But she didn’t go to him. Didn’t hold her arms out. She couldn’t.
She could barely hold his gaze, as the butterflies in her belly swished and fluttered. “What—what are you two doing here?” she asked after what felt like forever as she’d tried to find her voice.
“I believe I promised this guy”—Jack bent down to look Paul in the eye—“a tutorial on the fine art of tying a bow tie.”
Paul released her hand and in a flash, had his arm thrown around Jack’s neck. “I thought you’d f
orgotten.”
The uncomfortable heat of tears rose behind her eyes but she worked to keep them back as she watched her son with the man who had only come into their lives a few short weeks before.
“Of course I didn’t forget. I’m just sorry I couldn’t be here sooner,” Jack said, looking up to meet Daisy’s gaze.
Was he implying something more?
“Mom, can Jack come back to the room with me instead?” Paul asked almost wistfully. “It’s supposed to be boys only.”
Daisy bit her lip, not sure what Jack’s intentions were, not daring to hope. “I don’t know, honey. I’m not sure whether Jack can—”
“I’d be honored, Paul. That is, if it’s okay with you,” he said, watching Daisy.
She nodded, still feeling thunderstruck. “Lily, would you like to come and hang out with me and the girls until the ceremony starts?”
Lily looked to her dad first, who nodded. “I’ll get us a spot in the church in a few minutes. You can find me, okay?”
“I’m sure one of us can get her safely to you,” Daisy said. She felt so torn right now. Still angry and hurt by what had happened between them, but also not wanting to see him leave again. Drawing comfort in his presence. Which was totally and completely not very independent-minded.
She watched for a moment as Paul easily slipped his hand into Jack’s, and they walked down the hall together. The lump in her throat was making it impossible to swallow.
Then, guiding Lily, she retraced her steps back to the bridal party. The diverging emotions that battled inside were confusing and terrifying, and she only wanted to find some dark corner to try and process them all.
But Daisy couldn’t afford to lose it now. If she started crying—whether from frustration, sadness, happiness, or maybe, just maybe, even hope—she might not ever stop.
And today was only a day for happy tears.
…
The strain of Pachelbel’s Canon filled the quiet stillness of the church as Daisy watched Morgan, then Kate, and finally Payton make their way down the aisle and up to the altar. She nodded to Jenna and Natalie who followed next, Jenna’s shoulders tight with nerves, Natalie grinning and happy to have the attention for the moment.
Then it was her turn, and with a last glance to her sister standing alongside their dad and Paul and Ella, Daisy headed down. She smiled through tears—happy tears, even if a little bittersweet—as she met the faces of her family and friends who’d piled into the beautiful church to see her sister’s big day.
Near the front, she sensed him before she saw Jack, only daring to meet his gaze for a flash before pulling away. She caught her mom’s gaze and smiled, then her aunt’s, whose own attention was split between the events going on around her and baby Marianne sleeping soundly in her arms. And finally, she was at the front, and smiling now to Henry and her brothers next to him. She found her place and waited for Benny to make her much awaited entrance.
The wedding march played and little Ella, clutching her basket of flowers, took the first step down the aisle, her focus on dropping each petal down as they’d practiced at rehearsal last night. She saw Paul sigh impatiently and fidget, until finally it was his turn and he strutted down.
Then it was time for the bride. Her sister was beaming so brightly it was almost blinding, as her radiant blue eyes focused only on her groom, Henry, who wiped away something that looked suspiciously like a tear. She caught Dominic and Cruz exchange grins, probably because they’d bet the groom just last night he’d do that very thing.
While the ceremony unfolded over the next twenty minutes, Daisy couldn’t keep her eyes from her baby sister. A dedicated doctor who had always known what she wanted since she was a kid and never strayed from her path. A funny and loving woman who deserved every happiness.
Daisy eyed her future brother-in-law, happy to see the love shining in his eyes as he stared at Benny, and she knew no one could ever love her more.
They were going to be forever.
For whatever reason, her eyes swept the faces in the pews until she found the one she’d been purposely avoiding until now. He was studying her, his face so solemn, and her heart pounded harder in her chest, her face flushed and hot.
Even after their harsh words, she couldn’t deny that she still loved him. Loved him and wanted more than anything for this to work. But doubts always shoved their way in.
Familiar doubts. Of losing herself in him. Of losing control of her life. Of the crushing disappointment that would follow if it didn’t work out. To her and her kids.