Page 69 of Distant Shores (Stapled Magnolias #2)

“Need anything?” I asked, replacing my challenging glare with a small smile.

He took another photo. “Nope!” Then he waved like a dork before melting into the crowd. He reappeared at the doors just as a new wave of people spilled through—some I recognized, but many I didn’t—all pointing and smiling at the decorations.

All these weeks of planning, hours of phone calls, printing, and preparation, and now that it was finally here, and I had to think of what might come next…

I wanted to puke.

“Ireland?” a raspy voice asked from behind me, and I turned to find a young woman dressed in a dark-green gown, a hesitant smile on her freckled face. She tucked a strand of red hair behind her ear, and I saw there were freckles on her arms and hands too. All over, really.

“That’s me,” I said, still eyeing her curiously.

Her smile brightened, and her gray eyes warmed as she extended her hand.

“I’m Bree.”

I shook her hand, and she barreled onward.

“Liem’s told me all about you. Cody too. I feel like I’m meeting a celebrity,” she said with a laugh.

I relaxed at that even as I rebelled against the idea of an unclear expectation of who I might be.

Delly came to my side as if anticipating I might need backup, extending her hand. “I’m Adeline,” Delly said, shaking Bree’s hand .

It secretly pleased me that she was “Adeline” to everyone except me, Adair, and Pops.

And Cole, I guessed.

“I’ll make this quick,” Bree said after introducing herself to Delly.

“I’ve been keeping up with what you guys have been doing with the greenhouse project.

Cody has been doing something similar in our town, over in Bay Springs, getting our downtown more accessible.

And, well, to be blunt, it looks like I’ll be coming into some money soon and… I want in. On any future projects.”

Future projects.

Bree’s kind smile didn’t falter when I just stared blankly at her.

“We don’t have to get into details now,” she assured me. “I just wanted to meet you and give you my number so we can talk. Once you’ve recovered from all this, maybe?”

I nodded, but then shook my head instead. “I don’t have my phone.”

“Here,” Delly said, extending her phone to Bree. “I’ll make sure Ireland gets your number. And calls you.”

I bumped Delly with my hip, then gave my attention back to Bree.

“We don’t have anything planned besides getting the greenhouse built, and maybe any other fundraising we might have to do if this isn’t enough, but…

.” I met her eyes, mind racing with possibilities. “I’d really love that. To talk more.”

Her eyes sparkled knowingly. “I’m surprised Ari didn’t tell you. Vinh checked the numbers this morning. From the dance card bids alone, you’ve met your goal.”

Delly squealed, but I just continued to stand there, stunned.

“My, don’t you ladies look splendid,” Liem said, joining our circle. “And happy too.”

An intense guy who had to be Liem’s brother appeared, putting his arm around Bree and kissing her temple. He had the same dark hair and eyes as Liem, but was taller by several inches.

For some reason, that’s when it hit me.

I had seen this girl before. And Vinh too. Or the back of their heads, at least, at Gil’s funeral.

“Vinh,” he said, confirming my suspicion.

“Ireland,” I said back.

That was the extent of our conversation.

Vinh whispered something in Bree’s ear and then left, and she watched him go with a look I was all too familiar with.

Equal parts disbelief and longing.

“I suppose it would be too much to ask for a group hug from the three of you?” Liem asked, swaying along to the music where he stood.

I met Liem’s dark, exceedingly kind eyes for a long moment, then opened my arms.

Why the hell not .

I barely had time to breathe before he was squeezing me with all he had, and suddenly, Bree and Delly were there, too, squishing me between all of them.

After weeks of living with Adair, the word slipped out of my mouth easily. “ Lordy .”

Delly giggled, and as we pulled away, her eyes twinkled.

I glanced at Liem, whose eyes were always twinkling.

And then Bree’s, and yep. Bright and shining.

Then Miss Lenny spun on the edge of the dance floor near us, her sequins catching the light and temporarily blinding me.

What was with all these sparkly people finding me?

Delly squeezed my hand. “I’m going to go upstairs and check on my brother and the guys. You good?”

I nodded, and once she left, I scanned the sea of satin, hairspray, and mixed colognes and perfume.

The giggles of children mixed with the music as generations of people intermingled.

Old, young, and everything in between. My heart jumped in excitement as Melvin Hammond walked in, and I headed toward him.

He made it through the thickest part of the crowd, and my steps faltered as my gaze drifted down to Genelle.

