Her eagerness was likely compounded by the fact that she’d hardly seen the man in the past few days—not alone anyway. She’d been trying to spend at least a little longer in the office each day in hopes of giving Paige a bit of a break, and she’d taken the kids out to the Everwood last night to spend the evening with Mara. Not exactly the bachelorette party her friend deserved, but they’d had a blast giggling the night away all the same.
Lucas and Noah had come over for dinner Thursday evening after her shopping excursion with the girls, but between Violet’s chatter and Noah’s presence, there hadn’t been much in the way of intimate conversation.
That she was even mentally using a word like intimate in relation to Lucas still floored her. But she couldn’t have denied her growing feelings if she’d wanted to. And she didn’t want to.
No, what she wanted to do was explore them. Maybe even get a little carried away in them. Because for days now, there’d been a magical little murmur in her heart, whispering that this might be the best thing that had ever happened to her.
Jenessa gently turned Colie back to the mirror. “I think you picked exactly the right dress. The only thing that would make it better is this.” She produced a small gold locket from behind her back. She’d gone looking for it yesterday morning, found it in an old jewelry box at the back of her closet.
She swept Colie’s hair over her shoulder and dropped the necklace in place.
“Is it yours?” Colie asked.
“It was. But I think now it should belong to you.” She connected the clasp and stepped back. “Take a look inside.”
Colie dipped her chin and opened the locket, her eyes going wide. “It’s Mom’s picture.”
It was tiny and grainy, a photo Jenessa had pulled from one of Tessa Hollis’s still-active social media accounts. It’d work until they could find a better photo. “I thought maybe you’d like to keep her close to your heart.”
Colie whirled so quickly, she stepped on Jenessa’s foot. But the impact was nothing compared to the force of the girl’s embrace. She threw her arms around Jenessa’s waist and buried her head against her body.
And Jenessa’s heart lurched. She shouldn’t have done her makeup so early. If the tears pooling in her eyes managed to escape, she’d show up to the wedding with mascara stripes on her cheeks. But it’d be worth it.
Because this was the other best thing that had ever happened to her—these kids who, in two weeks and one day, had become her whole world.
She’d heard little from Carmen since that home visit on Tuesday, other than scant replies to her daily check-in emails. Maybe that was a good sign. Maybe it meant Carmen had forgiven her for not telling her about Violet’s arm and for letting two men live in the cottage out back.
One of whom was knocking on her door now. At least, she assumed that was Lucas, his rapping echoing through the house and kindling her already burning excitement.
But she let Colie’s hug linger, rubbing her palm over the girl’s back and kissing the top of her head. “I’m pretty crazy about you, little girl.”
Colie’s gaze tipped upward. “I thought you said I looked too old.”
Not right now. Not with that vulnerable softness and trust in her emerald eyes. Had Jenessa ever been given a greater gift? “You look perfect. Now, there’s a gentleman downstairs waiting for us. I’ll grab Cade if you fetch Violet.”
Colie toed on her sparkling silver shoes. “Fine, but he’s not waiting for us. He’s waiting for you.”
“Don’t be so sure. I have it on good authority that he’s a pretty big fan of you Hollis kids.”
“Maybe, but he sure doesn’t stare at us the way he stares at you.” Colie smirked and glided from the room.
Jenessa lifted Cade and paused in front of her mirror. “Does he really stare at me, Cade?” Hopefully he’d like what he saw if he stared tonight. Her dress was an even deeper blue than Colie’s. Its sheer long sleeves and neckline meant she’d probably freeze at the outdoor wedding, but she hadn’t been able to say no to its graceful style.
She’d kept the rest of her appearance simple too, pulling her black waves into a side bun, her hair’s only adornment a silver barrette that matched her earrings and lone bracelet.
Cade kicked his legs against her. “Right. That’s his third knock. Let’s go.” She grabbed his diaper bag from the bed and slipped on her shoes. The girls were waiting for her in the hallway and they made their way downstairs before Lucas could knock again.
With one last frayed breath of anticipation, she opened the door. “Sorry we kept you . . .” She couldn’t get the last word out. Not at the sight waiting for her. “I think I need that thesaurus app again.”
The corners of Lucas’s eyes crinkled as he gave her a lopsided smile. “Huh?”
She needed the thesaurus app because handsome wasn’t a good enough word. Not even close to how striking he looked in his gray suit and hunter green tie. And he’d cut his hair? It was still lengthy, long enough to be pushed back behind his ears and brush his collar. He’d shaved too, which meant she might very well spend the rest of this night having a giddy mental debate with herself as to whether she liked his attractive jaw better with or without the facial hair. It might be the closest call in the world and . . .
If she didn’t stop staring at him, they’d never make it to the wedding. And she was the maid of honor.
Apparently he gave up on receiving an explanation for the thesaurus comment. He stepped forward to take Cade from her arms, glanced behind her. “Colie and Violet, you are probably going to be the prettiest girls at the wedding and that’s a fact.” He leaned closer to Jen, kissed her cheek, and whispered, “And you’ll be the most beautiful woman there, by far.”
He picked up the diaper bag, gave her a wink, and reached for her hand.
She’d been right to anticipate this night. Amazingly, wondrously right.
This was the kind of thing Lucas usually avoided—events that required suits and ties and small talk.
But he’d wear a suit every day for the rest of his life if it meant having Jenessa Belville at his side. And she’d been at his side for hours, only leaving him long enough to stand up with Mara for the short ceremony, along with Lenora Worthington, the Everwood’s former owner.
And just now, she’d slipped inside the B&B to change Cade’s diaper. Otherwise, from the moment they’d arrived at the little backyard wedding, she’d stayed near him. Almost as if . . . as if she was proud to be here with him.
The ceremony had begun just as dusk danced through the sky, leaving a glowing trail of purple and hazy orange. The scent of vanilla, probably from the candles on every table, hung in the air, and it was as if even the trees had dressed to celebrate, leaves having deepened into fiery hues during these early days of October. The sun had ducked into the west by the time the catered meal began after the ceremony, but a full moon now illuminated the yard, along with string lights and paper lanterns.
Someone had turned up the music a few minutes ago and he watched from his perch near a ribboned tree as Colie and Violet danced with several other kids amid a cluster of adult couples.