by Inda Herwood
I watch as everyone turns to face the path leading to the beach, seeing Nana and Mom make their way down to us. Nana can’t stop smiling, including when Mom hands her off to Mr. Lyons – I mean Grandfather – with tears in her eyes. I’ve never seen her so happy.
It’s a beautiful ceremony, filled with touching vows and lots of laughs. Once it’s all over, everyone heads up to the house where the reception tent is, the fairy lights in the rafters glowing beautifully as night falls.
Sending me into a surprise spin next to the dance floor, Beck asks, “Are you going to let me have a few dances later, Kahlo?”
I smile when he spins me back into his chest. “We’ll have to see how you play your cards, Nota.”
“I’m psyched you guys made up and everything, but do you think you can keep it in for a few minutes? I’m trying to eat here,” Catcher complains, suddenly appearing next to us, eating a jalapeño popper off the end of a toothpick. “It’s very distracting.”
“I think you’re just jealous that you and Theo are the only singles one left,” Beckham tells him, wrapping his arms around my middle from behind. I rest my hands on top of his, watching Nana and her new husband move to the dance floor.
“As if. I’m like a wild mustang, brother. I can’t be held down by a woman,” he says, throwing back another popper. He’s got a bunch of finger food stacked up on his plate like a mini mountain range.
Beckham shakes his head at him, resting his chin on my shoulder. “An animal you definitely are.”
Before Catch can retort, Nana is taking the mic from the DJ, smiling at her guests when she says, “Hello, everyone. Thank you all so much for coming today to celebrate with us. We couldn’t be happier to have you all here.” She sends a wink my way, and I send one back to her with a smile. A round of clapping goes up around us, taking a minute to die down. But when it does, she says, “Before we get to partying, Theodore and I have a special announcement to make.”
“At least we know she can’t be pregnant,” Catcher mutters around what looks like a mini mozzarella stick, and I let out a snort of laughter I quickly cover up with a hand, batting him in the stomach for it. He just smirks while his brother laughs into my shoulder.
“Family is extremely important to us. And as some of you know, I’ve been given a rare opportunity, getting the chance to live with my children and grandchild for the better part of a decade now. Parting from them after all this time was unimaginable to me. And so Theodore and I made a decision.” Still looking at me, her smile growing, Nana says, “We closed on the Kelly’s home across the street yesterday. They’ve decided to move to Florida to be closer to their own family, allowing us to keep just as close to our kids as before.” She pauses while this sinks in, and in true Nana fashion, says, “In other words, you’re not getting rid of us just yet.”
An equal mixture of joy and relief courses through me as the guests clap for their exciting news, beyond happy that I won’t have to say goodbye to my nana after all. I turn to Mom and Dad to see their reactions, but their small smiles tell me they knew about this long before the announcement. Must be it was a surprise just for me.
“I guess getting her a man didn’t work in my favor after all,” Beck whispers in my ear, and I silently chuckle against him with happy tears in my eyes.
“We want to welcome everyone to food and drink, and to enjoy the dance floor,” Grandfather says once the cheers come to an end, looking down at Nana with a loving glance. “But I think we’re going to take the first one if you don’t mind.”
“That’s my cue,” Beckham says while everyone claps for the new couple’s first dance.
“What?” I ask, turning back to look at him.
He gives me a quick kiss on the cheek before jogging over to the keyboard next to the DJ booth, sitting himself behind it while he adjusts the knobs. I give Catcher a confused look as Leigha, Kaito, and another girl I don’t recognize come over to join us. “What is he doing?” I ask them.
“It’s something Grandfather asked him to do a few days ago as a surprise for Nana,” Leigha tells me before saying, “Blaire, this is Kaito’s sister, Miku. Miku, this is my friend Blaire.”
The beautiful girl with a cute black bob and stylish square glasses smiles, her accent as pretty as her brother’s when she says, “Konnichiwa.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” I say, just as a few notes start to drift from the keyboard.
My attention goes right back to Beckham behind the keys, my heart swelling when I see my nana and Grandfather dancing, and my boyfriend smiling at me, the notes to “I Was Made for Loving You” by Tori Kelly and Ed Sheeran filling the tent. He plays beautifully, and seemingly without effort as his fingers just glide over the keys. Amazing.
I’m so glad I finally got to hear him play.
I start to chuckle when I see him dramatically mouth the words to the song, other couples starting to flood the dance floor now, including Kaito and Leigha.
“Want to make my brother jealous?” Catcher asks me after he takes my hand and drags me out to the middle of the dance floor. I’m still laughing when I place one hand on his shoulder while the other slips into his hand.
