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.”

I heard my mother let out a sob, and David’s eyes glassed over. He reached out, grabbed me, and pulled me in for a hug.

He slapped me on the back and gave me a small push. “You will never know what it means to me to hear you call me dad. I promise you, son, I will always take care of her and you and Billy.”

David and my mother had left about thirty minutes ago, and I was frantically looking around for Emma. She had disappeared on me about ten minutes ago, and we needed to leave.

Someone walked up behind me and put their hand on my arm, causing me to jump. “Shit, Mathews. Calm the hell down, will you?”

I ran my hand through my hair and then down my face. “I’m a fucking nervous wreck, Margie.”

She threw her head back and laughed. “Nice language in front of a lady, you ass.”

I looked at her, confused. “You just swore in front of me. What’s the difference?”

“Listen up, you need to get your ass out of here now. Everything is all set up.”

“You used the quilt I gave you, right?” I asked as I continued to look around for Emma.

“Yes, and let me just say, I was slightly disgusted by touching it.”

I spun around and looked at her. “Why?”

She put her hands on her hips and tilted her head as she gave me a look. “Please. Emma has told me about the nastiness y’all do on that thing.”

I let out a chuckle and looked up. I had to catch my breath when I saw Emma standing across the room. I’d never seen anyone so beautiful in my life. She made my heart pound in my chest and my stomach flip around like I was on an amusement ride.

“By the look on your face, I’m going to take it that you’ve found Emma. Go get her, and get out of here,” Margie said as she turned to follow my gaze.

“You don’t have to tell me twice, Marg. I’m leaving.” I gave her a good-bye kiss on the cheek. “Thank you, Margie. I appreciate everything you and Billy did to help me with this.”

She smiled. “She loves you, Garrett. She loves you so much. Don’t ever forget it.”

I nodded and began walking toward Emma. Right before I got to her, Dr. Birk stepped in front of me.

Oh, great, like I’m not nervous enough.

Emma’s parents had gotten back in town yesterday, and I had this fear they would find out that Emma and I had been going to their house.

“Garrett,” Dr. Birk said with a smile and nod.

I reached out for his hand and shook it. “Dr. Birk, I haven’t had a chance to ask you. How was the trip to Europe?”

He smiled bigger. “It was nice and relaxing.”

“Did y’all get to visit all the places Mrs. Birk had hoped to see?”

He threw his head back and laughed. “Yes, she got to see all the places she had hoped to see.” Then, he looked at me and shook his head. “Son, are you nervous?”

I let out the breath I’d been holding and nodded my head like a fool. “Sir, I’m so nervous that I feel like I’m going to throw up. What if I don’t make it special enough for her? What if she says no? What if…” I wasn’t sure why I’d decided to express every fear I had about asking Emma to marry me at that moment and to her father of all people.

He put his hand on my shoulder and relaxed his smile. “Garrett, my boy, take a deep breath. Slow that heart rate down, or you’re never going to make it through this.”

I pushed both hands through my hair and then ran them down my face. I can’t do this. There is no way I’m going to make this special enough for her. She deserves so much more.

“Garrett, look at me,” Dr. Birk said. “She is going to say yes because she loves you. I see the two of you together, and I see the way you both light up when the other enters a room. She was ready to walk away from college to be with you. You could ask her with a paper bag over your head, and she would say yes. Stop stressing over this. Now, Emma tells me you doubled up on classes this summer. Garrett, I want you to take it easy and not stress yourself out. Like we’ve talked about, I want you to eat, drink lots of water, and take it easy on the football field this summer. Do you understand me?”

I just stood there and stared at him. One minute, he had been talking to me about my proposal to his daughter, and the next, he had been worried about my health. In that moment, it all hit me. I’d lost my father, but in losing him, I’d gained two more fathers who both truly cared about my future and me.

I smiled as I nodded my head. “Yes, sir. I’ll be sure not to take a heavy load in the fall. Yes, I’m eating like you said, and I will be sure to stay hydrated.”