Page 89 of Finding Forever

“All good, I hope.”

Beth glanced at Dave. “Of course.”

Mark grinned. “Dad’s told me quite a bit about you, too.”

Dave cleared his throat, and Beth immediately decided that she liked his son.

Kayla smiled at Mark. “It looks as though our parents have been talking about us.”

“It seems that way.”

For a moment, Beth simply enjoyed watching them together.

Her daughter.

Dave’s son.

Two parts of their lives that, until now, had mostly remained separate.

Mark slipped his hands into his pockets. “I know Kayla’s wedding isn’t far away Beth, but afterward, would you and Kayla and her new husband like to come to Polson for a barbecue at my place? Dad and I try to get together as often as we can.”

Beth hadn’t expected the invitation. She looked at Dave and realized from his expression that he hadn’t known about it either.

Mark smiled. “I’d like to get to know you and your family.”

Something about the simple sincerity of those words touched Beth. “I’d love to come,” she told him. “But what about you, Kayla?”

“It sounds like fun,” Kayla said. “We’ll be there, too.”

Dave’s gaze met Beth’s. The warmth in his eyes made her heart squeeze. Their lives were beginning to fit together beyond construction schedules and evenings at the arts center.

She liked that.

“Beth!”

Laurel’s voice carried across the room.

Beth turned. Her friends were gathered near the children’s activity area.

“You need to see this,” Rachel called.

Beth groaned. “I’ve learned to be terrified whenever anyone says that.”

Everyone laughed.

Dave rested his hand against her back. “I’ll come with you.”

They crossed the room together. Laurel didn’t say anything when they reached her. She simply pointed.

A little girl stood proudly beside an easel, showing her mother a painting filled with enormous yellow flowers. At the next table, two boys were shaping clay while Julie helped a younger child fasten an apron.

“This,” Laurel said quietly beside her, “is what you worked for.”

The lump returned to Beth’s throat. For months, she’d measured progress in budgets, deadlines, deliveries, and lists. She’d worried about everything that might go wrong. She hadn’t imagined this part clearly enough.

Kayla slipped her arm through Beth’s and Dave held her other hand.

Beth’s friends were close by, her daughter and Dave were beside her, and the arts center was filled with people who appreciated what they’d created.