The Island wasn’t exactly a big place. Everyone on the north shore pretty much knew everyone else. I nodded again. Dad hadn’t been too specific se...ing as Matt had two pretty redheaded sisters, but there wasn’t any reason to point that out to him, besides Violet would be a little young to get married anyway. ‘Well, tell her I said, ‘Congrat’lations.” I paused, unsure of what I heard. ‘Okay,’ I agreed, still in shock. ‘I’ll do that.’ Dad gave me a curt, dismissive nod and before he changed his. Pulling away from the house and heading to the restaurant, I said, “Cassie, you look so beautiful tonight you take my breath away.”“Dereck, you are so handsome that you always take my breath away.” she replied as she took my hand blushing, and laid it in her lap. I was now turning red and squeezed her hand. We got to the restaurant and I had the valet park the car while I escorted my beautiful date in. I noticed that everyone was looking at Cassie, especially the guys, and it made me swell with. I thought about making a point of telling him that Ed would want a dick - and might want an ass, too - but I figured Michael knew that.Pete finished up in a clearly joyful Joy; the girls took that as a cue to wander inside. Michael and I hung out, watching Pete and Joy cuddle. "I'm down two and you're down one - and it isn't eight o'clock yet!" I chuckled.Michael nodded. "That isn't going to be it, is it?" Not from the way the girls were eyeing Pete and Joy longingly," I agreed. "Gina couldn't. He was chuckling and getting to his feet when he saw the youngest boy, a sturdy lad of about ten dressed in handed down clothes of faded brown, wandering back to the tree."Grandfather?" Yes, Jon?" Was it a true story?" the boy asked.The old man smiled kindly. The boy was the only child his son and daughter-in-law had before dying in the last fever that struck the region. He had his son's pale, pale skin and unruly, nearly white blonde hair. The earnest expression on his face and the green eyes.