Chapter 1

Graham

I love my job. I love my job. I love my job.

My eyes stung. I could hardly breathe. Blood trickled down my arm, but I did in fact, love my job.

Most days anyway.

I’d dreamed of being a firefighter since I was a kid. Back then, I’d imagined driving a big red truck, running into burning buildings, saving lives—typical hero stuff.

Three years on the Swans Harbor Volunteer Fire Department had taught me that there was no such thing as typical, and hero was in the eye of the beholder.

“Try the tuna again, Graham.” Ms. Hazel called up to me from thirty feet below.

“Yes, ma’am.” I reached for the creamsicle-colored cat, but the damned thing scrambled to a higher, and much thinner, branch.

I’d been at it an hour and had only managed to trigger my allergies and sustain some impressive lacerations. Officially, we didn’t respond to this kind of call, but Ms. Hazel was an exception. She was my best friend’s grandmother, and by extension, my surrogate gramma. I helped her when I could.

I climbed up the ladder and smeared tuna on the end of the branch. If Catzilla wanted a snack, she would have to come within grabbing range.

The orange devil narrowed her eyes and turned her nose up. According to Ms. Hazel, the cat had been stuck in the live oak since morning. She had to be hungry.

I scooped a glob of the smelly fish onto my gloved finger and held it closer. The cat eased forward an inch or two and hissed.

I bit back a few choice words. Words that would have earned me a mouth full of Ivory soap when I was a kid. “She’s soaking wet and pretty worked up. Maybe we should try again—”

“No. Please!” Ms. Hazel wrung the hot pink ruffled apron she wore over her light pink jogging suit. “I know you’ve got a party to get to, but I can’t stand the thought of my sweet Bootsy stuck up there all alone.”

I glanced from the cat, to the elderly woman, to the garden hose laying near the tree. “It hasn’t rained in days. You sure you don’t know how she got so wet?”

She hung her head. “I’ll tell you, but you have to promise you won’t tell a soul.”

“You have my word.” I’d already put two and two together, but if I had to miss my adoptive parents’ anniversary party, it seemed only fair that Ms. Hazel admitted her part in the fiasco.

“I didn’t want to have to call you again. It’s the third time this week…” She paused as if waiting for me to let her off the hook. When I didn’t, she said, “I thought if I squirted her she’d come down…but she didn’t…she…she…”

“Climbed higher.” I deadpanned.

“Yes.” Ms. Hazel groaned. “And now she’s on that skinny little branch. It’s a miracle it hasn’t snapped. She’s a little plump.”

Plump was an understatement, but Bootsy’s love of food worked in my favor. Unable to resist a snack, the chunky fur ball wandered close enough for me to grab the back of her neck. The cat let out an ungodly howl and went into full ninja mode.

“Careful up there. She’s hotter than a firecracker lit at both ends.” Ms. Hazel darted close to the tree trunk.

“Move back. I’ve got her.” I didn’t have her. Not at all.

Claws tore into my forearms, and my nose burned with the need to sneeze. Just when I thought I’d traumatize an old lady by dropping her beloved pet, the damned cat caught a whiff of the tuna on my glove and started to purr. By the time I reached the ground, Bootsy was my new best friend, and I was on the verge of a serious allergy attack.

“Oh, would you look at that. She loves you.” Ms. Hazel grinned the same knowing grin my mother wore when she played matchmaker. “Then again, a lot of women do. For the life of me, I can’t understand why you’re still single.”

I put the cat in her arms and spoke between sneezes. “On…that… note… I have a party to get to.”

“I’m just sayin’ you have to strike while the iron’s hot. You’re wasting your fame.”

I knew better than to take the bait, but my mouth moved before I could stop it. “I’m hardly famous. Nor do I want to be.”

She pursed her lips. “Hogwash. Out of all the firemen in North Carolina, they chose you to be Mr. July. Why, I bet women throw themselves at you all the time.”

“A few have.” I reached forward to pat her shoulder but stopped when the cat hissed. “But like Bootsy here, they love me one minute and want to claw my eyes out the next.”

“Some folks would consider that passion.” She tilted her head and studied me. “The right one just hasn’t come along.”