She was in a wheelchair with a blanket draped over her lap and a nasal cannula over her ears and under her nose.

I pinched the fabric of my dress hard, working it into a wrinkle. She hadn’t been on oxygen the last time I’d visited her just a few days ago. And after finding out that Wilbur’s wife’s name was Nell, my soft spot for the woman had grown more into a crater.

They didn’t see me, but Genelle spotted the dance floor and lit up, pointing at it before clasping her hands together and smiling up at Melvin. He squeezed her shoulder and leaned down to whisper something in her ear.

Whatever will be, will be

I’d watched the video of their dance probably a hundred times since that day.

My hand stilled its fiddling with my dress as I watched them. Something about that moment, about her unbridled happiness despite whatever had happened with her health, brought me peace.

The music subtly faded, and a hush of anticipation filled the room.

Liem and Vinh escorted Ari to the podium we’d set up on the far side of the room, complete with a lectern and microphone.

She kissed them each sweetly on the cheek, and Liem shared soft words with her before he and his brother retreated a few steps to the nearest wall.

“Welcome, everyone,” Ari said into the microphone, “to the Live Oak Summer Gala.”

Polite applause followed, and she smiled graciously, bowing her head.

She thanked everyone for their contributions, naming all the local companies and individuals who had made significant donations.

Then she mentioned all the volunteers, Cole, Delly, and Adair included, before she briefly explained the details of the greenhouse, the accessibility features it would have, and what they hoped to grow.

But it was during those pauses, within those times she held herself back and took deep, measured breaths, that I heard what went unspoken.

Her grief.

“Ireland Sewell.”

My spine locked up, ears ringing a high pitch like a microphone with feedback.

“I won’t ask you to come up here.”

I let out an audible breath of relief, and a few people nearby laughed knowingly.

Knowingly.

Lordy.

Rubbing my fingers on the material of my skirt again, I tried to arrange my face into something neutral and less scowl-like.

“I know you’d never forgive me,” Ari continued, “but I wanted to thank you too. For everything, my dear. I am happy to know you.”

Tears gathered in my eyes, and the woman who had become my friend—whose late husband had been my first friend here—turned hazy.

Ari looked down at the lectern, and I blinked rapidly as I bowed my head too.

She said something else, but I missed it as my eyes flicked toward the exit. It would be so easy to slip away. To go next door and close myself inside the Cadillac to nowhere. To sit back against the leather and wait in the quiet for Adair to find me .

But just thinking his name brought me back into myself, and I raised my chin, listening back in.

“It is my great honor to announce that, along with Live Oak’s generous matching contribution, we have exceeded our goal.” She sniffed, dabbing at her eyes before straightening her shoulders. “Construction on Live Oak’s fully accessible greenhouse will begin in two weeks.”

The applause was louder this time, Miss Lenny’s whistling cutting through it all.

I wrapped my arms around myself as she concluded her speech with words I didn’t process before Director Links took the podium, her box braids in an elegant low bun, her makeup and gown flawless.

She thanked everyone again, did a little spiel about the work at Live Oak, the Locc, and Zinnia House, and then gave a rundown of the gala’s timeline—dance, dinner, mingle.

It would be short. Purposely so.

Once the applause that followed died down, our carefully crafted playlist began. Most songs were still in 3/4 time, but they’d done so well in class that I’d also taught them a basic foxtrot, so there were some songs in 4/4 as well.

The trumpet intro of “Tennessee Waltz” by Patti Page streamed through the speakers just as a warm presence slid up beside me.

“ Cherie ,” Cody said, bumping his hip into my side. “A dance?”

“Need a warmup before whisking Liem across the floor?” I asked, taking in his dark-blue suit.

“Sure,” he murmured, offering me his elbow.

Cody was quiet as he led me into the dance, his movements confident.

“You’ve practiced. ”

He shrugged, not hiding his smirk when he spun me perfectly. “I had a more than competent teacher.”

When the song ended, I gave Cody a little curtsy, which he returned with a bow.

“Thanks for the dance, Cherie.”

We shared soft smiles before he scanned the room, his hazel eyes flaring when he caught sight of Liem, and then he stalked after him like he was prey.

I resisted the urge to look around for Adair or Dad again and went to the lectern to grab my tablet I’d stashed there earlier.

Thanks to the nametags, it was relatively easy to find the people who had paid for dance card spots.

Once I got a few couples going, everyone became more comfortable, and by the time the second song started, the dance floor was nearly full.