Page 56

The kids snickered, and Celia bit her lip to keep from doing the same. Helena saved her the near chastisement, appearing from around the exhibit, her stride determined. “We ready to rock and roll?” she said.

Hawes lifted Chris’s hand, kissing his knuckles. “Never been more ready.”

“Little H?” Helena called.

Holt joined them, eyes red rimmed, but with a smile plastered on his face for his brother. “I’m here.”

As Helena spoke to Avery at the exit door and Gloria got everyone in line, Celia laid a hand on Holt’s forearm. “You okay?”

“Not exactly.”

Celia followed his gaze out the window, to Brax, Lily in his arms, as he walked up the side aisle and took his seat in the front row. The love and fear in Holt’s warm brown eyes were heartbreaking. She rose on her toes and kissed his cheek. “Give Brax a chance,” she said, parroting back the advice Holt had given her and remembering the conversation she’d had that day with Brax at the station. “He’ll come around. I promise.”

Holt released a shaky breath, took a deeper one, then smiled, a small but real one. “Thanks, Cee.”

Outside, the music started, and the crowd shifted in their seats, angling to see the coming processional. Helena, on her way to the back of the line with Hawes, stopped at Celia’s side and stole another kiss. “Whatever you said to Holt, thank you.”

“Whatever is wrong,” Celia replied, “we’ll get through it as a family.”

Helena’s mission-critical face softened, transforming into the soft, peaceful one Celia had made it her own mission to bring about at least once a day, more if she could manage it. Doing whatever she could to take care of Helena too. “You know I love you, right?”

Celia did, even if the surprise of Helena saying it for the first time blinded her for a second. But she recovered quickly, smiling wide. “Good, because I love you too.”

“Hello, this is our wedding,” Chris teased from behind them.

“Yeah, yeah, Mr. Hair, we know.”

Everyone laughed, and they parted reluctantly, Celia taking her position on Chris’s arm, Helena on Hawes’s. Just in time as the glass doors opened, and Holt and Gloria were first down the aisle. The kids followed, and then it was her and Chris’s turn.

At the end of the aisle, they stopped, and Celia rose on her toes, kissing her brother’s cheek. “I know I’ve said this before, but I’m proud of you. And thank you for giving us more family.”

Chris hugged her tight and dropped a kiss on the crown of her head. “I’m proud of you too, Cee, and I think we’ve got you to thank for the family part too.”

They shared a smile, then took their places at the front, waiting for Hawes and Helena. Looking out over their gathered friends and family, at Hawes walking down the aisle, no lingering chill about him as he smiled adoringly at Chris, at the similar smile aimed Celia’s direction from the woman on Hawes’s arm, Celia couldn’t hold back her own smile. Couldn’t hold in the happiness that surrounded and buoyed her. Her family was stronger than ever, and she was happy to have played a part in making that—making this special day—happen. And she couldn’t wait to see how their family—how she and Helena—continued to grow in the future.

* * *