The token hanging against my dress warmed between the two of us. “I had a lot of help,” I said, picking up the medallion in my fingers and stroking the elephant. When it pulsed back, I let my father feel the energy to reassure him of Granny’s presence. “I’ll bet Granny’s good and ready to get back to her kitchen.”
“It’ll be good to have you both back there. But I’ll enjoy spending some time with you and Luke. Get to know his family a bit more.” He nodded at my fiancé laughing with his parents. “Maybe eat some new things and see some interesting sights.”
“Sounds like a good plan.” I hugged him again.
Lorenzo and Damiana led everyone to a long table set for the intimate party full of friendly faces and family who loved me. Luke and his parents laughed and joked with my father, and I watched with intense pleasure. No longer burdened by the loss of Isabella, the three of them seemed lighter and more able to face the world with a smile instead of a frown.
There would still be things they’d have to work out amongst them—like whether or not Luke would take over as head of the region—but those negotiations wouldn’t take place tonight. Instead, we celebrated with good food, good wine, and plenty of loud and lively conversation.
My father whispered something to Lorenzo, who nodded in agreement. Dad backed his chair up and stood, holding his glass in the air. “Most of y’all know I’m a man of few words, but when it comes to talking about my Ruby Mae, I could blabber on until the cows come home about how proud I am of the woman she’s become.”
I blushed at my daddy’s compliments and glanced away. Luke’s father listened with great intent, nodding his head in agreement to what a blessing a daughter can be to a father. I let my fingers stroke my engagement ring that no longer tingled, a little sad to have lost that connection with Isabella but happy, too, that she had found peace after so long.
“We’ll have more days to spend together, but tonight, I want to toast my daughter and her choice for her future husband.” Dad held my fiancé’s gaze. “Luke, you come from a fine family, and yet, you have never treated me and mine as anything less than royalty. I wish the two of you all the happiness in the world.”
Several people cheered and vocally added their congratulations again. A few clinked their silver utensils against the crystal, and Luke and I obliged them with a chaste kiss.
Dad sat back down and winked at me. “Love you, butter bean,” he mouthed across the table.
“Love you, too, Daddy,” I mouthed back.
Damiana took the honors for speaking for herself and her husband. “Ruby Mae, thank you for everything you have done. For loving my son so much that you stayed when most would have run away. For giving me back my family and the promise of it growing once again. May you and Luca live the future of your dreams, wherever it may take you.”
She reached across to clink her glass with mine. “And may my son know how special it is to be loved by a strong woman,” she added with a wink.
My heart burned with joy at receiving the acceptance I so desperately wanted from Luke’s parents. This trip afforded me a chance to get to know my fiancé better than I ever had. And although I knew things might be a little different when we returned to our unpretentious lives back in the South, I no longer worried about secrets hindering our future.
After much wine and Prosecco was consumed with our food, the staff brought out tiny glasses and limoncello. Luke and I made our rounds around the table, talking and gabbing with everyone. Azalea pushed me to call Ms. Robin to have her design my wedding dress while Harrison wanted to find out how he could order some of the wine from Luke’s uncle’s vineyard for the tiki bar. Cate, Crystal, and Dani teased me about finally setting a date, and I promised them we could go into full wedding mode as soon as we got back home.
With everyone occupied and entertained, Luke sequestered me behind a statue of some Roman god to steal a moment between the two of us.
“Are you happy, cara?” he asked.
“Deliriously,” I replied with a little giggle. “And maybe a little tipsy. Don’t let me say anything stupid in front of your parents,” I begged.
My fiancé chuckled, brushing the back of his hand down my cheek. “I don’t think there is anything you can do that will change their minds. Face it, they are determined to see you one day become a de Rossi.”
I shook my head. “Mm-mm, you’re going to be a Jewell,” I insisted.
Luke pulled me into a warm embrace. “We will negotiate terms later. Tonight, we celebrate us.”
Under the stars and in the arms of my vampire fiancé, I knew we didn’t have to make any big decisions right now. We had all the time in the world to plan for our happy ever after.
Dear Reader -
Don’t miss out on Ruby Mae’s next adventure, when a little ghost problem turns into a possible big disaster in the fifth book of the series, Bargain Haunting!
Thanks so much for reading Vintage Vampire, the fourth book in the Southern Relics Cozy Mysteries series! If you enjoyed the book (as much as I did writing it), I hope you’ll consider leaving a review!
Preorder Bargain Haunting as well as the next book in the Southern Charms series, Preserves & Premonitions: Book 7, and make sure to sign up for my newsletter if you want to hear news and updates!
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