“Me, too,” Dan added, making everyone laugh except for Judith, who didn’t get the joke.

“She sells more than lingerie and party dresses there, Mom,” Kara said.

For a moment, Judith seemed stumped, and then she said, “Oh. Oh.” Color flooded her cheeks.

“It’s a long, cold winter out here, Mrs. Ballard,” Tiffany said. “We have to find a way to stay busy.”

“Well, yes, I’m sure it is. I’m going to see where your father has gone off to.” Judith scurried away.

“That was awesome,” Kara said as she shook with laughter. “You’re the best.”

“Happy to be of assistance,” Tiffany said.

“You’re just a walking, talking scandal, my love,” Blaine said with a grin for his wife.

“Thank you,” Tiffany said. “I do what I can for the people.”

The sound of silverware striking crystal caught their attention.

“If everyone could find a seat, please,” Chuck said as his wife stood next to him, beaming.

“Oh God,” Kara said under her breath. “What’s this all about?”

“Kara? Dan? Could you join us up here?”

“Whatever it is, let’s get it over with so we can get to my surprise for later,” Dan said as he took her hand and led her to the front of the room.

“What surprise?”

“Be a good girl in front of our guests, and I’ll tell you.”

“I don’t want to be good.”

“Remember that later.”

As they took their positions with her parents, Kara felt the eyes of everyone on her and wanted to die of embarrassment. She hated being the center of attention and always had, which her parents certainly knew. That had never stopped them from forcing her out of her comfort zone whenever they felt the need to. Today was no exception.

“Thank you so much for joining us today to celebrate the engagement of our daughter Kara to Dan Torrington,” Chuck said after Judith had ensured everyone had champagne. “Kara is the sixth of our eleven children and has always had the strong independent streak that led her here to Gansett to start the launch service in your Salt Pond. We were thrilled to hear of her engagement to Dan Torrington, a man who was certainly no stranger to us. Dan, we’ve admired your work for years, and we look forward to welcoming you into our family.”

As everyone clapped and raised their glasses, Kara went along with it because she was expected to. But part of her wanted to stop everything and ask her parents if they were happy for her for the right reasons. Was it because she’d found the perfect man for her? Was it because he was rich and successful? Or was it because knowing she was happy with him made them feel a little less guilty about the way they’d treated her?

Dan leaned in to kiss her cheek. “Smile,” he whispered. “You’re supposed to be happy today.”