"I've missed you," he says quietly, just for me.
"I've missed you too."
When we pull apart, Mia is watching us with soft eyes.
"You're coming by the house later, right?" she says.
"Uh, yeah. Kind of have to. Lydia won't let me book a room at the Country Club, so I'll be staying at the lakehouse."
"Good." She squeezes my hand again. "Well, I need to go home and change my shoes, so we'll see you later on."
I nod. "Sounds good. I'll see you both later."
People are really starting to filter out of the chapel now,moving toward their cars, talking in low voices about heading to the lake house.
I scan the crowd almost unconsciously, looking for a set of hazel coloured eyes. But it's not his eyes I find. It's my mom's, wide and warm and filling with tears the moment she sees me.
She's standing with Nick and Lydia near the chapel entrance, the three of them clustered together the way people do when they're holding each other up through grief.
Mom breaks away from them immediately, crossing the space between us.
"Sweetheart," she says, pulling me into a hug that smells like her perfume and coffee and home. "I'm so happy you decided to come."
She looks around, wondering if Wes came too, but we both know she knows he wouldn't have.
"I'm sorry I was late."
"You're here now." She pulls back, hands on my shoulders, studying my face like she's cataloging all the ways I've changed since she last saw me. "That's what matters."
Nick joins us, his expression softer than I've seen it in years.
"Good to see you, Nora." He says as he pulls me in for one of his uniquely Nick hugs.
"You too and I'm sorry for your loss."
"Thank you. It was Uncle's time to go. I'm just glad I was there when he went."
Lydia appears beside him, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. When she sees me, her face crumples slightly before she composes herself.
"Oh my goodness, you have gotten more stunning with age, my girl."
"Hi, Lyds." I hug her and she embraces me back.
"I missed your beautiful face around here," she says, holding my face between her hands.
The guilt sharpens, cuts deeper.
Over Lydia's shoulder, I catch a glimpse of Nate through thechapel doors. He's talking to someone, head bent, listening intently.
My heart lurches, and suddenly the walls feel too close, the air too thin.
"Hey uh, I should go," I say, stepping back. "Get settled at the house before the gathering."
Mom's eyes narrow slightly, like she can read exactly what I'm doing, but she doesn't call me on it.
"Alright. We'll just make sure everyone leaves here then we'll see you back home?"
"Yeah. I'll be there."
