Why the hell not? Dante decided there was no good reason not to throw Tanyalee a surprise thirtieth birthday party. According to Garland, no one but Viv had ever hosted a birthday bash for Tanyalee, and Dante thought that was something that should be remedied.
Candy volunteered to hold the party at the bakery, which, because it was mid-December, was already decked out for Christmas. Even though Candy was now in her sixth month of pregnancy, she was going strong and insisted on baking the birthday cake. She decided on a frosting design that featured several shades of pink, which shocked no one.
Cheri was in charge of taking Tanyalee to Asheville for a birthday lunch, just the two sisters. Tanyalee had been beyond excited by the invitation. By now Dante knew that time alone with her sister would be the best present she could ever receive.
Okay, maybe the second best.
Dante’s mom and sister had flown in for a couple of days, which was another of the day’s smaller surprises. Tanyalee would like the idea that they were in town for this event. She’d first met his mom and Daya when they flew in after he was wounded and they’d ended up staying with Viv—she would have it no other way. About a month after the shooting, Daya called Dante to check on his recovery, which by then was nearly complete. He asked his sister what she thought of Tanyalee, and after a short pause, she gave him an answer that still made him crack up. She said, “Dante, that woman is perfect for you. You’ve always liked the wildest ride in the amusement park.”
And it had been a wild ride so far, one he’d enjoyed immensely. Tanyalee continued to amaze him. She was still working full-time at Candy Pants but had started her own volunteer agency. Immediately after the Bread of Kindness Center fired Maryvelle Spickler Wilcox, Tanyalee received a call from the new director. He asked her to help develop an outreach program for disadvantaged women with the county’s job services program. She jumped on it, convincing dozens of retail stores and salons to pitch in. The Second Chance Club now provided makeovers for women preparing for job interviews.
He loved that girl. Dante loved her more every day.
She’d moved out of the house on Willamette just three weeks ago. Viv was not happy, but Tanyalee sure was. She rented the loft space above the bakery and had turned it into something that could have belonged to a Brooklyn hipster instead of a Bigler belle. He’d enjoyed helping her find antiques and paint old junk so that it looked like it belonged in a decorating magazine. His housewarming present for her had been a king-sized bed with all the trimmings. She rolled her eyes at first, but she loved it now.
She really, really loved it.
Cheri had texted that they were leaving the restaurant, so Dante announced to the crowd that they were at twenty minutes to blastoff. The band Garland had hired was ready to go. The balloons were rigged to fall from the ceiling. His mom was conspiring with Viv about something and Wes was attempting to seduce Daya with one of his famous panty-destroying smiles. Dante figured he should go over there and stop it before somebody got hurt, then changed his mind—maybe it was time Wes got shot down, tied up, and taken prisoner. He’d ask Daya to go easy on him, since they still needed him at work.
The DEA, in its strange wisdom, had decided to deny Dante’s transfer a second time—which was fine by him—while keeping Wes on in Asheville as a permanent assignment. It was true that a lot of good things were happening in this part of the state these days, but there was still too much bad shit for the local authorities to handle on their own.
At least there was one less thing to worry about: Wainright Miller had been arrested, charged with a host of state and federal offenses, and was currently in the Randolph County lockup awaiting trial. Ramirez hadn’t yet gotten to Miller, but if the call came tomorrow, Dante wouldn’t be surprised—or even bothered. Miller deserved whatever he got.
Fern wandered toward Dante. The girl had wormed her way into his heart over the last few months, he had to admit. He’d been helping her with homework and she was rapidly getting up to grade level in all her subjects. Fern adored Tanyalee, of course, and it was mutual though you wouldn’t know it listening to them talk. Overhearing one of their conversations was like taking a master class in Females of the Southeastern United States.
“Yo,” Fern said. “You ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” he answered, which was the truth. He figured a man just had to trust his gut with some things, and this was definitely one of them.
Dante’s phone vibrated. They were five minutes away. “Everybody get ready,” he said.
They cut the lights. Cheri was going to use some excuse to bring her in the front of the building. Everyone was silent as the key turned in the lock.
“SURPRISE!” The lights flipped on and the balloons came down, four hundred pink balloons all over the place.
Tanyalee put a hand to her heart, a look of pure shock on her beautiful face—which was what Dante was going for.
