Jacqueline had enjoyed discovering the ways Casey had grown andchanged over the years. At the same time, the things she’d always loved aboutCasey were still there. Though they still hadn’t made long-term plans for thefuture, she had no doubt that she would do whatever she had to do to hold ontoCasey. And seeing the love in Casey’s eyes right now, she let herself hopeCasey felt the same.
For the past two months, Casey had been holding back, despite heragreement to try. Oh, she’d been giving their relationship an honest chance,but she still hadn’t relinquished that last millimeter of her heart. AndJacqueline felt its absence more acutely than when they’d been broken upcompletely. But she’d vowed not to push. She couldn’t make Casey trust her, soshe waited.
Before she could analyze what she was seeing in Casey’s eyes now,Casey blinked, then slid back behind her photographer persona. Jacquelinereached the front of the sanctuary and took her place next to the otherbridesmaids.
The music changed just before Kendra and her father moved intothe aisle. Kendra’s gaze darted around nervously, but Jacqueline knew themoment she saw Gavin. Serene happiness overtook the anxiety in her expression.Jacqueline snuck a glance at Gavin and found a similar dopey look on his face.
When Kendra and Gavin recited the vows they’d written for eachother, Jacqueline wiped away tears. After a tender kiss that made severalguests say “aww,” Jacqueline followed the happy couple back down the aisle.Swamped with emotion, she avoided looking for both Casey and Sean, as shesuspected making eye contact with either of them would likely reduce her tosobs. She would take a minute before the reception to get herself together soshe could be present and celebrate with Kendra.
*
“Your glass is empty,” Kendra said as she came to stand next toJacqueline with two fresh glasses of champagne.
“Thanks.” Jacqueline clinked their glasses together. “Where’syour husband?”
“I do love the sound of that. He’s dancing with my mother.”Looking every bit the respectable son-in-law in his tuxedo, Gavin guidedKendra’s mother around the floor.
“They make such a cute couple.”
“Almost as cute as those two.” Kendra nodded toward Sean andCasey on the dance floor.
Casey had wrangled him into one dance by agreeing that Kendra’swould be the last wedding he worked for her. She’d already signed up with theart school to provide an internship in studio work for a photography studentnext semester.
“Yeah.” Jacqueline smiled at Sean’s begrudging participation. Hedidn’t like dancing anyway, but she assumed if he had to, he’d much rather bedancing with his date, Gemma.
Jacqueline searched for Gemma and found her talking to one ofKendra’s nieces, who was about her age. Gemma was a sweet girl, and aftermeeting her only a couple of times, Jacqueline and Casey already approved.
“You should probably go cut in—save that boy.”
“In a minute. I’m enjoying this.”
“Tell me you wouldn’t rather be holding her.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You two have restored my faith in forever,” Kendra said in anoverly dramatic tone.
“Shut up.”
“Seriously. It’s good to see you together. How are you doing?”
“Very well. We’ve been communicating. It’s not perfect—we’re notperfect, but I kind of like that, you know. If we suddenly didn’t have any moreissues, I don’t think it would feel like we were being authentic. That wouldn’tfix any of our problems.”
“That makes sense.”
“But I’ve made some huge changes. I know what’s important to menow.” She looked at Casey again.
Though she still had to travel, she’d tightened her schedule andmanaged to spend more time in town. But she didn’t like spending nights alonein her condo. She hadn’t realized that she’d gotten so used to being gone thatshe would tack on an extra day to her trips here and there. Those days added upuntil she’d spent more time away than she did at home. Home. Her condo wasn’thome.
Now, instead of traveling to avoid her solitary residence, shevisited her father. She shared dinner, did projects around his house, and tookhim out for a movie or ice cream once in a while. She’d resumed her semi-regularwalks around his neighborhood—presumably for exercise and stress relief. If shepassed Casey’s house early in her route, that was mere coincidence. And ifCasey was waiting on the porch to join her for the rest of her walk, that wasprobably happenstance as well.
Owen didn’t hide his disappointment when she tried to talk to himabout her change in career plans. When she told him she needed to travel less,he argued that she could have time with her family when she retired. Since hewas only a few years away from that time, she understood why he didn’t thinkthat was a big deal. But she wouldn’t step into his shoes and spend the nextfifteen to twenty years waiting for the someday that might not come. In theend, he’d begrudgingly agreed that as long as she handled her business, shecould get as creative with her schedule as she wanted to. But if she screwed upagain, he wouldn’t back her.
In his view, he’d offered her the brass ring—his tutelage andeventually his job—and he couldn’t comprehend her turning that down. But shecould handle losing his favor. The reward—her family—was well worth the price.
“Now my kid will have godparents who can stand to be in the sameroom together.” Kendra glanced toward the dance floor, where Casey hadrelinquished Sean into Gemma’s arms. “And who knows, maybe you’ll have a littlegrandkid the same age for mine to play with.”
“Not funny.”
Kendra laughed.
“No, seriously, that’s not funny.”
From behind Jacqueline, Casey wrapped her arms around her waist.“What’s not funny?”
“Nothing.”
“Okay.” Casey moved to her side but didn’t release her.Jacqueline draped her arm around Casey’s shoulder. “Kendra, it was a beautifulceremony. Are there any more shots you want before I head out?”
“You’re leaving?” Jacqueline asked.
“It’s time.” Though she was responding to Jacqueline, she glancedat Kendra. Jacqueline thought she saw a shared look pass between them, and thenKendra nodded slightly.
Casey pressed closer and met Jacqueline’s eyes. “Come home withme.”
“Home?” She understood the concept
