hair okay? I haven't had a chance to check."
"You look perfectly kissable," Izzie said as they made their way to the seats in the front yard. "I'm sure Trace will keep your dance card full."
"Do you think he can dance?"
"Well I know he and Robbie and Tony have hung out at the Trading Post, so yes. I'm sure he can dance."
So Trace had been to the Trading Post? Cecilia's stomach clenched. She hated the Trading Post. Even all these years later, it still brought up ugly memories.
"I recognize that look on your face, Ceece. I know you hate it, but it's not like it was. Not the way you remember it. And everyone hangs out there if they want to go play pool or dance. You can't avoid it forever. Especially now that you're back in town."
"I know, I know." Cecilia waved a hand and gazed skyward. "I just swore I'd never step foot in there again."
Izzie gave her a stern look. "CiCi. You were fifteen! Give yourself a break. The grown-up you is allowed to release the teenage you from a stupid promise. A bunch of us are heading over there after the wedding reception since Mike closed the brewery today. You should join us."
Izzie was right. The only thing still the same about the Trading Post was its name. Jeanine's uncle had bought it ten years ago and had completely overhauled it. It was nothing like the seedy dive bar she remembered. "I'll think about it."
"I'm sure Trace will be there," she wiggled her fingers.
"I'll think about it," Cecilia repeated firmly as she followed Izzie down a row of chairs to take a seat next to Catalina. "Everything okay, Cat?" she asked as she sat down. Catalina nodded without looking up, hands twisting in her lap. Something was definitely wrong.
"What happened to your dress?" Izzie asked her sister gently, giving Cecilia a look that said go easy.
Cecilia gave a tiny nod back. Catalina was an odd bird. Sweet as pie, and devoted to her research above everything else. Izzie and even Robbie had been fiercely protective of her growing up, and Catalina had tagged along with the two of them most places, which was fine with her, because Mariah had tagged along, too. It had worked out perfectly, because Mariah and Izzie were much more social than she and Catalina. Nobody really understood Catalina, but she understood her better than most - the need to retreat when things got crazy, the devotion to study. Catalina might bury her nose in biology papers, but Cecilia's bedroom was a library of nonfiction.
Catalina looked stricken. "I stopped by the barn to say hello to Aloysius who was sunning herself on the rocks because it's mating season, and, and, Tony thought she was a rattlesnake, and I tripped because I'm not used to these fancy shoes, and then I yelled at him for scaring Aloysius. And my eyeballs hate these contacts." Her voice rose and she looked ready to cry.
Cecilia bit her lip to keep from laughing. Izzie gave her another stern glance, even though her eyes were twinkling too. "I'm sure Tony was just trying to help."
"Well, he shouldn't. I was fine. And now I've ruined your dress."
"It's just a little dirt." Izzie wiped at the spot. "See? Good as new. And your eyeballs will get used to the contacts if you just give them a chance."
Behind Cecilia a throat cleared. "May we join you ladies?"
Cecilia swiveled, looking up and into the dark eyes of a man holding a baby decked out in pink frills. For a split second her heart sank. She'd half-hoped Trace would find her.
"CiCi, is that you?" The woman behind him asked excitedly.
"Millie?" Cecilia stood and reached a hand behind the man. "Gosh, it's been ages."
"I heard you're back."
Cecilia chuckled. "News always travels fast. I've only been home a short time. And is this your family?" She eyed the big man with the baby tucked in his arm. If not for the softness in his eyes as he stared at his little daughter, the man would have been frightening.
"Yes, this is my husband, Jason Case, and our baby Sara Anne."
Jason nodded, but kept his focus on his daughter. "Aww, congratulations. She's beautiful." Cecilia ran a finger across the baby's hand. "Hi you sweet thing." Sara Anne gurgled and flailed her tiny arm. "She has your eyes Millie."
Catalina tapped her. "The wedding's about to start." They all sat, and Cecilia scanned the crowd, looking for Trace, but not