Cecilia's Soulful Heart by Tami Franklin

Author:Tami Franklin [Franklin, Tami]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance
Goodreads: 47781727
Publisher: Sweet Promise Press
Published: 2019-09-20T04:00:00+00:00

6

Saturday, on C.C.'s last night before she and Dalton flew back to Nashville, her parents put together a combination goodbye party and pre-wedding extravaganza. Really, it was just an excuse for everyone to cook and eat copious amounts of food. The dining table and two folding tables were piled high with steamed and fried rice, tangy adobo, kare-kare, a thick oxtail and vegetable stew with peanut sauce, with crispy lechon kawali to dip into it. A huge pot of her grandmothers' sinigang simmered on the stove, and yes, Dalton liked it. He liked it all.

The house was bursting with family and friends, the air humid with steam and heavy with the delicious aromas of the food. It was crowded and crazy and over the top, as usual.

Still, C.C. had never met a plate she didn't want to fill, and Dalton looked happy where he sat between Reyna and Jasmine, munching away on lumpia, so she couldn't complain too much.

“These are so good!” he exclaimed when C.C. sat on the floor across from him. He waved the remnant of the crispy eggroll filled with pork and veggies, then popped it into his mouth and grabbed another, swiping it through the puddle of sweet chili sauce on his plate.

“Worth the work?” C.C. asked, taking a bite of her own. They'd been up late with the family the night before, rolling dozens of the treats, and Dalton had done his best, although some of his lumpia weren't particularly neat.

“Definitely. This one's mine, I think,” he said, holding up a piece that was lumpy on one end, almost empty on the other. He took a bite and shrugged. “Well, it's not pretty, but it still tastes good.”

“Dalton, have some pancit,” Lola Nene said, offering him a plate full of noodles, shrimp, and veggies. He quickly wiped his hands on a napkin and accepted the food, eyes wide.

“I'm never leaving,” he said, grinning at Lola Nene, who laughed in response.

“Well, you've rolled lumpia with us, so now you're part of the family,” she replied.

At that, C.C.'s heart skipped a beat. Her family had accepted Dalton, and he seemed to fit in perfectly. He chatted with her aunts and uncles, joked with Lola Nene. Even teased Marisol, and didn't make her burst into tears. It both made her happy . . . and broke her heart.

Because it wasn't real. None of it was real.

C.C. set her plate aside. Suddenly, she'd lost her appetite.

“I'd like to make a toast!” her father called out over the conversation, lifting his plastic cup of water. “First, to Marisol and Noah. My first daughter to get engaged.” He choked up a little and shook his head, clearing his throat. Across the room, Marisol beamed; Noah standing behind her with both arms wrapped around her. She'd gotten over her meltdown at the bridal salon, and though she was still driving everyone insane with her demands, she no longer doubted that Noah was the one for her.

“We are so happy for you both,” Dad continued.

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