the choir mugs of hot cider.
“We need a license,” Dominic said.
“We’ll get that tomorrow,” Rosa said. “This will just be the ceremonial part. We can go to city hall and get the paperwork done later.”
“I won’t have time to plan the honeymoon.”
“We can do that anytime. What I want more than anything is for you to be in Cliffside Bay. You can move into my apartment and we’ll go from there.” She smiled. “I have always wanted to go on a cruise.”
“I’ll take you anywhere in the world you want to go.” He clasped her hands and pulled her close. “Rosa, you never cease to amaze me. This isn’t what I thought you’d want, but taking you home tonight as my wife sounds like the best plan I’ve ever heard.”
She whispered in his ear. “I know what you’re thinking, Mr. Perry, and I couldn’t agree more.”
She held Dominic’s hand and planted her most reassuring smile on her face. Rafael, Ria, and Lisa were looking at her as if she’d just suggested they all test their superpowers by jumping off the roof of the grocery store.
“You want to do what?” Rafael asked. Her son looked like he did when she’d left him at kindergarten, wide-eyed and worried. Even as a child, he’d always been so cautious and skeptical. Except when it had come to Lisa. He’d jumped into his marriage without a care in the world. She would remind him of that if she had to. This marriage was happening tonight. Afterward she was taking the delicious man home with her.
Ria clamped her hands over her bony hips and shook her head. “Did I hear you right?”
“You heard me right. We want to get married tonight,” Rosa said.
“But don’t you want it in the church?” Lisa’s cheeks were pink from the cold and perhaps the excitement. She rubbed her gloved hands together.
Rosa laughed and patted her daughter-in-law’s shoulder. “Don’t look so scandalized.”
“Is this what you want?” Rafael asked Dominic. “Because Mama can be bossy sometimes.”
“I want what she wants,” Dominic said.
“Smart man.” Ria held out her hand. “Welcome to the family.”
“Let’s get this wedding planned, then,” Lisa said.
“I’d like Ria to be my maid of honor,” Rosa said as she looked over at Ria. “Will you?”
“It has to be me,” Ria said.
“I’ll find Pepper and Maggie,” Lisa said. “Do you have a song you want?”
“‘The Way You Look Tonight,’” Dominic said so quickly that everyone laughed.
“I’d like Jubie to be my flower girl,” Rosa said. “But wait, we don’t have a ring for Dominic.”
Rafael tugged his wedding ring off and handed it to Rosa. “Use this one for tonight.”
Dominic pulled Rafael into a hug. “Thanks. I’ll take good care of it.”
“I know you will,” Rafael said. “And I know you’ll take good care of my mama.”
“You have my word.” The men shook hands as the choir began to sing “Jingle Bells.”
Thirty minutes later, Rosa and Ria sat together in front of the fireplace in Rosa’s apartment. Shouts, laughter, and the bass of the live band playing in the park penetrated the glass windows.
“I wish you had a white dress.” Ria’s voice sounded wistful and so lonely that Rosa was jolted out of her selfish glow of joy to realize her friend might be hurting. They’d assumed they would continue toward old age together, as best friends and neighbors. Now, Rosa had changed the plan.
Ria wasn’t the type to welcome anyone’s sympathies, so Rosa kept it light when she answered. “I had one at my first wedding and look how that turned out.”
“This time is different.” Ria reached into her handbag. “I have a something borrowed and a something blue.” She placed a piece of delicate white lace on the couch cushion between them. “This is from my mother’s wedding dress. We can tuck it into your bra for good luck.”
“I’ll hold it in my hand,” Rosa said. “Proudly.”
“And there’s this. It’s your Christmas present, a little early. Fortuitous, I suppose.” She handed Rosa a small, thin box.
Rosa lifted the lid. A gold bracelet with three blue gemstones rested in a layer of cotton. “My something blue. Thank you, my friend.” She held out her left wrist. “Will you help me put it on?”
Ria tugged it from the box and fastened it around Rosa’s wrist.
“We’ve secured a lot of jewelry and zipped up a lot of dresses for each other over the years,” Ria said.
“We’ll always be best friends,” Rosa said. “Even if we don’t live next door.” She ran her finger over the gemstones. “What made you think of this?”
“I had a feeling you might need a something blue.” Risa glanced toward the fire, tears in her eyes. “I wanted to be the one who gave it to you.”
“I thought he was going to break it off,” Rosa said. “I didn’t think he would want the lunch lady for his wife.”
Ria smiled and shook her head. “You’re such a dummy sometimes.”
“This time I’m glad I was wrong.”
“Don’t you ever let any of the people in his world make you feel bad,” Ria said. “No one is better than you.”
“I’ll remember that, yes.”
“We’ll still watch our shows together sometimes, right?” Ria’s gaze had moved to the Christmas tree.
“Yes, we’ll still watch our shows together.” She tried to sound confident but instead her voice broke. “I’m scared to death.”
Ria smiled as she turned back to look at Rosa. “You should be. Do you know how long it’s been since you had sex?”
Rosa gasped, then burst into laughter. “Ria, you’re terrible.”
Ria sobered and turned to face the fire. “We’ve been friends for thirty-four years. I’ve never told you about my son’s father.”
Rosa held her breath, waiting. Ria was correct. She’d never once shared any details about the man who’d fathered her son. Rosa had always assumed it was a short affair with a man who ran away fast the moment he learned of her pregnancy.
“He was married,” Ria said. “And much older than me. I met him at work. We had a short but passionate affair. Then, he got a job in another city and left. I never saw him again.” She laced her fingers together on her lap. “Unlike you, I’m not a saint.”
