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Bing rolled his eyes and turned to his sister. “I’ll have you know that Blake was proud of the fact that he ate on paper plates several times a week while he was in Wyoming.”

Hensley exchanged a glance with Jen and then angled toward Caroline. It was time someone stood up to her. “It might surprise you to know that Blake was all for serving our fundraiser guests on disposable tablecloths with paper plates and plastic utensils until I talked him out of it.”

Caroline only shrugged in response, still wearing a smirk.

It occurred to Hensley that the woman was desperately miserable and needed Jesus.

Why hadn’t she figured this out sooner? She’d have to pray for her and wait for another opportunity to share the love of Christ. Maybe Jen could do the same.

She’d probably already done so in a hundred little ways, knowing her sister as she did.

The main doors opened, and Blake finally strode into the large hall wearing a black tuxedo, just as he’d said he would. Hensley released a quick breath, her heart beating rapidly. He’d finally arrived!

He spotted her right away. Reaching her side, he handed her a huge bouquet of roses and kissed her cheek. Whispering in her ear, he added, “You look stunning! I’m so sorry I’m late. My flight was delayed. I came as soon as I could. Drove like a madman.”

Hensley nodded, accepting the roses he thrust into her hands. Part of her wanted to shuck them over her shoulder. Couldn’t he have taken an earlier flight or returned yesterday to prevent all of this from happening the way it had? But he did look terribly handsome in his tux.

“I’ll make it up to you,” Blake whispered as he raked a hand through his hair. “I promise.”

The man who worried about her career interfering with their lives had let his interfere.

Did he see the predicament he’d put her in?

It had been embarrassing, to say the least. She had made it clear to him how important this dance was to her when they’d talked about it several days ago on the phone.

Kit sauntered over to them. “Oh, hello, Blake. Glad you could make it. Have any of you seen Lula? Or Wickham? Mother’s looking for them.”

Blake’s brow shot up. “I was looking for Wickham too.”

“Lula snapped some photos of couples for a while, and then they danced to a few songs, but I think she and Wickham left about oh, twenty minutes ago,” Jen replied. “They were probably going out to eat.”

“Okay, I’ll let Mother know. Thanks.” Kit hurried away to where their parents and Grandmother were seated with some of their friends.

Blake turned toward Hensley. “Would you like to dance? ”

She bit her lower lip again. Reluctantly, she nodded, setting the bouquet of red roses on a nearby chair.

He reached for her hand, and she allowed him to lead her toward the other couples dancing in the center of the large room.

She was happy to see him, after all. Was it safe to swipe a tear away now that Caroline couldn’t see her face as they made their way past dozens of other couples?

What a difficult evening! Not at all as she had imagined.

He held her close as they danced to “Chances Are” by Johnny Mathis when MaryAnne began switching the music up to more modern tunes. They clasped hands, and she leaned her head on his shoulder.

She’d been asked at least ten times where Blake was. Each time someone asked her that, it had added fuel to the fire, infuriating her. Caroline only fanned the flames with her snide remarks.

They danced to the next three songs, including one called a “Tennessee Waltz.” Hensley did her best to recover from her agitated state, pushing aside the turmoil from his absence along with all the other agitations.

How did couples stay married? There must be a constant state of forgiveness and an intentional pursuit of remaining content and joyful in all circumstances going on between the partners in marriage.

How else would they survive the disappointment of human faults and life’s challenges?

Ready for a break from dancing, they headed for their seats. “Would you like to step outside for some fresh air, so we can talk? Maybe we could go somewhere for a late dinner? Or take a stroll through town and enjoy the night life?” Blake’s brow arched as he held her hand.

She nodded now that some of her tension had released. “Yes, let’s step outside and talk about it.”

But when they wound their way to an exit and stepped onto the sidewalk, Jen and Bing were arguing a short distance away. It was unlike Jen to raise her voice, but it carried to where she stood with Blake. She heard Jen mentioning Caroline. It was the frosting on the cake to a difficult evening.

