Stop.
He’s not part my life.
Not anymore.
And I’m okay.
Kind of.
In a courtyard of Disney World’s Grand Floridian Resort, Lance paced back and forth. He double-checked that the two-carat engagement ring was still in his suit breast pocket. Thank God. It is there. At least I didn’t screw that part up. He took a deep calming breath. The actual proposal wasn’t what he was having second thoughts about, but rather the delivery.
After the discussion with his family, he’d decided to ask Willa to marry him in a place she’d told him she’d always wanted to go. He’d felt it was important to bring Lexi. Willa’s dream had been to go to Disney with her, so he wanted to make that happen. He also wanted them to move forward together. First, Willa’s dream. Next, helping Willa heal her family.
My family.
After he married Willa, Lexi would be family.
I hope I don’t fuck this up.
No, Lance was certain he’d chosen the right venue.
What he questioned was his decision to tell “Uncle” Alessandro about his plans. Asher had said they’d truly appreciated being there when he’d proposed to Emily, so Lance knew it would be a kind gesture to invite them to this too.
Two people became fifty. Fifty became one hundred. Lance had imagined a simple event. Simple. Small. Now it included a ballroom full of guests, a Cinderella-style horse-drawn coach Alessandro had commissioned—despite Lance’s protests—a patio where, if everything went perfectly, he would propose . . . while fireworks went off in the background. Not simple.
Alessandro Andrade had most of his family with him and what appeared to be every child in the New York area. They were well dressed but running wild on the lawns and taking turns going around the property in Cinderella’s coach.
Lance’s father came to stand beside him. “I’m glad you invited the Andrades. Your mother has grown closer to them this past year. She’s always felt she didn’t have family beyond us, but her sister’s children adore her. This was good.”
“It’s not quite how I imagined it,” Lance said, loosening his tie with one finger. “I hope it’s not too much.”
“The coach might be,” Dale said with a smile. “None of this matters or will determine her answer.” He tapped his son’s chest. “What’s in here will. Tell her you love her. Willa’s no stranger to loss. She needs to know you’re in this for the long haul. No matter what. Don’t do this if there is any question in your heart if she’s the one for you. But if you know she is, let yourself enjoy this. Today is a day you’ll describe to your children, and God willing, your children’s children. Make it a good story.”
Lance looked around with fresh eyes. Every single person there, all one hundred of them, had come to celebrate Willa being asked to join his family. He smiled.
Alessandro came over to join them. “The waiting is the hardest part, no?” He shook hands with Dale and then Lance.
Lance nodded. His stomach was still doing flips. “I hope she says yes.”
Alessandro clapped a hand on his back. “Don’t worry, if she says no, we’ll do this again and again until she changes her mind.”
Dale laughed. “He’s serious.”
With a carefree shrug, Alessandro said, “The secret to a lasting marriage is to not give up on each other no matter what.” He snapped his fingers. “And always please her first.” He smiled. “Forget that and you’ll be down the hall wondering how you got your own bedroom.”
Lance exchanged a look with his father then burst out laughing, and his nervousness fell away. “I feel prepared for marriage now. Thank you, Alessandro.”
“Uncle Alessandro,” the old Italian man corrected with a huge smile.
Nodding, Lance repeated, “Uncle Alessandro.”
Sophie appeared at Dale’s elbow. “They’re here. Kenzi texted that they’re parking now. Don’t forget to call Asher so he and Emily won’t miss this. I tried to call Andrew, but he’s not available. This is so exciting.”
Lance turned to Alessandro and said, “I love that you’re all here. I promise I’ll introduce Willa to all of you, but I need to talk to her alone first.”
“Asher did it his own way, too,” Alessandro answered then shrugged. “But it worked out for him. So, yes, go have your talk first. Then the Grand Gesture.”
Not sure what the hell his “uncle” was talking about, Lance agreed simply to appease him.
Dale put a hand on Lance’s shoulder. “Good luck.”
Sophie stepped forward and hugged Lance. “He doesn’t need luck. We all know she loves him. Now get out there and get me another daughter.”