Page 18 of Mr. McBeefcake

chapter

ten

Donovan

With ring in hand, or technically in my pocket, I open the door to Gator’s, the Cajun restaurant downtown. I have a small bouquet of flowers for my dad’s fiancée and hopefully my mother-in-law to be. I’m not wearing a full-blown suit because Saddle Creek isn’t quite that fancy. But I am wearing a bespoke pair of slacks because my thighs are too damn big for off-the-rack shopping. My button-down shirt is tucked in but opened at the throat because I fucking hate ties.

I probably should have spent more time figuring out exactly what I’m going to say, but I’ve never been very good at that. I can think ahead on the football field, but in everyday life, I prefer to wing it.

The wedding party is in the back room, and I can already hear them when I step inside. Kelli, Kathryn’s sister, is married to the eldest of the Guidry kids, the people who own this place. If I wasn’t so excited to finally tell my KitKat how I feel about her, I’d probably be more excited about the gumbo they serve here. It’s, hands down, the best.

But right now, as I step into the large party room, all I can think about is putting my ring on Kathryn’s finger. Finally.

I’m about twenty minutes late to this dinner, so everyone is already seated and enjoying the famous appetizers they serve here.

I step first to the happy couple at the head table. I present my flowers to my soon-to-be stepmom and she smiles and gives me a hug.

“Thank you, Donovan, that’s very kind of you,” she says.

I nod. Then I embrace my father. “Congratulations again, Dad.”

He pats me on the back. “Son, you look good.”

I eye the two of them and they do look very much in love. “I’m really happy for y’all. And as much as I don’t want to steal your thunder, there is something important that I’ve got to do.”

“If it involves my youngest daughter, may I say it’s about time?” Ms. Foster asks.

I hug her again. “It does and I agree.” Then I turn to face the rest of the group.

“Then steal all of our thunder,” my dad says.

With their blessing, I turn to face the rest of the room. I grab the butter knife next to my dad’s plate and clink it on his glass of water.

“Hi. I think I know mostly everyone here, but if not, I’m Greg’s son, Donovan.”

“Go Armadillos!” someone yells.

I chuckle. “Thank you. First, I want to say to my dad how grateful I am that you were always there. Even when mom passed you didn’t disappear on me. We grieved together, and I feel that growing up in your shadow made me a better man.

“I’m not sure I have adequate words to say how happy I am that you’ve found love again. If anyone deserves a second go, it’s you.”

I hold the glass up to him in a cheers.

He swallows thickly and nods, and I see Ms. Foster wipe tears from her cheeks.

“I’m really glad you were smart enough to grab the woman you wanted the moment you knew you wanted her. So cheers to the happy couple!”

Everyone claps.

“I promise I won’t take up much more of your time,” I say to the guests. “But there are a few more things I need to say. I’ve already apologized to my father and his bride for hijacking their rehearsal dinner. It’s just that when you finally realize what you’re supposed to do in your life, you don’t let little things like etiquette stand in your way.”

I give my dad a self-deprecating shrug.

Chuckles scatter through the room.

I clear my throat. Then I finally let myself scan the room to find her. She’s sitting next to her sister, those green eyes wide behind her glasses and locked on me.

“Not everyone is blessed enough to meet their soulmate when they’re a kid. Even still, there are those of us who did and managed to screw it up anyways.” I walk towards her. “That happened to me when a pretty little girl with brown hair and grass-colored eyes moved into the house next door. She became my partner in all things mischief when we were kids. As teens she became the girl I fell in love with. Now as adults, it’s finally time I say the things I’ve held back for so long.”