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The girls instantly drew back, showing a respect he hadn’t seen in Hollywood in a long time. All except Jacey. She stood there, staring up at him through eyes that were suddenly sad.
He looked down at her, trying to memorize her face for a moment longer, then he went to the limo. He refused to look back, but when he was in the car, he finally turned, gazing at her through the smoked glass.
A new and alien emotion unfolded in Julian’s chest, made it difficult to breathe.
Shame.
Night fell like sudden blindness, obliterating the last pink rays of the setting sun. Liam turned away from the window and stared at his daughter.
Jacey stood in front of a full-length mirror, staring at her reflection. Her hair had been swept back from her face and coiled into a thick black mass, accented with four glittering pink crystal butterflies. The sleek, lavender gown fit her perfectly.
She looked so grown-up. He couldn’t help feeling a brush of sadness, as if he’d already lost his little girl.
Tears glazed her dark eyes, and he knew she was thinking of her mother.
“She would be so proud of you,” he said. “You look beautiful. ”
“Thanks, Dad. ”
“You know what I remember? Your first Halloween in Last Bend. You were five years old, and you dressed as the tooth fairy. Mike went all the way to Bellingham for the perfect pink satin. She sewed a thousand pink sequins on your gown. ” He moved toward her; for a second, he saw her as she’d once been, a little princess in a glittering dime-store tiara. “Mike and I weren’t married then, but that was the night …” He swallowed hard. “You asked if you could call me Daddy. ”
“I remember. ”
“If your mom were here right now …”
She took his hand, squeezed it. “I know. ”
He forced a smile. “Well, m’lady, it’s time. ”
Holding hands, they went downstairs. A few minutes later, Rosa ushered Mark into the living room. He was wearing a navy blue tuxedo with a ruffled white shirt and a lavender bow tie. His jet-black hair was slicked back from his face.
“Oh, Jacey,” Mark said, moving toward her, “you look great. ”
She smiled. “Thanks, Mark. ”
Upstairs, Bret poked his head over the railing and started singing at the top of his lungs, “Here comes the bride, all fat and wide—”
“Bret!” Liam yelled, biting back a laugh. “Stop it. ”
Bret dissolved into laughter and scampered down the stairs, skidding into place beside his sister. She elbowed him in the shoulder. “Thanks a lot, rugrat. ”
Bret looked up at her. Rosa had scrubbed his little face to a mop-and-glow shine. “Really, you look pretty. ”
“Thanks, kiddo. ”
Mark handed Jacey a clear plastic box. Inside it lay a white orchid wrist corsage with tiny lavender ribbons. “This is for you. Norma at the nursery said it was the very best kind. ” He stumbled around, trying to open it for a minute, then gave up and shoved the box at her.
Jacey removed the flower and slipped the elastic band on her wrist. “Thanks. Grandma—would you get Mark’s boutonniere out of the fridge?”
Rosa bobbed her head and scurried into the kitchen. She came back a moment later with a small white carnation, its tips dyed lavender. “Here you go. ”
After that an awkward silence fell. Liam wanted to break it, but his throat felt swollen and tight. He kept turning to his wife to say Look at her, honey, but there was no one beside him. He hoped Jacey didn’t hear the serration in his voice when he croaked, “Okay, kiddos, photo op. ”
Mark groaned.
Jacey shoved his shoulder. “Very funny. ” She took Mark’s hand and led him to the piano. He slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her close.
“Think sex!” Bret said, darting behind the sofa. Giggles rose up from his hiding place.
