MJ willed her heart to lighten up, enjoy this beautiful night, count her ten million blessings and stop longing for something…someone…who wasn’t showing up.
But who leaves a million dollars tied to a promise and doesn’t keep it? What kind of man was he?
One she’d been thinking about for…345 days. Yes, she’d counted. Her calendar said what day of the year it was and he’d left on New Year’s Eve. Not quite a year, but still…
When the song ended and another started, Gracie slipped away from Marshall and glided over to MJ, her long maroon dress fluttering around her frame.
“You okay, Mom?” she asked as she reached the table, a little breathless and flushed and…radiant. Now that was a sight that lifted this mother’s heart. “You seem quiet tonight. I thought you’d be dancing to these ’80s songs.”
“I’m just overwhelmed with happiness, honey.” She laughed softly, glancing around. “It’s such a beautiful reception, isn’t it?”
“What’s beautiful is you,” Gracie whispered.
“Oh, thanks,” MJ said, waving off the compliment, although she had felt particularly elegant in her long navy dress with thin threads of gold sparkles. Plus, the professional makeup artist had been a fun confidence boost, too.
“I mean it,” Gracie said. “And, yes, the reception is magical. I can officially relax now that the cake’s been cut and served.”
“And so good!” MJ exclaimed. “I practically had to tie Red down to stop him from getting seconds.”
Gracie laughed. “For his own good. I’m just glad he’s feeling better and he’s going to be fine. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Benny that terrified.”
“He’ll be totally okay, thank the Lord. And you, my dear…” MJ wiggled her brows and jutted her chin in the direction of Marshall, who was now on the dance floor with his daughter. “Seem very…enamored.”
Gracie’s cheeks filled with that familiar pink flush that MJ had seen since this sweet girl had been born.
“I am enamored,” she agreed. “And I think it’s a two-way street.”
“Marshall would be blind and crazy not to see all you offer,” MJ said. “Even if you are competitors in business.”
“Yeah…” Gracie sighed. “You know, I went over to Sugarfall last night after the dinner and helped decorate the cake.”
“You didn’thelp—those were your tea roses.”
“But it was his cake, and it was delicious.” She lifted a brow. “Olivia had fallen asleep in one of the booths, and we talked until almost four in the morning.”
“Oh? About…”
“About our lives, our kids, our businesses, our…feelings.” Gracie slid a glance to the dance floor. “We’re thinking about making some changes so we’re not so competitive.”
“Like what?” MJ asked.
“Well, to be honest, we started discussing the possibility of combining everything into one…entity.”
“The bakeries? Or your lives?”
“Maybe both,” she whispered. “There’s definitely something there and I think it could be serious. We can start slow, but…yeah. There’s potential for change and growth and…love.”
“Gracie.” She reached for her daughter’s hands, squeezing. “He’s an awesome man, and Olivia is a treasure.”
“They fit in, right?” Gracie bit her lip. “It’s early days, but the future looks bright.”
For some reason, the words hit MJ’s heart harder than she expected.
“So does yours,” Gracie added.
“With the new lodge all upgraded? Cindy got more reservations today and we’re looking full for January, so?—”
“That’s not what I meant, Mom.”
