Part 38 (1/2)

”Hey, Dad. Hey, Betty.” I gave them each a hug, and then introduced them to the group. My dad had seen McKenna and Andie many times over the years, but he'd never met the men who had dated them along the way.

My dad smoothed his tie with his hand. ”Thank you all for coming. It really means a lot to us to have Waverly's closest friends be part of our special day.” He looked at McKenna and Andie. ”You two girls are family to us, you know.”

”We wouldn't have missed it, Mr. Bryson,” McKenna said.

Andie nodded. ”Couldn't keep us away.”

”It's so lovely to meet you all,” Betty said. She looked so happy I thought she might cry.

My dad cleared his throat. ”Well, um, we have a little announcement.”

I could feel my eyes get big. An announcement? I really didn't know if I could take any more announcements.

”What is it, Dad?” I glanced at Betty's stomach. If she says she's pregnant, I'm going to lose it.

He smiled. ”After we get back from our honeymoon, Betty and I are going to open our own restaurant.”

”Your own restaurant? Really?” I said.

He nodded. ”Now it won't be anything fancy, you know, just a little cafe, actually. But we're excited about it.”

Now I felt like I was going to cry. ”Dad, that's wonderful.” I thought of how far he'd come in just a few years.

”You made it happen, you know,” he said to me.

”I made it happen?”

He nodded, and then turned to face the group. ”Now, I'm guessing Waverly hasn't told any of you that she's been sending me money every month for quite a while now.”

Everyone looked at me, and I could feel my cheeks go red. I looked at my dad. Why are you telling everyone that?

He put a hand on McKenna and Andie's shoulders. ”You two know I haven't been the best about managing my money, but I've really turned things around.”

McKenna smiled. ”So we've heard.” She and Andie had seen the progression over the years from gambling binges and get-rich-quick schemes to a stable job at a restaurant; from living in a double-wide in a dusty trailer park to renting a small yet respectable one-bedroom apartment.

He turned to look directly at me. ”And now, because of you, Betty and I are going to have our own cafe, and I wanted to say thank you in front of your friends so they know how generous you've been to your old man.”

”You don't have to thank me,” I whispered. ”You're my dad.”

”Yes, I do have to thank you, and I want to. Will you let me have my moment here? It's my wedding day, for crying out loud.”

I smiled and looked at the ground. ”I'm just happy I could help out.”

”Tell her, sweetheart,” Betty nudged him with her arm.

I raised my eyes. Tell me what? There's more?

Everyone looked at my dad, who smiled coyly.

”Well?” Andie said.

”Don't leave us hanging, Mr. Bryson,” Nick said.

I raised my eyebrows. ”Dad?”

He cleared his throat. ”Ladies and gentleman, we're going to name the cafe...Waverly's Place.”

I swallowed. ”Waverly's Place?”

He nodded. ”What do you think? I think it has a nice ring to it.”

”It definitely has a nice ring to it,” McKenna said.

”I love it,” Andie said.

For a moment, I didn't know what to say.

”What do you think, Waverly?” Betty said.

”It was Betty's idea,” my dad said.

I walked over to Betty and gave her a hug. ”Thank you,” I said softly. ”I love it.”

”You're welcome.” She squeezed me tightly.

Then I hugged my dad too. ”Thanks, Dad.”

”I'm glad you like the idea, baby. We wanted you to know that you'll always have a home with us, no matter where you're living.”

”We've already picked out the s.p.a.ce. You'd better come eat there next time you're in town, OK?” Betty said. ”On the house, of course.”

I laughed. ”I think I can manage that.”

My dad put his hand on Jake's arm. ”You too, OK, Jake? Open invitation, anytime.”

Jake nodded. ”Thank you, sir. I appreciate that.”

”What about us?” Andie said. ”Are we invited too?”

I looked at her. ”Andie!”

She held her palms up. ”What? We'll totally pay.”

Betty laughed. ”You're definitely welcome, Andie. You're all welcome, any time.” Then she turned to me and put her hand on my shoulder. ”I just love your friends, Waverly.”

I love them too, I thought.

a a a I had the window seat on our afternoon flight back to New York. It was delayed because of weather, so by the time we finally took off, it was dark outside. Once we were airborne, I stared out the window and wondered how cold it was back in Brooklyn.

Jake nudged me with his elbow. ”Penny for your thoughts.”