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“You are nowhere near as nervous as last time,” Amy pointed out as she styled Lula’s hair for her performance at Mo’s exactly one year after the first one.
“I’m an old pro now, dahling,” she affected. “Plus, my whole family is here, that’s really all I need.”
Amy gave her a look in the mirror.
“What?” she shot back. “You’re part of my family too, you know that.”
“Damn Straight.” She jabbed another bobby pin into Lula’s hair and said, “Voila! I believe we are finished. Up, up, up!”
Lula did as ordered and slipped into her new dress; this one was a divine gold silk that made her eyes seem electric.
“Wow,” Amy said, shaking her head. “I think you look even better than last time.
She spied herself in the mirror and had to agree. “I do, but I can only afford to look this good once a year, so don’t get used to it.”
Amy laughed and helped her into her shoes and jewelry.
“Your mother would be so proud of you. Nana too.”
Lula felt a tug of sadness but smiled at the thought of the two incredible women that had raised her. “That’s all I want,” she said.
She was eager to go on stage tonight with Seb’s band. It was an honor greater than she deserved to sing with the Jazzmen, but Seb assured her that the bandleader, Jerry, was gaga over her voice. Those were his exact words. It made her giggle with pride every time she thought about it.
Tonight, she was singing the great Etta James’ “At Last.” It felt so fitting for where her life was right now. Dom’s love had repaired every part of her broken heart and he never looked back. Even though the proof he gave her father to protect her crippled his manuscript, he never regretted it.
Having her, he always said, was the most important thing. “History could wait,” he would tell her when she would start to feel bad about it.
He had sold his manuscript easily, even without the third member of Menotti’s Stella d’Italia unmasked—the publishers had decided that a cliffhanger would drive more interest in future sales once the situation changed. Namely, her father’s death—who was in jail on murder charges thanks to Tom’s anonymous letter.
It seemed to work, Dom had received shining accolades for his work and she couldn’t be prouder of him. It still amazed her every day that he belonged to her. Silly, boring Lula.
When it was time to take the stage, she took a deep breath, straightened her shoulders, and stepped into the spotlight. Her heart expanded warmly when she saw Dom, Mason, Katherine, Steve, and Amy all cheering their hearts out for her.
Dom and Steve still struggled to make their relationship work, but it was getting better slowly. There would be no guys’ nights out for a while.
Dom was smiling right at her and she matched his grin, never taking her eyes from him. Seb started the opening glissando and she opened her mouth to sing to Dom exactly how she felt about him.
His eyes never left her and she could’ve sworn a tear slipped from the corner of his eye as she neared the final verse. Christ alive, she loved this man with all of her being.
As she hit the last note another spotlight popped out of nowhere and blinded her, but she held on despite the distraction.
When her note ended the spotlight fell away and she saw Dom in front of her on one knee, giving her that damn grin of his.
She gasped and her chest exploded with joy as he held up a small black box. “Lula, my love.”
Tears started to fall. “Dom, what are you doing?”
He gave her a look. “Exactly what it looks like, if you’ll let me.”
She covered her mouth with her fingers and tried to stop her heart from bursting out of her chest.
He grinned. “Lula, I love you. There is no one else in the world like you and no one else in the world for me. I would very much like the chance to be your husband.” He took a deep breath. “Tallulah Stanley, will you marry me?”
Shaking, she nodded yes and fell into his arms. “Yes! Yes, of course, I’ll marry you.”
The crowd roared and the band struck up the “Wedding March” while he slipped a giant, sparkling diamond on her finger. He twirled her around the stage to cheers from all her friends and family. She had never felt so loved or so at home.
“I love you,” she whispered in his ear.
“I love you too, beautiful.”