“What? I can’t believe this!”
Cheri pressed her inside and closed the door behind them, then took Tanyalee’s coat. Honestly, Dante didn’t think he’d ever get used to just how gorgeous his woman was. She still took his breath away.
“Dante?” Tanyalee gave and received lots of hugs, the whole while smiling at him. She ran over and he picked her up in his arms, kissing her without a bit of modesty. There were cheers all around. The band broke out into the “Happy Birthday” song.
“I can’t believe you did this!” she said, hugging him tight, careful not to squeeze his right shoulder.
“It was a group effort,” he said.
After about a half hour of mingling, music, and appetizers, it was time for the main event. Dante took Tanyalee to the bandstand and pulled up a chair for her. A steady stream of presents and cards arrived for her to open. Some were lovely and thoughtful, like the customized stationery she received from Daya and Dante’s mom, and the handmade scarf Temple Smathers’s wife had crocheted for Tanyalee. There were lots of books and joke gifts. Fern gave Tanyalee a DVD collection of all the Karate Kid movies, for some reason. Cheri and J.J. gave her a dinner for two in one of Asheville’s nicest restaurants, and Candy and Turner gave her a salon gift certificate, which made her squeak with happiness. Eventually, it was time for Dante’s present.
While Cheri and Daya picked up torn ribbons and crumpled wrapping paper, Tater Wayne and O’Connor quietly handed out plastic champagne flutes and opened bottles of bubbly. Dante tried to keep Tanyalee occupied so she wouldn’t get too suspicious.
“I have something very special for you tonight,” Dante said, pulling out a small box wrapped in pale pink satiny paper and tied with a chiffon bow.
Tanyalee smacked her hand over her mouth in shock, her eyes huge and glistening with tears. When a few people clapped and cheered, Viv shushed them.
“Not yet, ya’ll!” she said.
Dante reached for Tanyalee’s hand and pulled her to a stand. He saw that she was trembling. He really hoped that she would forgive him for this one day, but honestly, it was just too perfect to pass up.
“Happy birthday to the woman I love.” She gazed up at him with her bottomless blues, happiness radiating from her delicate face. “You have completely turned my life upside down, Tanyalee. You’ve taught me what love looks and feels like, and you’ve helped me remember how good it feels to laugh. I hope you enjoy your present.”
He placed the box in her palm.
“Would you like to sit down, sweetheart?”
“I think maybe I should,” she whispered.
It took forever for Tanyalee to peel off the wrapping paper and bow. Dante realized she was savoring it. Oh, God, he hoped he wasn’t making a horrible mistake. Wes had said it was a great idea, but what the hell did Wes know?
Dante closed his eyes. The anticipation was killing him.
“Well, here goes!” Tanyalee pulled off the last bit of paper to reveal a lovely black velvet box. She blinked.
Yes, it was bigger than might be required on an occasion like this. Some of her radiant happiness had already morphed into confusion.
Tanyalee pulled back the lid. She gasped. She lifted out her own pink and silver charm bracelet and held it up to the bandstand lights.
There was an awkward moment of silence, then she said, “Why, would you look at this!” She smiled as hard as she could. “It’s my bracelet … from … from the day we met!”
“Here, let me help you put it on.” Dante leaned in close and hooked the clasp, then gave it a little twirl. It tinkled as it spun on her wrist. He kissed her sweetly.
Tanyalee held her left wrist frozen in the raised position. She placed her other hand on her chest, looking out at the partygoers, confused but trying desperately not to show her disappointment.
Oh, no, baby. Dante repeated the words in his head: Look at it, Taffy. Look at it carefully. Look at the charms on your bracelet.
“Well, this is just the sweetest gesture, Dante.” She choked. “I have my bracelet back!”
And that’s when she gave it one last glance. She saw it—the pink diamond engagement ring set in white gold, hanging from the charm bracelet right next to the silver heart engraved with the word “Taffy.”
“OhsweetbabyJesus!” Tanyalee jumped up from the chair, knocking it over. She stared at the bracelet now held aloft like the Statue of Liberty’s flame. By the time she whirled around in his direction Dante was down on one knee. Everyone’s champagne flutes were held ready.
“Tanyalee Marie Newberry…”
“Dante! Oh, Lord!”
“… I want you to have something to remember me by, for the rest of our lives.”