“Let’s just get out of here,” Hensley said. “I think I’m ready to go home, to be honest.”

“Sure,” he nodded, seeming to understand and helpless all at the same time. “I’m sorry. It seems I’ve ruined the night.”

She started walking briskly toward the parking lot and he followed as words tumbled out of her mouth and she swiped tears away.

“Don’t get me wrong. I’m so happy you’re home.

And I really and truly appreciate that you went to a lot of trouble coming home a whole week early to be here tonight.

And I know you don’t have any control over the airlines, but it’s not just the fact that you arrived so late. ”

A solitary tear rolled down her cheek and a lump welled in her throat.

She could not remind him that the event had been important to her.

Or that he’d let her down. Or that she hadn’t had a dance partner for most of the evening.

Or that she had waited for the limo that never arrived with her knight in shining armor and they hadn’t been able to go to dinner beforehand.

Nor would she belabor the fact Caroline kept opening the wound of his absence and diminishing the evening with her condescending remarks.

Or that she’d missed him all week. Instead, she sighed.

“And I’ve forgotten the beautiful roses you brought me inside the community center . ..”

“It’s all right. If I hadn’t wasted so much time trying to figure out what happened to Wickham and why he didn’t respond to any of my texts, I could have been here earlier. Don’t worry about the flowers.”

She waved a hand to her side as they continued walking through the parking lot.

“Nor is it the fact that everyone has been asking me where you were. Or the fact I finally just drove myself here, alone, and walked in alone. And held my head up and found my sister and Bing. But now, to see them arguing, and knowing who’s behind their argument, it’s not sitting well with me.

” Was she rambling at this point with disappointment and frustration in her tone?

“And, well, it’s just been a difficult evening with all of this happening on the one night that should have been so beautiful.

If you could just walk me to my jeep, I’d appreciate it.

I had to park in the last row because I also arrived late, because I waited so long for you, and then it was a long walk inside.

I just need to go home before I say or do something I might regret later. ”

“I understand. I am completely at fault for most of this, except that I can’t control the airlines being late. But I won’t say anything else that might make this worse.” He snapped his mouth shut and continued to walk beside her until they reached her jeep.

She figured he knew better than to attempt a kiss good night.

She drove home in silence, letting the tears stream down her face.

What a perfectly horrible evening! Jen and Bing had sounded very much like they were breaking up.

Was that what bothered her more than anything else?

Was she sobbing because she was heartbroken for her sister?

BLAKE SIGHED THE NEXT afternoon. He sure had messed up.

And now he paced on Hensley’s front porch, waiting for the housekeeper, Sarah, to return and lead him to her.

Or for Hensley herself to appear. By now, the maid had seen him a few times before, but she sure was taking a long time.

And Hensley hadn’t been answering his texts or calls.

He’d missed church, so he didn’t know if Hensley had attended, but he doubted it after how the dance had gone.

So, he’d driven over in his red truck. Mainly because he couldn’t find Wickham and had no idea where the fellow had parked his limo.

It wasn’t in his garage. And he didn’t think it was an oil change day, so where would Wickham have taken it? He’d have to figure that out later.

First things first. Hensley meant far more to him than the limo.

What to do to set things right? After last night, he feared he’d broken her heart.

His hope was that after she’d had a good night’s sleep, if he took her on a date out on the town, that somehow, he might be able to make up for things and present the engagement ring he’d purchased in Rockport. Would it make up for the whole fiasco?

In truth, he’d gone to Rockport, not just on business, but to make up his mind about the most important decision of his life. Caroline had confused him, and probably Bing too, with her denigrating though subtle remarks about the Fitzwilliam sisters. But there was no denying that he was in love.

Caroline was Bing’s snobby kid sister. An uppity Manhattan socialite.

And the farther away from New York that he traveled, the clearer that became.

In any case, after talking with his brother, Brandon, he’d purchased a ring.

Brandon and Stephanie were immensely happy with married life.

It had encouraged him. But last night had not turned out as he’d hoped.

He should have taken a flight home the day before, and now he kicked himself.