Page 10 of The Mr. Right Checklist

Her enthusiasm has me invested, and I need to know what happened next. “If they didn’t exchange numbers or addresses, how did they end up together?”

“That’s the best part. Two days later, my father showed up at the lake where she’d mentioned she walked her dog. He’d been waiting there for twelve hours, afraid if he left, he’d miss his chance to find her. They were married two months later, and you know what? He gave up everything to be with her. His parents told him if he left their family and the business that had been in their family for generations to follow a woman he barely knew, they’d never speak to him again. Can you imagine having to choose between your family and the woman you love?”

“No, but I’d never choose a woman over my family.” Never again. Been there, done that.

“Well, I’m sure glad he did, Mr. Naysayer. My mother followed a whim, my father followed his heart, and they found true love. They always said they were destined to be together, which is why they named me Destiny.”

Destiny Amor with her head in the clouds. It’s perfect.

Her smile falters. “But then my mom died when I was eleven, and my dad and I became the falling stars.”

She tears up, and I feel a tug deep in my chest. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Thank you.” She breathes deeply, fanning her face. “Sorry. I still think about her every day, but don’t worry, I’m not gonna cry.” She lifts her chin, and a dim version of her smile appears, as if to prove her point. “I learned how to buck up and be strong right quick after that, because I knew two falling stars could crash and burn. I had to be there to push my daddy back up when he got too low, and of course he tried to do the same for me.”

She wears her heart on her sleeve, and I’ve had mine locked down for so long, I don’t even know what to do with it. “That would be difficult at any age, but I can’t imagine what it was like for you at eleven.”

“It wasn’t easy. I did a lot of lying to myself, telling myself I was fine. But my best friend, Ruby—the woman who owns Perfect Paws—was there for me, and remember that thing I said about growing up with an abundance of love? My family was everything to me. They still are, and their love pulls me through the toughest times. I used to get real sad when it would rain because my mama and I used to dance in the rain, and I just couldn’t do it after she was gone. But a few months after she died, it was rainin’ real hard, and I swear I heard her calling me from outside. I went out there and I felt her all around me. I will never stop dancing in the rain, because I still feel her in every drop.”

She’s endured so much grief, my throat thickens at the weight of it.

“I believe my mama was smiling down on my daddy and me back then. Nourishing us with her love from the heavens above. I know I did her proud by taking care of my father and staying in Rosebell after high school.”

“That was a thoughtful thing to do. I probably would have made a similar choice. Did you go to community college?”

She shakes her head and sinks down to the couch. “No. My mother didn’t have life insurance or anything, and my father didn’t have a lot of money, so I followed in my mama’s footsteps and became a hairdresser. I enjoyed it, and all that really mattered was that I was close to my dad. He and I were like this.” She crosses her fingers. “I could always count on him to listen to me and give me advice and just to be there, you know? He always knew how to make me feel special and pick me up when I was down or sick. For as long as I can remember, whenever something big happened, he’d bring me pink carnations. They’re my favorite flowers, and when I was sick, he’d read me my mom’s favorite book.”

“What book is that?”

“The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. It’s a weird title, and a big story for a little girl, but it was a good one, and it always made me feel better because I remembered my mom smiling and crying when she read it. But my father died of a heart attack last year.” Her eyes tear up again, her Southern drawl thickening as her emotions take over, turning that tug in my chest to a full-on fissure. “It was completely unexpected. He seemed strong as an ox, and suddenly I was a fallin’ star again. Only those lies I told myself didn’t come as easily, and I didn’t buck up quite as well as I did after I lost my mama.” Tears spill down her cheeks, but she’s still trying to smile.

I could have sworn I heard her tell her father she loved him on the phone when she answered the door, but I must have misheard. I can’t fathom how someone who has suffered so much loss, and in her father’s case, so recently, could push through life with such a positive attitude. “Jesus, Destiny, I’m sorry. Do you have other family?”

She shakes her head. “I never met my father’s family, so it’s just me and, of course, Ruby. She moved here after college but was still there for me. She came back to Georgia and stayed for two weeks, helped me get through the funeral. But I’m not going to lie. I had so much sadness inside me, it felt like it was seeping out my pores and I was leaving a trail of it everywhere I went.” She swipes at her tears and looks up at the ceiling. “Ugh. Listen to me goin’ on about myself.” She breathes deeply and wipes her eyes before meeting my gaze. “First you see my lingerie, and now I’m blubberin’ about my dead daddy. It’s a wonder you’re not running out that door.”

“Actually, first you tried to marry me off to a stalker.”

She covers her face. “I can’t believe I did that. I’m going to make it up to you. I’ll walk Molly every day for a month.”

I shake my head, glancing at my beast sleeping by the stairs. “You don’t need to do that.”

“Yes, I do. It’s only proper that I make amends. I love Molly, and she could probably use the exercise while you’re teaching. How did we get on the subject of my family anyway?”

“I asked why you got into the proposal business. I’m curious about how you ended up here. Did you move to be closer to Ruby?”

“Yes. The memories in Rosebell were too painful. When I sold my father’s auto repair shop, I moved here and started working with Ruby. I don’t really need the money, because after my mama died, my daddy bought life insurance, and his business sold for a pretty penny, but I’d go stir crazy sitting around the house all day.”

“Didn’t you say you were a hairdresser? Did you have any pet grooming experience?”

“No, but it’s not so different from making people beautiful,” she says cheerily. “Ruby taught me to groom the animals, and I don’t work full time. My schedule is flexible, and working part time gave me a chance to settle in and get my website and flyers ready and start collecting supplies for Get the Yes.” She motions to the stacks of decorations and other paraphernalia around the room and in the foyer. “Last week I put out flyers and made my website live.” She wrinkles her nose. “And you know the rest.”

I mistakenly thought I did. “Do you have any experience running a business?”

“No. I just figured I’d learn what I didn’t know along the way. But don’t worry. I learned my lesson. I’m out a lot of money, and now I know my business is a pipe dream that I should probably let go.”

“You’re giving up?”

She shrugs one shoulder. “I don’t want to. Proposal planning is all I’ve dreamed about for as long as I can remember, but look at the mess I’ve already made.”