Page 98 of Hula Girl

“Mama,” I ask, “do you think Papa would have liked Ford?”

She smiles as she thinks about that. “I think he would. I think he’d be impressed by his intelligence—in picking you, that is.”

I nod and laugh.

Mama takes my hand in both of hers, squeezing me tight. “He would love that you’ve found a man who loves and supports you for exactly who you are. And who knows? Maybe he had a hand in pushing that chicken into your way?”

Laughing, I blink rapidly and dab at my eyes, careful not to smudge the light makeup I have on.

“Wouldn’t that be something?” I say and glance heavenward.

The music, a variation of the song “Lovely Hula Girl,” starts, and my heart flutters. Ford has had his kids working on this song since before he proposed. I’ve heard snippets of it when I dropped by the music school, but haven’t heard the whole thing. And whereas I thought it would be a simple acoustic version, it seems he’s added a vocalist.

I laugh out loud in shock and joy when I see that Eli has put aside his clarinet in favor of powerfully emoting the lyrics. The song was our cue that the ceremony was beginning. I put my arm through Mama’s and we start down the aisle. I can’t keep my eyes off Eli as he sings the title lyrics with surprising depth. It seems he’s completely lost his stage fright. Our small group of assembled guests loves it as much as I do.

When I reach Ford, he gives me a wink before kissing my mother’s cheek. Mama then embraces me before finding her place amongst the others standing nearby.

“Did you like that song?” Ford whispers to me.

I smile and then laugh before cupping his cheeks in my hands and telling him, “Ilikeyou. I like you so much.”

He grins. “Good thing. Because I’m about to officially make youmyHula Girl.”

“There’s nothing I want more, babe.”

The End