Chapter 38

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

One Month Later…

Wolf stood alone at the edge of the woods, watching the tent and the people spilling out.

The sunset on the other side of the valley dazzled like wildfire, with the town lights below like twinkling sparks. A breeze carried the raucous laughter and bluegrass music, the scents of food cooking, the cut grass of Margaret Hitchens’s lush lawn underneath his dress shoes, and the pine forest behind him.

From this distance, hidden in the shadows, he watched Jack, Cassidy, and Ryan. His son kissing his daughter-in-law, his grandson chasing a butterfly in tight circles like he was caught in a joy-powered whirlwind.

The phone in his hand vibrated again, and the screen glowed with another message from the same name, putting a cold blanket over the perfection of the moment.

Piper stood out on the deck of the house, talking with someone he didn’t recognize. She spotted him, extracted herself from the conversation, and walked over.

He pocketed the phone and watched her approach. She wore a lavender summer dress that hugged her waist, flaring above the knees, giving her steps a stunning fluidity that drew looks from the men behind her. Her hair cascaded in waves, shining in the magic hour light, a subtle smile playing on her lips, her slender hand carrying a glass of red wine.

“Hi,” she said, padding across the grass and standing next to him.

“Hi,” he said.

“Pretty great, huh?”

“Yeah.”

The obvious question was, what are you doing out here, but she remained silent, watching the spectacle in their honor play out. He sipped his soda. She sipped her wine.

She kept her eyes forward. He knew she was giving him space to say what he wanted when he wanted if there was anything to say at all.

“I got a text message,” he said.

“Oh?”

“Yeah.”

“From whom?”

He pulled out his phone, tapped the screen, and handed it to her.

“Oh,” she said, her eyebrows popping high. She nodded a few times and gave the phone back. “What does it say?”

“I don’t know.”

“You haven’t looked yet?”

“No.”

“And this is bothering you? ”

“Yes.”

She nodded again, taking another sip of her wine. “It’s understandable. You’re at your wedding celebration party…and now she’s texting you. I would be a bit apprehensive myself.”

He smiled. The phone went dark again.

“Are you going to look at it?” she asked.

“Probably.”

“You want me to head back over there? I can give you some space.”

“No.” He unlocked the phone and tapped the message. “Stay here with me.”

She sipped her wine, keeping her gaze pointedly away as he read the two messages that had come in.

Hi David. It’s Lauren. I know I’m probably the last person you want to hear from on this day, but I just wanted to say congratulations to you and Piper. I heard about your marriage and tonight’s celebration from a friend in town. I’ve heard Piper is a beautiful, kind, smart, and loving woman. You deserve all the happiness in the world, and I hope you have found it with her.

The second message underneath it read:

Love, Lauren and Ella.

“Well?” Piper asked.

He handed the phone to her.

Theatrically, she took a deep breath, smoothed her hair, steeled her gaze, and read the messages. A few seconds later, she nodded and handed it back. “That’s nice of her.”

Wolf studied her expression. No hint of jealousy or sarcasm was found.

“I’m sure that was very tough for her to do,” she said .

“Yeah.”

“So, what are you going to say back?”

“I don’t know. Thanks?”

“Yeah. I’ve got a better idea.”

She set down her wine on a nearby rock and held out her hand.

Wolf gave her the phone. She snuggled close and outstretched her arm to take a selfie portrait of them.

“Smile.” She snapped a flurry of photos, then let go of him and consulted her work.

“Look at this one. Great picture. You’re actually smiling.”

“What are you going to do?” he asked, watching her tap and swipe.

“There.” She handed back the phone.

“What did you do?”

“I sent her a photo of us.”

“Why did you do that?”

She shrugged. “Why not?”

“I don’t know. I guess…I wouldn’t want to rub it in her face how happy we are. Or something.”

“Are you happy?”

“Yes.”

“And you don’t think she can handle it?”

“I guess that’s what I’m saying. Yes.”

She snorted. “Then she shouldn’t have texted you.”

The phone chimed, and another text from Lauren came in.

This time, he angled the screen toward Piper and opened the message. It was a picture of three people: Lauren, a man, and a girl he barely recognized as Ella. She was much taller, with braces and long hair .

“Oh, look,” Piper said. “They’re so happy.”

They did look happy, all three of the people on screen, especially Ella, whose mid-laughter grin was ear to ear.

Another message shot in.

She’s beautiful. Ella says so, too. Good luck to you, David.

He texted back:

Good luck to you, too. And to Ella.

He put the phone in his pocket, realizing he was smiling.

“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” Piper asked, her eyes beaming.

He put his arm around her and pulled her close. “No. It wasn’t.”

They stared out at the tent some more as the light faded.

“I love you,” he said.

“I love you, too.”