Chapter 51

Dean’s POV

3:00 PM

Someone hands me a heavy crystal microphone. Someone else hands me a sweating glass of champagne. The entire reception room goes quiet, the chatter dying down into a collective hush. Dad and Diane are looking up at me from the head table — Diane glowing, completely unguarded, but Dad's smile has a tightness to it I don't think anyone else in this room would catch. His hand's wrapped a little too firm around his own glass. His knuckles are practically white. I have no idea what I'm about to say.

I clear my throat. Start anyway.

"I've known Frank my whole life. Obviously. He's my dad." A ripple of laughter sweeps across the room. "He taught me how to work with my hands. How to run a business. How to actually show up for the people who need you."

He taught me all that because it was easier than the other stuff. Easier to hand a kid a wrench than sit with him through anyth