Her chin started to wobble but to Holly’s relief, Ryan stepped in. “Let’s go find your coat and we can say goodbye to your cousins on the way. Maybe I can give you a piggyback ride to the car again.”
He reached for her hand and Lydia slipped from Holly’s lap.
As she watched them head to the coatroom off the reception hall, Holly sighed, already feeling the ache of impending heartbreak.
She was falling hard for Ryan and she feared Lydia was, too.
Somewhere along the way, Holly had given up trying to resist him, even though she knew nothing about the two of them together made sense.
She headed over to say goodbye to the newly married pair, who were currently giving their feet a rest, enjoying a drink at one of the tables and speaking with friends.
When Holly approached and said she would be leaving, Kristine jumped up and hugged her. If she wasn’t mistaken, the bride was nearly as overstimulated as Lydia right now. Kristine seemed on the verge of tears, though perhaps that was merely the day catching up with her.
“Thank you for everything today. The flowers, lettingLydia be in the wedding party. Everything. You made a beautiful day even better.”
Holly returned her friend’s hug, grateful all over again that their relationship seemed as strong as ever, despite the divorce.
“You are most welcome. Everything was lovely and I was honored to be a part of it. Congratulations again. I know you’re going to live happily ever after.”
“I’ll reach out when we’re back from Hawaii. Meantime, Merry Christmas, Holly.”
“Mele Kalikimaka.”
After saying a quick goodbye to Susan and Norm Moore, with more hugs all around, she joined Lydia and Ryan in the foyer.
“All set?” he asked.
She nodded, not sorry that she could now put this particular wedding in her personal rearview mirror.
They walked together outside into the December night to an unexpected discovery.
“It snowed, Mommy,” Lydia exclaimed.
At least four inches of new snow had fallen in the past few hours while they had been inside the reception venue.
“I’ll say,” she answered with surprise as a snowplow drove past, yellow lights flashing.
Her feet in her heels were already cold and she still had to walk next door to the church, where her SUV was parked.
Ryan obviously realized the same thing.
“Why don’t you hand over your keys and the two of you can go back inside and wait where it’s warm. I’ll bring your car over. That way we all don’t have to wade through the snow.”
She should argue with him but she could see Lydia was beginning to hit a wall. Being wet and cold would only make things worse.
“Are you sure?” she asked.
“Positive. Keys.”
She fished in her clutch and found her fob, thinking how nice it was to have someone else to lean on, even if it was only temporarily.
“Will you be able to find my vehicle?”
“It’s hard to recognize any of the cars under the snow but I can always click the key fob and see which one responds,” he answered.
“Thank you.”
He flashed her a quick smile then took off around the building toward the parking lot while she and Lydia went back inside. She was already grateful for the warmth and light that enveloped them again as she brushed snow off Lydia’s coat and had her stomp her feet on the mat.
