Page 107 of Finding Forever

It was done. And it had been wonderful.

Beth reached for her phone. A message from Kayla waited for her.

Morning, Mom. We’re about to leave. Yesterday was perfect. Love you so much.

Beneath the message was a photograph Tyler had taken during the reception. Beth touched the screen to enlarge it. She was standing beside Kayla with their arms around each other, laughing at something. Beth couldn’t remember what had been funny, but happiness shone from Kayla’s face.

Her gaze moved beyond her daughter. Dave stood several feet behind them. He wasn’t looking at the camera. He was looking at Beth.

Something warm settled inside her chest. Last night had been special. Sharing Kayla’s wedding with Dave had felt more significant than Beth had expected. There were moments when she’d looked across the room and found him already watching her, moments when his hand had held hers as they moved through the restaurant.

Later, when the celebrations had ended and everyone had gone home, she had lain awake remembering the way he’d held her beside the lake.

Her phone rang. Beth smiled when she saw the name on the screen. “Rosalind. You’re awake early.”

“So are you,” Jessie’s younger sister replied.

“Only just.”

“I was wondering if I could come over before Peter and I leave. We’ve got some things to drop off.”

“Of course.”

“We’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

Beth ended the call and pushed back the quilt.

Twenty-five minutes later, she opened the front door. Rosalind was carrying a garment bag while Peter had a box filled with leftover wedding decorations.

“Please tell me none of that belongs to me,” Beth said.

Peter grinned. “Apparently it does.”

Beth groaned and stepped aside. “Put it anywhere.”

After Peter carried everything inside, he glanced at Rosalind. “I’ll go to the gas station. I won’t be long.” He kissed his wife’s cheek before heading outside.

Beth smiled. “Coffee?”

Rosalind nodded. “I’d love one.”

They went into the kitchen. While Beth made two cups, Rosalind wandered to the refrigerator and studied the photographs held there by magnets.

“There are so many pictures of Jessie on here.”

Beth glanced over her shoulder. “There always have been.”

“I haven’t been here for a while. I thought you might have put them away.”

Beth carried their drinks to the table. “Jessie will always be an important part of my life. Yesterday must have been hard for you.”

Rosalind sat opposite her. “Parts of it were.”

“For me, too.”

Rosalind lifted one of the mugs to her mouth. “I kept thinking about what Jessie would have said if he’d seen Kayla.”

Beth smiled faintly. “He would have told everyone he wasn’t going to cry.”