Caleb was invited by Lucas for dinner a couple of days later, and soon it became natural again, as if nothinghad ever shifted. I wondered if we would ever revisit the conversation ofthat night, as I’d come to think of it.
It never happened.
Making plans with Elle and Donna, with Caleb joining us, helped in more ways than one, and I was thankful for the distraction. Another thing that helped was keeping myself busy training with Tyrone. It countered Caleb’s uncertainty with the heat of my own feelings every time he came over, reminding me of everything I was trying not to feel.
November 19.
It was the day of Harper’s wedding.
By 4 p.m., Lucas had finished posing for pictures, and Caleb arrived to pick us up. I’d already done my hair and makeup, and slipping into a royal blue evening gown, I walked out of my bedroom and presented myself for inspection, bracing myself without knowing why.
Caleb and Lucas both gawked, unable to say a thing.
Do I have lipstick on my cheek?“I look hideous,” I said, my self-confidence plunging to the same depths as the silence in the room.
“Mama, you look pretty,” Lucas said, walking up to me. “Didn’t I tell you that my choice was the best?”
I bent down and kissed him on the top of his head. “That’s why you’re my favourite man, Lucas.”
Caleb fumbled for words. “You… you… um… yeah…”
He looked handsome in his three-piece tux, distractingly so, and my dress matched the colour of his pocket square and tie.
Did he know this was the colour I was wearing?“Well, I hope the end of that sentence is better than the beginning.”
“Absolutely beautiful,” he finally managed to finish, sending a warm glow to my cheeks I couldn’t quite hide.
The drive from Vancouver to Bodega took about half an hour, and the scenery along the way was breathtaking.
Lucas was introduced to Taylor and immediately took a liking tohim. We arrived at the church in plenty of time, my nerves settling into something quieter and heavier.
I walked toward Harper, who was standing at the entrance in a grey tuxedo. His mother, Christine, stood beside him, looking radiant in a taupe pantsuit. We greeted each other, and I introduced Caleb to Christine, who shook his hand and gave Lucas a quick kiss before being called away on a last-minute errand. Caleb took Lucas inside so I could have a few minutes alone with Harper.
“You look handsome,” I said, and meant it without pain for the first time.
He looked down at me, and a familiar emotion flashed in his eyes. “You look gorgeous, Nyah.”
I cast my eyes away and then back at him. “I wish you all the love and happiness in the world with your marriage to Daria. God bless you both.”
He held my hands.
I felt them quiver. I stroked them and kissed him on the cheek. “Breathe and enjoy. This isyourday as much as hers. Remember every single minute.”
His mother joined us then and said it was time.
I walked into the church and sat down beside Caleb. He took my hand and opened it. “I wanted to give you something… something you forgot in the car. It was broken, and it took me a while to fix it, but I managed to find a store that could do it.” He dropped the bracelet into my palm.
I covered my open mouth. The bracelet shone in my hand, and the emotion connected to it washed over me in a wave I wasn’t prepared for. I stared at it while the bridal march played on the piano. Everyone stood up, and then I saw her.
Daria looked stunning in her lace and chiffon wedding dress. Her parents walked proudly down the aisle beside her.
As they all turned to look ahead, I quickly glanced at Harper, and our eyes locked for a moment before he looked toward Daria. I knew then, in that very moment, that Harper no longer had a hold over me. I felt liberated, lighter than I had in years. I put the bracelet into my clutch as happiness streamed through my entire body.
Looking at Caleb, I said, “Thanks for coming here with Lucas and me today.”
He smiled and whispered in my ear, “I’d do anything for Lucas,” and winked at me.
I smiled coyly, my heart twisting softly. Internally, I was grateful to him more than he would ever know.
