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Elijah allowed a small, reserved smile to play at the corners of his mouth. “If you say so.”

Molly had come to understand he showed his softer side only when with family and close friends. Today should’ve been one of those occasions. Instead, he hid himself in a cloak of detachment, masking his emotions behind a veneer of composure, as if the joy surrounding them was too overwhelming to bear openly.

At the edge of the park, near the refreshment tables, Cody Beckett stood alone. He watched the festivities with a detached air, his ever-vigilant eyes taking in the scene without really seeing it. A few well-wishers approached him, and he greeted them with curt nods and brief handshakes. Each withdrew quickly, sensing Cody’s desire for solitude.

His thoughts drifted to another wedding, years earlier, in this same church. He and Miriam had stood where Elijah and Molly were now, bathed in the same hopeful light. It was painful to remember how happy he’d been, how certain of the future. The memories of Miriam and Sophia were never far from his mind, and today, they gnawed at him with a particular ferocity.

He pushed the thoughts away, focusing instead on the ranch. With Elijah away, his brother’s responsibilities would fall on Cody’s shoulders. He welcomed the added chores. Work was the one thing that kept him from drowning in his grief, and he was grateful for its unending demands.

Cody’s gaze wandered to the giant oak tree in the center of the park. A swing hung from one of its massive branches, where Joshua Beckett pushed Faith Goodell, the two of them laughing and talking like the children they once were. Faith’s blonde hair streamed behind her as she shouted for Joshua to slow her down. After a moment, he complied, pushing her at a more relaxed pace.

“We’re printing twice a week now,” Faith said as the swing made a lazy arc. “Circulation’s doubled since spring.”

Joshua smiled. “Sounds like the Bozeman Chronotype has some real competition.”

“P.J. Bogart doesn’t know what to do with himself,” Faith said with a grin. “He’s even offered me a job.”

“Are you going to take it?”

“Of course not. The Bozeman Chronotype isn’t the Mystic Gazette.”

They lapsed into a comfortable silence, the kind formed over years of friendship. Joshua had always been quieter than most of the Beckett brothers. With Faith, he didn’t need to speak much. She understood him in a way few others did.

“I’m excited for the articles and photographs Molly will be sending,” Faith said after a while. “It’ll be like she’s writing a diary for us.”

Joshua nodded. “She’ll make a fine correspondent. And a finer sister-in-law.”

A train whistle sounded in the distance, catching the attention of the crowd. It signaled the departure of Elijah and Molly, and the park began to empty as people made their way to the train station. There was a sense of unity in the procession, a communal desire to send the newlyweds off with the fullest measure of support.

At the station, Elijah and Molly took turns hugging their family and friends. Molly’s eyes were bright with tears as she kissed Joshua on the cheek. “Take care of the family.” She glanced at the group of Becketts surrounding them.

“We will,” Joshua assured her. “You two enjoy your travels.”

Elijah shook Joshua’s hand, then Cody’s. “I’ll be back before you know it.”

Cody’s face was a mask. “Just be sure to come back.”

With that, Elijah and Molly boarded the train. It lurched forward, and the crowd waved and shouted their goodbyes. Elijah and Molly stood on the rear platform, hand in hand, waving until the train rounded a bend and disappeared from view.

The crowd began to disperse, trickling away in small groups. Joshua lingered, casting a glance at Faith, who stood on tiptoe to see if the train might come back into sight.

“Do you think they’ll be happy?” she asked, turning to Joshua.

“They will,” Joshua said. “Elijah loves her more than he knows how to say.”

Faith nodded, then smiled. “Walk me home?”

Joshua’s heart gave a small, hopeful leap. “Of course.”

They started down the main street of Mystic, the town quiet with the end of the festivities. Most businesses were shuttered for the day, and the only sounds were the soft murmurs of those still making their way from the station.

“I always liked this time of day,” Faith said. “Feels like the town is taking a deep breath.”

Joshua laughed softly. “You mean, when it’s not bustling with news?”

“Bustling,” she repeated with a chuckle. “Mystic’s version of bustling is still a yawn for most places.”

They walked in silence for a few moments, enjoying the peace. Joshua thought about the swing, about how he’d once pushed Faith just as high when they were children. He wondered when their friendship had become something more in his mind and whether she felt the same.