in a black cocktail dress with the same thigh-high black boots I’d seen her in at the bar the day before I’d gone into labor.
Mayson grinned at her. “You call this archaeology?”
“I always knew someday you’d come walking back through my door. I never doubted that. Something made it inevitable.” Grace’s words were suddenly full of a double meaning that went over my head, but had Mayson kissing her and pulling her to him so he could wrap his arms around her.
“Fortune and glory, kid. Fortune and glory,” he said quietly. “Have I told you I love you today?”
She nodded, but her face was pure happiness. “Maybe a time or two, but you still have a few more before you’ve completely made up for making me live six months in hell.”
It was both amusing and slightly embarrassing to listen in on their conversation. The comradery. The way they were throwing movie quotes back and forth. At the same time, it was stapling little holes in my heart that had already shrunk in on itself. Mayson turned to me, his arms still around Grace.
“I don’t know what’s going on with you and Garrett, Eds. But if this woman can take me back when I literally walked out on her after―” Grace elbowed him in the stomach. “After we’d just gotten together, I’m pretty damn sure you and Garrett can fix this. You love each other. It’s obvious when I see the two of you in the same room. And you have this adorable little creature to work it out for.”
I nodded because there wasn’t anything I could say. It wasn’t the time for sadness or tears. The door opened again. This time it was Ginny. The landing was getting a little crowded. “Sorry to interrupt. I think it’s time to cut the cake.”
I nodded, moving toward the door.
“What did Dylan have to say?” Grace asked behind me.
Cole was standing inside the door as I heard Mayson repeat what he’d told me about Eric Friedman. Cole whooped, Grace let out a hurrah, and even Ginny squealed a little. It was good news.
That was what I would concentrate on. The happy things my life was littered with. It was the only way I’d get through the loss.
I made my way to the DJ and asked him to stop the music as the song ended. The dancing and talking came to a halt. He handed me a microphone, and I looked out over the entire group gathered in front of us and smiled. Khiley asked if I wanted her to take the baby, and I shook my head.
I took a breath and said, “Thank you, everyone, for coming tonight. Thank you for helping us celebrate not only a brand-new year, but the people we love who are turning fifty. Daddy, Mama, Aunt Cam, and Uncle Derek.”
The applause rattled through the room, shaking the old paned windows that sloped down to the ground behind me.
“There is one thing you’ve taught me. Have taught all of us.” I lifted my chin toward my brother and cousins standing together at the edge of the dance floor. “You’ve taught us that there are no guarantees in life. That following your dreams isn’t enough, that you have to also work hard to make them a reality. You told us that when you find love...” My voice cracked, and I had to take a moment to gather my thoughts. “When you find love―”
“You damn well better hold on to it with both hands,” a deep, accented voice hollered out from the back of the room, freezing me. I hadn’t heard the door open, hadn’t heard him come in, but he was suddenly there.
The crowd parted, and I finally saw him, coming toward me in jeans and a button-down, his face unshaven, eyes tired. And yet, he still looked heavenly. His toasted-caramel hair was so much darker than mine, but the beard on his face was my color. Reddish-blond. Barely visible as he weaved through the people.
Until he was finally standing in front of me and our baby.
“You hold on, because if you don’t, you end up thousands of miles away, realizing you’ve botched the one true thing you were meant to do in life. Love the amazing woman who’d danced into your life,” Garrett said, and I couldn’t help the sob that escaped me.
He hadn’t touched me yet. I wanted nothing more than to be wrapped up in his arms, but he was still searching my eyes, looking for an