The right one had come along. Avaleigh Callaway had broken my heart. Twice. The first time was understandable. She’d left me to chase her dreams of becoming an actress. The second time was a different story altogether. We’d reconnected as adults, and I had foolishly believed that Ava and I had finally gotten our forever. Only, she’d done what she does best. She walked away.

Ms. Hazel grinned like the fox in a hen house. “If you need help finding a nice girl—”

“I’m good. Izan and Carmen are my priority these days.” The moment the words came out of my mouth, I realized I’d screwed up. The absolute last thing I wanted to talk about was the adoption.

After things went south with Avaleigh the second time, I decided to take matters into my own hands and start a family by myself. Women did it all the time. They went to sperm banks, or had a friend knock them up. Since those options wouldn’t exactly work for me, I planned to adopt.

Little did I know how freaking hard it was to become a single dad.

Her expression soured. “I hear that social worker is still giving you a hard time.”

“She’s doing her job.” I took two steps toward the ladder truck, hoping she’d take the hint and drop it.

“The entire thing is a travesty.” Ms. Hazel clucked her tongue. “Still…I bet things would be easier if you were married. Noone would deny a couple the chance to be parents.”

I’d thought the same thing more times than I could count, but it wasn’t like I could run to the corner store and buy a wife.

“Maybe so.” I made a show of glancing at my watch. “But unless Miss Right crashes into that tree in the next five seconds, I have to go.”

“At least let me tend to your arms.” She motioned to the bloody scratches.

“No need. I’ll clean up at the station.” I pulled the keys to the ladder truck from my pocket. “See you at the party.”

Snuggling the cat closer, she smiled. “Thank you, Graham. I don’t know what I’d have done if you hadn’t come.”

“You’re welcome.” I couldn’t help but smile. I might not have pulled anyone from a burning building, but I’d saved a sweet old woman from a night of worry.

“Next time, wear those bunker pants and suspenders with no shirt, like you wore in the calendar.” She gave me a look that had me rethinking the whole surrogate grandmother thing.

Needless to say, I got the heck out of there before things became even more awkward.

A half hour later, I’d returned the truck, showered, and changed out of my cat hair infested clothes. After a twenty-four-hour shift, my mood had soured. I wanted nothing more than to go home and crash, but I’d never hear the end of it if I skipped the party.

By the time I reached the parking lot it was full, and cars lined both sides of the street. I circled back and left my truck at the station. The four-block walk did nothing to improve my mood. Rusty’s Bar & Grill had been my Friday night sanctuary since high school. Rusty had known full well I was underage, but he’d kept the root beers and advice flowing. Back then, precious few people showed me that kind of kindness. I was one of those Alden boys. Adopted, troubled, and charming enough to get away with just about anything.

I walked into the bar entrance and frowned. On a normal night, the worn wood covering the bar, walls, and floor made me feel at home. The smells of greasy food, cold beer, and sweat relaxed me better than any hippy-dippy essential oils. But this wasn’t a normal night.

For starters, red and white checkered tablecloths covered the tables and balloons and streamers hung from the walls. Even the damned bar was draped with party paraphernalia. To make matters worse, the place was packed. It looked like half the residents of Swans Harbor had turned out to celebrate Loretta and Michael Alden’s fortieth wedding anniversary.

“Well, well… if it isn’t the kitty savior,” Rusty called from behind the bar.

Chance lifted his non-alcoholic beer. “To my brother, the fire fighter. Winning hearts and saving puss—”

“Chance Alden!” Our adoptive mother slapped his arm. “Don’t you dare finish that sentence.”

Kelsey-Lynn, the town mean girl, flashed me a coy smile. “You can save my kitty any day of the week, and twice on Sundays.”

The women sitting at Kelsey-Lynn’s table looked at me as if I were the tastiest cupcake in the case. A redhead I didn’t recognize mumbled something about Mr. July and wiped the corners of her lips.

That damned calendar would be the death of me. I turned with every intention of ignoring them.

Unfortunately, Kelsey-Lynn had other ideas. “Hey Graham, is it true what they say about firemen?”