“I’m not one either,” Rosa said. “You of all people know that only too well.”
“I was happy to have my boy, even without a husband. Even though my family was ashamed of me, I didn’t care, because I had my beautiful son.” Ria turned her black-coffee-colored eyes back to Rosa. “After I lost Paulo…you did something I can never repay you for.” Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes. She crossed her arms over her skinny middle and drew her lips into a thin line.
Rosa stared at her friend. Ria was not one to cry. “What did I do?”
“You never stopped mentioning him. You never erased him, thinking that would help me.”
“I loved him too.” Rosa’s throat ached as an image of Paulo and Rafael as little boys playing catch on the sidewalk in front of their apartment building came to her.
“He would be happy today,” Ria said. “To see his Mama Soto so pretty and happy.”
“We’ve been blessed by our friendship,” Rosa said as she patted Ria’s hand.
“Yes, we have.”
They were quiet for a moment, both staring into the fire.
“How come you never told me about his father?” Rosa asked.
“I was ashamed,” Ria said. “You were always perfect. And me, well, not so much. I’ve had boyfriends here or there over the years, you know.”
“I know.” Rosa tapped her friend’s knee. “I did live right next door to you.”
Ria smiled. “I never found anyone worthy of introducing him to Paulo, so I kept it casual. Since my boy’s death, I stopped caring about romance.”
“But you’ve changed your mind lately, haven’t you?” Rosa asked. “Warren Perry? Do you like him?”
Ria straightened her back. “A little, yes. There’s something gentle about him. I feel like I’m wrapped in a warm blanket when he’s around.” A stifled laugh rumbled in her chest. “Isn’t that silly?”
“Not at all. Why haven’t you done anything about it?”
“I thought it was too soon after his divorce. It’s been a year now. Do you think that’s long enough?” Ria asked.
“I’m not sure I’m a good person to ask. I’d been divorced thirty-five years before finally being kissed.” What a kiss it was. A kiss that had started the beginning of a new life. Looking back, she could see that was the moment it all began.
A knock sounded on the door, followed by Lisa’s voice calling out to them.
“Yes, come in.” Rosa rose from the couch.
Jubie bounded in, her cheeks the color of raspberries and her brown eyes round with excitement. “Is it true? Do I get to be your flower girl?”
“It’s true,” Rosa said as she knelt to draw the young one into her arms.
“And I can wear my angel outfit?”
Rosa straightened and looked down at her small friend while adjusting the tinsel halo to fit more evenly in the middle of Jubie’s head. “Yes. Did you know I thought it was real angels singing last New Year’s Eve and it turned out to be you?”
Jubie’s hands covered her mouth for a second before she laughed. “That’s funny, Mama Soto.”
“Do you know what you’re supposed to do?” Lisa asked. “Or should we go over it again?”
Jubie shook her head. “No, I can remember. Just walk down the aisle toward Dominic and Pastor Jim.”
Another knock on the door, followed by Pepper. “Hey, can I come in?”
“Yes, yes,” Ria said. “What do you have there?”
Pepper held a garment bag against her chest. “I have something I think you should look at before the ceremony.” She charged over to the couch and thrust the garment bag over the ottoman, then unzipped it. Seconds later, she pulled out an off-white gown. Cut simply in taffeta, the dress had a swirl of fabric around the middle with a mermaid-style skirt and long sleeves.
“Where did you get that?” Lisa asked.
“It was a circuitous route,” Pepper said with an impish grin. “I’m not sure I should confess the exact details, other than to say, I may
or may not have stolen it off a movie set.”
“Mama Soto can’t get married in stolen goods,” Lisa said.
Jubie bounced around the room like a rubber ball. “But it’s so pretty. She has to wear it.”
“Why on earth would you steal a dress?” Lisa asked.
“It was that awful horror flick I did. They had six of these and the actress did the take in two, so the dresses were just hanging there, and I thought, why not? It might come in handy one day. Like, if my mom and Dack ever had a second wedding. So I slipped one in my bag and made a run for it.”
“Oh, my God,” Lisa said.
Pepper shrugged. “It’s not a big deal. No one missed it. And look at this dress. I mean, it’s gorgeous.”
“You’re a criminal,” Lisa said. “With stolen goods.”
Pepper placed her hands on her hips and tossed her head. “The point is, the actress, who played my mother—by the way—was just about Mama Soto’s size. Which, if you ask me, is divine intervention. Am I right, Mama Soto? Can I get a hallelujah?”
Rosa crossed herself. “Hallelujah.”
“Try it on,” Jubie shouted. “Please, Mama Soto.”
“It does seem a shame to waste it,” Ria said. “Even if its route here was without conventional scruples.”
“I didn’t have a wedding gown, remember?” Pepper asked with a slight pout. “And I want Mama Soto to have one.”
“Way to pull out the sympathy card,” Lisa said.
Pepper’s small face broke into another grin. “Try it on, at least. Maybe it won’t fit and you can wear the cocktail dress you have on, which is gorgeous.” She clapped her hands together. “I almost forgot. I brought my veil and the tiara in case you wanted to borrow those.”
“It wouldn’t hurt to try it on, I suppose,” Rosa said. “I might like to wear it if it fit.” Her mouth was practically watering with lust for that dress. She said a silent prayer that it would fit.
Pepper hustled them all into the bedroom and Rosa was man-handled out of her dress and into the gown.
“Fortunately, you already have the body shaper on,” Pepper says. “Saves time.”
“I’m already not breathing, so yes, why not?” Rosa asked as Pepper fastened the back.
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