“Of course, dear,” William said, his eyes shining with pride for the beautiful young woman standing in front of him. “You may not have known your grandfather, but he knew everything about you, Jane.”
Tears stung her eyes as she nodded. Today had been tremendously nerve-racking. Tonight was the lantern lighting ceremony, and Jane knew this year would be different. This year, she wouldn’t make wishes. She would light her lantern in remembrance of the grandfather who had lovedher without ever knowing her, who had protected her family from beyond the grave. For all the lost loved ones who had paved the way through their sacrifices, their struggles, their quiet acts of love that echoed across the years.
She had everything she could ever want. And she owed it all to those who were no longer with them but whose love remained.
20
HOLLY
Holly stood in front of the mirror in her suite, smoothing down the burgundy gown one more time. Her hands were trembling slightly, though she couldn’t quite say why. Nerves about the ball, probably. Or excitement. Or both.
Behind her, Charlie was putting the finishing touches on Trinity’s hair, weaving small white flowers through the elegant updo.
“You look beautiful, Grandma,” Trinity said, catching Holly’s eye in the mirror.
“So do you, sweetheart,” Holly said, and meant it. Trinity looked so grown up in her deep green dress, her face glowing with happiness.
Charlie stepped back to admire her work. “There. Perfect.”
“Thank you, Aunt Charlie,” Trinity said, spinning to see herself from all angles. “I can’t believe this is really happening. A real ball!”
Holly smiled, but something had been nagging at her all day. Everyone had been acting... strange. Gabe had been oddly secretive this morning. Jane kept grinning at her for no apparent reason. Even Jack had been off, canceling their morning run with a vague excuse about last-minute preparations.
“Stop overthinking,” Charlie said, reading Holly’s expression with the accuracy of someone who’d known her for decades. “Everyone’s just excited about tonight.”
“I know,” Holly said. “I’m probably just being paranoid.”
But she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was going on.
Earlier that afternoon, she’d seen the most beautiful arch being carried into the ballroom. It was tall and elegant, constructed of white-painted wood and adorned with evergreen garland and what looked like mistletoe. Holly had been about to follow it into the ballroom to see where they were placing it when Gabe had suddenly appeared in her path.
“Mom!” he’d said, a bit too loudly. Then he’d dropped one of his crutches with a clatter.
“Oh, honey.” Holly had bent automatically to pick it up, and when she’d straightened, the ballroom doors had been firmly closed.
“What’s going on?” Holly had asked, eyeing her son suspiciously as he took the crutch back.
“Nothing,” Gabe had said, entirely too innocently. “Just some last-minute surprise adjustments to the ballroom. You know, decorations and things.”
“I’d love to see,” Holly had said, moving toward the doors.
“No!” Gabe had blocked her path again. “Sorry, I mean, no one’s allowed to see until tonight. It’s supposed to be a surprise. For everyone.”
Before Holly could press further, Trinity had appeared from behind her. “Gran! Can you help me with some balloons for the entrance? I’m getting dizzy trying to blow them up on my own.”
Distracted, Holly had let herself be led away, but the whole interaction had felt orchestrated. Deliberate.
Now, hours later, getting ready for the ball, that strange feeling persisted.
“You’re doing it again,” Charlie said, applying her lipstick in the mirror. “That worried face thing.”
“I just feel like everyone’s hiding something from me,” Holly admitted.
“Maybe they are,” Charlie said with a mysterious smile. “Maybe it’s a good surprise.”
“Charlie Burke, do you knowsomething I don’t?”
“I know lots of things you don’t,” Charlie said, but she was grinning. “Come on. It’s time to go down. The guests are already arriving.”
