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Arien touched her fingers to his cheek. And not sure what to expect, with her Nikon ready on her lap, she waited for the ceremony to begin.
No bridesmaids. No maid of honor. No flower girl. Shiloh’s three parents preceded her and Cassie down a lantern-lined aisle, where Griffin waited before an unlit fire, framed within a triangle of stone. Sheer tulle and lace. The brilliant rays of the setting sun turned gowns of champagne scandalously translucent, leaving no doubt as to what lie beneath them.
Turning to her, Emily sighed. “Miss Lilly creates the most beautiful dresses.”
She couldn’t make out what they were doing up there, or hear the words being said, but it was Shiloh’s face Griffin had his gaze set on, his adoration for the younger sister apparent. At least it was to her. No one else appeared to notice. Cassie didn’t seem to, either, or maybe she just didn’t care. If she had, Arien might’ve actually felt a little bit of sympathy for her.
With the sacred fire now ablaze, festivities commenced. Revelry abounding in the growing darkness. The barn dances she’d been to thus far paled in comparison. Matthew stood from the table, extending his hand. “I need to get back to your mama and Benjamin. Don’t like leavin’ ’em. But I want a dance with my beautiful daughter before I do.”
Why did hearing that make her want to cry?
She swayed in the shelter of her stepfather’s arms, and with a kiss to the top of her head, he placed her hand in Kellan’s.
They didn’t move. Fingertips skating down her spine, he just held her tight in the middle of the dance floor. “I can’t let you go.”
Arien gazed into his eyes, melted chocolate flecked with green, and holding his face in her hands, she kissed him.
They were still dancing thirty minutes later, when Tanner tapped Kellan on the shoulder. “Grams just texted me, says we need to hurry home.”
“She say why?”
Shaking his head, he showed them the message on his phone. “Nope.”
The churning in her chest told her something was wrong. With her breath locked in her lungs, her brain wouldn’t let her begin to process what that something could possibly be.
They weren’t the first ones to get there.
Jake and Billy’s father was exiting his truck as they pulled onto the drive.
Grams paced on the porch with the baby, tears marring her ageless face.
Arien tumbled out the door before Kellan could even park, tearing toward the house.
They didn’t have to speak a word.
With just one look, she knew.
And she ran.
Kellan tore after her.
Screaming her name, he raced along the fence and through the field. He crossed the stream, following her into the pines. Hadn’t he warned her never to come out here alone?
“Arien.”
The wind carried his voice through the trees, a hushed, haunting stillness echoing in reply.
He kept going, twigs snapping beneath his feet, until he found her.
Staring up at the starry night sky, her knees drawn to her chest, she rocked.
Kellan got down on his haunches in front of her, but Arien didn’t seem to see that he was there. “Baby.”
“Tell me it isn’t true.” Still gazing upward, she didn’t look at him.
I wish I could.
He gathered her in his arms, holding her against him. “I’m so sorry, baby, I can’t. Your mama’s gone.”
