But she took another, then another, and another. She walked alone, because she wanted to. She needed to. The baby gave a tiny fluttery kick, making her smile. When she locked eyes with him—Robert, her husband after today her heart pounded in her ears. After almost a year of joy as three, then two years of nearly complete misery as two plus a baby, all she saw now was him, his deep brown eyes, bright yellow hair, grown long just as she liked it, over the collar of his crisp white shirt.Jack was next to him, his smile nearly as wide as his friend’s. Suddenly, there she was, exchanging vows, simple rings and a kiss so intense it nearly took her breath away. And then there was clapping, and the party on the lawn, the small band, the tent, the music all flowing around her. By nine p.m., she was dead on her feet. But saw him, dancing with Maddie, and then afterwards holding Gabe while the boy drifted off to sleep. She put her feet up and groaned. A huge glass of water appeared on the table in front of her, as Sara, Mo, Suzanne, and Julie dropped into the chairs around the table.