“You two are terrible,” I tell him, seeing Beck glare at the back of his head when we swing around. I mouth a “Sorry” to him.
“We’re supposed to be. We’re brothers.” He sends me back into a dip, causing me to screech in surprise before he pulls me back up again.
After a few more terrifying laps around the floor, I feel a pull on my skirt, causing us to stop. That’s when we see Theo standing there, smiling up at me with red cheeks, his bow tie sitting askew at his collar.
“Are you asking for a dance, little bro?” Catcher asks him before dipping into a dramatic bow, as if Theo wants the dance with him instead of me.
Theo adamantly shakes his head, pointing to me.
“Well that’s rude,” Catcher frowns, crossing his arms.
“You’ll live,” I tell him, taking Theo’s hands.
“Now I’ve got two brothers who are trying to kill my game,” he mutters sulkily, walking off the dance floor. Theo grins.
A new song starts to play, one that’s fun and bumpy, and Theo and I jump around as we dance, teaching each other different dance moves. It’s a blast, especially after others start to join us, like my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lyons, Leigha and Kaito, and even Catcher after losing the long face. It’s perfect. The only thing that’s missing is –
“Did you miss me?” Beckham whispers in my ear, having swooped in out of nowhere, pulling me into his arms.
“Extremely,” I say without shame, looking up into his smiling face. “Where did you disappear to after your performance?”
The music changes again, going back to something slower, and Beckham holds me close enough that I can feel his heart beating against my chest. “My grandfather and Nana wanted to thank me for the song. It took a little while for me to process the fact that she hugged me without trying to stab me in the back.”
I laugh to the point where my ribs begin to hurt, Beckham’s expression one of little amusement. “You laugh now, but it was a very real fear for me at the time.”
“I don’t doubt it,” I say, resting my head on his chest. “It was a really sweet thing for you to do. And you’re an amazing pianist. Almost good enough for NYU.”
“Almost?” he says, sending me back into a dip like his brother had, but this time I don’t fear him dropping me. Because I trust him. Completely.
“Okay, a little better than almost,” I say once I’m upright again. But sadly, our teasing reminds me of something that’s very real. “When you get in, you’re going to be hours away from me.”
He nods, looking just as upset by it.
“No more window notes.”
Another nod.
“No more walks on the beach, or jellyfish adventures.”
“It’s not the jellyfish I’ll be missing. But at least I’ll be home for weekends, and before long, you�
��ll be joining me in the city,” he says, his voice full of hope.
“You’re just assuming I’ll get into Pratt. We don’t know that for sure.”
“I don’t assume, I know. You’re talented, and smart, and you’re going to get into that fancy schmancy school and be the top student. Then afterwards, you’ll get your doctorate and be a professor there. Easy peasy, as Catcher likes to say.”
“Easy peasy,” I repeat with a laugh, happy to have his support and confidence. “I’m still going to miss you until then.”
He gives me a kiss on the tip of my nose. “What, do you kind of like me or something?”
I shake my head. “No. I just kind of love you.”
“What a coincidence,” he grins against my cheek. “So do I.”
“You love yourself, too?”
“Ha ha.” Kissing my lips slowly, he just barely pulls away to say, “I’m going to miss you, too.”
A loud, teeth shattering squeal ruins the peaceful atmosphere we had going, causing everyone to wince before it stops. When we all look to see what created it, we spot Theo standing at the front of the tent with Hawn at his side and a microphone in his hand. He holds it up to his mouth, pausing to take a deep breath before saying, “I want to talk again. And I want to start by telling Nana and Grandfather Lyons that I’m really happy you guys love each other. That’s…that’s it.” And like the little boss he is, Theo literally drops the mic, sending up another electric shriek that doesn’t surprise the guests or our families nearly as much as his actions just did.
When I turn back to stare at Beck, dumbfounded with shock, he gives me a cocky grin. “I taught him the mic drop part.”
Stick around, because Leigha’s story is coming next in 2020!
AUTHOR’S PLAYLIST FOR THE LYONS NEXT DOOR
“I Wanna Dance with Somebody” by Whitney Houston
“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” soundtrack by John Williams
“Wait” by M83
“Surrender” cover by Natalie Taylor
“Turning Out” by AJR
“Don’t Give Up On Me” by Andy Grammer
“Can I Be Him” by James Arthur
“I Was Made for Loving You” by Tori Kelly ft. Ed Sheeran
“Let My Love Open the Door” by Pete Townshend
“Rocket Man” by Elton John
“Feel Good” by Gryffin and Illenium ft. Daya
“Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Elvis