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“Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another.”

My voice wobbled as I tried not to cry. I could not break down in front of everyone at my brother’s wedding. Hold it together. Just for a few more minutes. Then I could hide and cry until there were no more tears to shed.

I took in a deep breath and continued. “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

When I was done, I looked over at my brother. His eyes continued to leak, his expression one of a man who knew exactly how blessed he was.

He was still crying, which didn’t help me at all. For a moment, I thought of the two of us in our trailer in Stonehaven, eating bologna quesadillas off chipped plates. He had always looked after me. And now he would look after Ivy. And she him. A new season, I thought. One I wished I felt more prepared for. Because for the first time in my life, I was no longer the most important woman in his life.

I returned to my seat. My mother squeezed my hand. “Beautiful,” she whispered.

Jasper continued the ceremony. Jack and Ivy hadn’t written their own vows, which surprised me. But maybe they said what they needed to say to each other in the songs they wrote.

Jasper asked the age old question of both of them. They said “I do.”

Rhett took the rings from his jacket pocket and handed them to Jack and Ivy. Seconds later, they were on the appropriate fingers and Jasper declared them man and wife.

We all sprang to our feet, the love in the room like something alive, warming us, reminding us that love was the only thing in life that truly matters. How I wished it for all of us.

“Finally Home” began to play through the speakers and my brother and his lovely bride made their way up the aisle, hand in hand.

I walked out alone, just as I’d come in.

We all walked to the restaurant together, dozens of lanterns lighting the way. Everyone was laughing and talking. I tried to join in, but my lips felt stuck to my teeth when I smiled.

Inside, the tables were covered in ice-blue linen and decorated with cedar, eucalyptus, and burgundy roses. Candles glowed in Mason jars. A velvet bow and a little brass bell had been tied to the back of every chair. White lights twinkled merrily down at us.

After Jack and Ivy made their entrance, everyone gathered around them or headed toward the bar. I found my place at the table. Next to Grant, of course. I stood there for a moment before taking off my wrap and draping it over the back of my chair.

I couldn’t keep avoiding him forever. But I’d hoped to manage another hour.

“Hey.”

I looked up. Grant stood beside me, one hand resting on the back of his chair.

“Hey.”

“May I sit?”

“It’s not my call. Your name’s right there on the card.”

He pulled out the chair and sat, turning toward me instead of the table. “I’m not the most articulate guy, but I don’t think there’s a word that captures how beautiful you are tonight.”

“Grant. Don’t.”

“Luci, will you look at me? Please.”

I did, reluctantly. His expression was so earnest that my stomach tightened. I couldn’t have another conversation about how complicated everything was. I’d run out of understanding sometime yesterday. At this point, I just wanted to get through it and go home.

He leaned closer. “I told him.”

For a second, I didn’t move.

“Jack,” he said. “He knows about us.”

“What?”

“I talked to him. He gave us his blessing.”