Most importantly, my entire family is here. Adam and Isabelle were married last month in an intimate ceremony, so they’re here together. Agatha reconciled with the family and is here, dressed as a flapper from the Roaring Twenties. The biggest surprise—Peter came, too. I honestly don’t think he’s been to Brookhaven since our mother passed, and it feels truly monumental.
I wish she could be here. I wish she could see me playing the piano for my brother’s wedding and know that we’re doing okay.
We each have a piece of her inside of us, and we’ll honor her memory every day we live.
Luna reaches the end of the aisle, and Henry shakes her father’s hand. I have a memory of playing video games with Luna and her family, back before Henry knew who she was in person, and have to laugh at the memory of her older sister saying that Henry “sounded sexy.” Not that I want to think of my brother that way, but I love that I’ve been here for them from the very beginning.
The ceremony is sweet and heartfelt, but I’d expect nothing less from Henry and Luna. They share a sweet kiss, and we all cheer as they walk down the aisle. I play a variation of John Legend’s “All of Me,” and they grin at me as they pass.
After the ceremony, I head toward the bridal party to take pictures. But as everyone stands and heads out to the outdoor area for appetizers and drinks, Ryder snakes his arm around my waist and pulls me in.
“Careful!” I cry before he can give me a kiss. “I have to take pictures! Don’t mess up my makeup.”
He groans. “Fine.” He presses a kiss below my ear, sending shivers down my spine. “You played beautifully.”
“Thank you.” I shrug. “It wasn’t that big of a deal.”
“It’s noIntermezzo, but it was you. That’s what I love the most. And I swear you’ve gotten even better than when we first met.”
I beam up at him. “I guess I learned something at the conservatory, after all.”
“Oh, yeah?”
I nod. “Like?—”
“Lily!” Ivy, Luna’s older sister, calls out to me from the back of the hall. “We’re waiting on you to get started!”
I sigh. “I’ll finish this later.”
“You’d better,” Ryder says. He gives me one more hug, then releases me in Ivy’s direction.
We don’t get to talk for a long time. Not until after the reception begins, the speeches are done, and the happy couple is dancing their first dance. When the DJ invites everyone to the floor to join Henry and Luna in a slow dance, we finally have our chance.
“So,” I say, as soon as Ryder wraps his arms around me and I rest my hands around his neck. “I was going to tell you everything I’ve learned.”
“Ah, yes,” he says with a grin that makes me melt. “Go ahead.”
“First, I learned I’m pretty good at the piano.”
He tilts his head. “Are you serious?”
“I mean, I knew that before. But I haven’t been in an environment with other players in a long time, and it definitely reinforced that I’m pretty good at it.”
“Uh, yeah.” He shakes his head at me. “You’re so funny, Lily.”
Adam and Isabelle appear next to us. “Watch your hands,” Adam growls at Ryder.
I roll my eyes, Isabelle swats him on the shoulder, and Ryder holds up his hands in surrender. “Yes, sir,” he says, but his tone is full of mirth. Adam grunts, and Isabelle forces him to dance away from us.
I take Ryder’s hands and place them back on my hips. “I’m not done with the things I’ve learned.”
Ryder smirks. “Please continue.”
“I learned that I’m a lot braver than I thought.”
He nods, his face sobering. “Definitely true.”
When my family left London, I had a hard time adjusting to going out in the open. Being attacked by Tristan was a traumatic experience, to be sure. But I continued my zoomtherapy sessions, and the knowledge that Tristan was locked away for assault helped a lot, too. As I continued growing, Ryder stayed by my side, a steady support whenever I needed him.
