“I wish we were alone,” she said in a hushed voice.
I quickly looked at the clock. My mother and David would be leaving any moment now, and then I was going to whisk Emma out of here and to our special place. I took her hand and led her over to my mother and David.
“Darling, you look so handsome,” my mother said as she placed her hands on my face. She gently kissed my cheek.
David was talking to Emma, but it was like I was standing in a tunnel. I couldn’t hear a thing.
“Are you nervous?” she asked as she pulled away.
I smiled and nodded my head. “Yes, ma’am, I am.”
My mother touched my arm. “Garrett, have one dance with me before David and I leave?”
I held out my arm for her and led her to the dance floor. “Sincerely” by The McGuire Sisters was playing as I took my mother in my arms. We danced in silence for about a minute.
“Garrett, I want you to know that I will never love another man like I loved your father.”
I looked down into my mother’s eyes. “I know that, Mama. I just want you to be happy.”
She gently smiled and said, “I am happy, sweetheart, so very happy, but not just because I married David. I’m happy because of the man you are becoming. Your father would be so proud of you, and I want you to know that.”
I nodded my head and looked away. It was still hard for me to talk about my father. I missed him so much, and there had been so many times I wanted to ask for his advice on something.
“Garrett, don’t ever be afraid to talk to David. More than anything, he wants to be a father to you. He would never want to take the place of your daddy, but he is here for you. Please don’t hesitate to ask him for advice with anything.”
I held my breath as I looked at her. It was like she had read my mind.
“I’m not naïve, Garrett. I know that you and Emma have…well, that the two of you have been together. I’m not going to say I approve or disapprove, but I do want you to be careful. Please treat her with respect and never do anything she is not comfortable with. Now, I know I raised you right, but I want you to always put Emma before anything, even the ranch.”
I nodded my head. “Yes, ma’am. I would never, ever hurt Emma, Mama. She is my entire world. I’d do anything to make her happy.”
She smiled at me and let out a small chuckle. “I know you would, and from just watching the two of you together, it is evident how much you love each other. Hold on to that, darling, because that kind of love comes along only once in your life. Never take it for granted, and thank God every morning and every night.”
Her voice cracked, and I knew she was thinking of my father.
“Mama,” I said as I brought her closer to me and held on to her.
“I miss him, Garrett, and I feel so guilty for feeling happy.”
It was tearing me apart to hear the hurt in her voice. “Mama, Daddy would want you to be happy, and I know he trusted David with his life. He would want the two of you to find each other. Please don’t feel guilty. Be happy, Mama. Please be happy.”
She pulled back and quickly wiped her tears away. “Garrett Thomas Mathews, God has blessed me with you for a son. I hope you know that. Now, back to you and Emma. Make it special for her tonight. Make it a moment she will never forget, a moment she will tell your children about. When I close my eyes at night, Garrett, I see you and Emma surrounded by your grandchildren, telling them about your amazing love story.”
I smiled and nodded my head. “I will, Mama. I promise, I’ll make it special for her.”
My mother raised her eyebrows. “Just be careful, Garrett Mathews. Now, I’m going to go back to my little world I created where I have no idea as to what is going on between you two.”
I laughed and pulled my mother in. I gently kissed her on the cheek, and when I stepped back, I held her hands and looked her up and down. “You are the most breathtaking woman I’ve ever laid my eyes on. You look beautiful, Mama.”
Her cheeks flushed, and she rolled her eyes. “Liar,” she said as she held her arm out for
me to take.
As I walked her back to David, I caught sight of Emma standing off to the side. She was laughing at something Margie and Billy were saying to her. I looked back at David, and as my mother and I came to a stop in front of him, I handed my mother’s hand to him.
He took it and kissed the back of it, and then he looked at me. “Thank you, Garrett.”
I nodded my head and said the one thing I had been determined to say before they left, “Take care of her, Dad. I love her more than the air I breathe.”