Page 32 of Waiting for You

"She was stunning," I said. "The ceremony was beautiful. You'd have loved it."

She held my gaze a long moment, her chin dipping in silent thanks. "Thank you for telling me that."

"Tomorrow morning, I'll introduce you to the bride. We've got the estate for the whole weekend."

Her dark brows shot up. "She won't mind the intrusion?"

"She'll be thrilled." Violet had a knack for making room for people, even when she privately had her doubts about them. "You need rest. Did you even eat?"

"Sad catering on the plane," she said, waving it off. "I just need sleep. The jet lag knocked me out the second I got in the town car."

"Then sleep." I crossed the carpet and pressed a brief kiss to her forehead. "I'm going to head back down for a bit. The crowd's thinning, but I'm not ready to call it."

Her eyes fluttered shut, a relieved smile touching her lips. "Okay."

"I'll be quiet when I come back."

"You always are." She was already turning toward the bed, reaching behind her back for the zipper of her dress. "You never wake me."

I pulled the suite door shut and let the latch click into place.

Heading back down the corridor, I nearly walked straight into Violet and Simon.

They were drifting away from the main hall, Simon carrying his jacket over one arm, Violet with her heels dangling from two fingers. She glanced up as I approached, her eyes widening before settling into a warm smile.

"Sneaking out already?" I teased.

"It's late," Simon said. His shoulders were loose, his free hand resting at his side, that unhurried ease he always carried. "And my wife's been standing in stilettos since dawn."

"I have not," Violet argued. "I swapped them out at the reception."

"You swapped them for smaller heels."

"Which proves my point."

I looked at my little sister. Her updo had half-surrendered to gravity, a few loose strands framing her face. Her makeup had softened over the long day, leaving her expression open, every muscle in her face finally at rest.

"Listen to the man and get some sleep," I said.

She closed the distance between us. I opened my arms, and she leaned against my chest, resting her head on my shoulder.

"Thank you for being here tonight, Xav," she mumbled into my lapel. "Thank you for walking me down that aisle. I'm so glad I got to share that with you."

I tightened my arms around her and buried my face in her hair. "Thank you for trusting me enough to let me."

She pulled back. Her eyes were shining, but her chin stayed level.

Simon held out his free hand, and I gripped it. We held the handshake for a respectful moment before he clapped his other hand against my shoulder.

"You're a good man, Xavier," he said.

I stood in the quiet corridor and watched the newlyweds walk away until they disappeared around the corner. That whole sequence was something their father was supposed to do. It's an honor reserved for fathers, that slow walk down the aisle, the privilege of handing a daughter you love over to a man who's promised to protect her. Our father hadn't shown up. He hadn't bothered to call. And Violet hadn't expected him to do either.

But I'd been there to catch her.

My phone vibrated in my pocket. I checked the screen. It was my mother.

I swiped to answer.