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Cat gasped. “Vi’s on one knee.”

“Aww, I can see Cory tearing up from here,” CeCe said sweetly.

Elena leaned into Cat and sighed. “Just look at them,” she whispered.

Cat pulled her a little closer and put her head on Elena’s shoulder. “I love you, babe.”

Elena looked over at her with widened eyes.

Cat grinned. “It’s okay. Everyone’s watching Cory.”

Elena leaned near Cat’s ear. “I love you, too.”

After Cory did say yes, everyone streamed into the store and the party began. Cory’s friends from the various bars around town where she'd worked at one time or another along with Vi’s friends from work all congratulated the happy couple.

As the party grew a few people spilled over into the beauty salon to make more room and find a place to sit.

“Here you go, Christine,” Elena said, pulling a chair over from CeCe’s waiting area.

“Join me,” Christine said.

Elena found another chair and set it next to Christine. “There’s a lot of happiness bubbling out of the liquor store,” Elena said.

“Isn’t it great,” Christine said, watching Cory show her ring to her friends. She turned towards Elena and smiled. “Seeing my girls like this makes me wish their daddy could be here.”

“I can imagine,” Elena said.

“If I remember correctly we’ve been widows about the same amount of time, but it happened to me much later in life.”

Elena nodded. “It’s been almost two years.”

“I knew when I lost the girls’ father that I would find my happiness by watching them find theirs,” Christine explained.

“You must be very proud of them, especially with the shopping center and what they’ve created here,” Elena said.

“I am, but what I like the most is the happiness they’ve found doing it. I don’t think any of them expected to love being together every day and working side by side like this.”

Elena smiled and looked over where Cat stood with her sisters, talking and laughing.

“You know, the funny thing about happiness is that sometimes you find it and sometimes it finds you,” Christine said. She looked into Elena’s eyes. “And sometimes you have to pursue it.”

Elena stared at Christine and her heart started to pound in her chest. Does she know what’s going on with me and Cat?

“I hope you’ll pursue yours,” Christine said with a soft smile and a wink.

Elena didn’t know what to say and hoped her mouth wasn’t wide open in surprise. She had been to several family dinners and always enjoyed talking with Christine. Elena knew she was direct, but this truly astonished her.

“Cat’s my baby girl. I can see when she’s happy and I know who makes her feel that way.”

Elena smiled and nodded. “Can you tell who’s made me happy?”

Christine chuckled. “Cat!” She called to her daughter. “Elena and I need a refill.”

Cat hurried over with a bottle of champagne and refilled their glasses.

“Thanks, hon,” Christine said.

“You’re welcome, Mom.” Cat turned to refill Elena’s glass.