Page 61 of Finding Forever

Beth’s heart gave a small jump. “He did?”

“He gets back from Australia next week.”

“I know.” Ryan had called Beth a few nights ago from Sydney. They’d talked for nearly an hour, although at least twenty minutes of that had involved him complaining about the price of food and telling her about places he’d visited. Then he’d asked about the wedding. More specifically, about walking Kayla down the aisle with Beth.

Her brother was nervous. Not about walking beside Kayla. He adored his niece. Ryan was worried about doing something that had always been Jessie’s to do.

Beth hadn’t known what to say at first. In the end, she’d told him the truth. Jessie would have been grateful that Ryan was there.

Kayla turned sideways to study the dress. “He said he’s bringing me something from Australia.”

“That sounds ominous.”

“That’s what I thought.”

Beth watched Melanie place another pin on the right-hand side of the bodice. “Did Uncle Ryan give you any clues?”

Kayla shook her head. “No. He said it’s a surprise.”

Beth smiled. “Knowing your uncle, it’s either something wonderful or completely ridiculous.”

Kayla glanced at her in the mirror. “Even if it’s ridiculous, I’m glad you’re both walking me down the aisle. I know Dad should be there. But he can’t be. And I don’t want the whole day to feel like we’re trying to fill the place where he should have been.”

Beth stared at her daughter.

Kayla looked down at the front of her dress. “I just want the people I love around me.”

For some reason, those words touched Beth even more deeply than the tears had. She stood and walked toward the platform again. “Your uncle loves you very much.”

“I know.”

“He’ll be honored to walk with us.” What Beth didn’t tell her was that Ryan was terrified he’d cry before they made it halfway down the aisle. Or that he’d asked Beth three separate times whether she thought Jessie would really be okay with it.

Those were Ryan’s worries to share if he wanted to. Beth knew the answer anyway. Jessie had loved his family fiercely. He wouldn’t want an empty space beside Kayla simply because he couldn’t fill it himself.

Kayla looked at her reflection again. “It’s going to be a good day, isn’t it?”

Beth stood beside her. “It will be amazing.” In the mirror, she saw herself next to the little girl she’d raised. Except Kayla wasn’t a little girl anymore.

She was a woman about to marry someone she loved. She had plans and dreams and a life that was becoming more her own with every passing year.

Kayla rested her head briefly against Beth’s. “I bet Uncle Ryan brings me a stuffed kangaroo.”

Beth laughed. “That sounds like something he’d do.”

Kayla smiled.

Standing together in front of the mirror, surrounded by white dresses and afternoon sunlight, Beth wished she could hold on to the moment forever. Not because it was perfect. Jessie was missing. There would always be moments when his absence caught them unexpectedly.

But there was so much love here, too. Beth looked at her daughter and realized that maybe that was what moving forward really meant.

Not leaving anyone behind. Just making room for all the people they still had to love.

Chapter 33

Beth heard Ryan’s truck before she saw it. The familiar rumble came up the driveway just after four on Sunday afternoon, followed by two short blasts of the horn.

Smiling, she dried her hands on a dish towel and headed for the front door. If she ever wondered where Kayla got her habit of honking the horn, she only had to look at her uncle.