as soon as you stop somewhere. Don’t hesitate to call if you’re in trouble. If you need something and not—”
“Grammie,” Poppy said, leaning away from their hug. “Thank you.”
Someone had to cut the bonds that were pulling her down, dampening her spirit. Somehow, her grandmother had seen that and was freeing her. It was a debt Poppy wouldn’t be able to repay anytime soon.
“Take risks,” her grandmother said, drawing her into another hug. “Don’t be afraid to jump in, to throw yourself into anything that excites your heart and soul. Grab those chances with both hands. You have to risk your heart to love the way you deserve… It’s supposed to hurt. Let it reach down deep inside of you.”
Poppy wasn’t so eager to find love. Her grandparents’ relationship was a great love. Since his death, her grandmother hadn’t looked at another man and had never taken off her rings. When she’d been a little girl, hearing her grandmother’s stories of them together, Poppy had made a promise to never, ever even consider marriage unless she loved like that.
It had never happened. She didn’t hold out much hope that it would. But she did want to be free of her family’s constraints. To live life, to experience something that wasn’t Granger dictated. To be someone other than the youngest Granger sister. Could she make it on her own? Stand on her own two feet? Being out there alone was the only way to find out.
Poppy could hear the rumble of the gossip mill getting going when she left her grandmother alone. Her family were in one of the other rooms. She could seek them out if she wanted to, but that would mean giving up the opportunity to be free. It would also mean facing whatever society and the media wanted to throw at her. And Poppy couldn’t be sure that Violet would be open to listening to reason.
Pausing to look back toward the altar, she saw Holden up there, on the phone, his back to the masses. Turning the other way, to the door into the world, Poppy made her choice: it was time to go.
Her grandmother’s jewelry was still in her palm, so she was grateful her dress was tea-length and not catching at her feet. Though the full tulle skirt made her easy to spot, which was a downside. Especially if the media got in before she got out.
Getting outside was only half the battle. The grounds of the church stretched in every direction; it was a long walk just to get back onto the main road. Walking that way would probably lead her straight into the path of the press who’d be racing for the scoop.
As far as she knew, there was security around the perimeter keeping the picture hounds out. But would they be able to control the inside and outside simultaneously? People from the congregation would have cameras on their phones. Their tale would fetch so much more if there were pictures, or video, to go with it.
On arrival, cars could draw up to the front of the building. They then looped around to park in a side parking lot. Near to that area, a few guys were mulling around.
Clutching the jewelry, Poppy started toward them. “I need a ride.” The guys stopped talking to look her way. “Please, can anyone take me away from here?”
They all looked at each other, but no one was quick to step forward. Figuring there might be someone in the actual parking lot more receptive to helping, Poppy didn’t let their lack of a response slow her down. There were a whole bunch of cars parked around there, someone had to be interested in helping her.
The men, who still hadn’t said a word, parted to allow her through their huddle. Determined, just like her grandmother said, Poppy held onto her fire and forged on. She was right that there were others around the side of the building. Those closest appeared much the same as the group she’d seen around front. Realizing that the men in suits and uniforms would be in the permanent employ of the socialites, they’d be unlikely to risk their positions, and their regular income, for her. So she cast her attention elsewhere. At the other end of the parking area was a group of slightly less tailored individuals.
Setting her sights on them, Poppy strode down the golden gravel to approach. As she got closer, she registered two men and two women. One of the