“Uhh…” I’d heard about every cheesy saying about my chosen profession, and had used a few, but I wasn’t sure I wanted my mom to hear whatever was about to come out of her mouth. “You light ‘em. We fight ‘em?”

She lowered her voice to a purr that would make Bootsy jealous. “That your job is to go in when it’s hot, and not pull out until it’s dripping wet.”

The redhead nodded. “I hear y’all are hot and sweaty and always ready.”

“Naw. Mostly we just know how to turn the ho’s on.” I smirked, hoping that’d shut down the conversation.

“It’s no wonder you’re single. You have the personality of roadkill.” Kelsey-Lynn huffed and turned her attention back to her friends.

Ignoring her comment, I walked to the bar and drew my mom into a hug. “There’s the blushing bride of forty years.”

“Hi, sweetheart.” She eased away and zeroed in on the angry red scratches on my arms. “I see Bootsy did a number on you.”

“The cat was child’s play compared to Ms. Hazel.” I shuddered. “She’s almost as bad as that bunch.”

She glanced from me to the table of women and back. “It wouldn’t kill you to be nice to them. Flirt a little.”

Raising a brow, I whispered, “You want me to flirt with Kelsey-Lynn Blackwelder?”

“Well, no…but what about the others? Carol is a real sweetheart.” Loretta Alden had fostered and/or adopted over a dozen boys. Now that we were all grown, she had one mission in life. To have just as many daughters-in-law who would give her a small army of grandchildren.

Chance tapped his chin. “If memory serves, you said the same thing about Sheila Anderson.”

Mom winced. “I set them up on one date. How was I supposed to know you’d dump her, and she’d hold a grudge?”

Here we go again.

I fought the urge to groan. “You couldn’t have known, Mom. And for the record, I didn’t dump her. We went out once. That was it.”

Sheila Anderson was the local social worker and all-around pain in my ass, standing in the way of me adopting two great kids. Officially, she claimed she had concerns about a single man adopting two kids, one of whom was a teenage girl. But I suspected my mom was right. Sheila Anderson was holding a grudge.

Mom’s shoulders fell along with her chin. “I should go check on your father. Try to have fun tonight.”

“I will.” I gave her another hug and glared at Chance over her shoulder.

He frowned. “Sorry I brought it up, but it’s a crying shame the adoption still hasn’t gone through.”

Our mom forced a smile. “It’ll get approved.”

“It will,” Chance said.

I nodded, but I had my doubts.

Scoffing, I shook my head.

She patted my shoulder and wandered off to find Dad.

Thankfully, Rusty chose that moment to slide me a beer. “Looks like you could use this.”

“Thanks.” I grinned despite my shitty mood.

I’d spent my twenties, and most of my thirties, in California. In all that time, no bartender had known what I wanted before I’d ordered, let alone poured it. There was truly no place like home.

Chance rubbed the back of his neck. “Sorry, man. Didn’t mean to ruin the night before the party even got started.”

I cleared my throat and did my best to steer the conversation to safer ground. “Where’s Truly?”

“She’ll be here soon…” He glanced from the door, to his cell phone, and finally to me. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

“You two finally set a date?” They’d been engaged for over a year and neither seemed in a hurry to tie the knot.

“No. That’s not it.” He scrubbed his hand over the back of his neck. “Truly invited someone to the party.”

I narrowed my eyes. “You two are as bad as Mom. What have I told you about setting me up?”

He sat back as if to put himself out of arm’s reach. Smart man. “It’s not like that.”

“Then what is it like? Who did she invite?” My brain spun through Truly’s female friends and family like a slot machine, and every freaking window stopped on Avaleigh.

He went wide-eyed and clamped his mouth shut, a sure sign he didn’t want to tell me. “Forget I said anything. She probably won’t show.”

“Bullshit.” I folded my arms and gave him the same cut-the-crap look I’d been giving him since we’d both landed in the same foster home. “Who is it?”

Chance let his head fall back and groaned. “Ava called the other day. Said she’d do her best to make it for the party tonight.”

Of course it was Ava. Who else would have him acting like a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs? For once, I agreed with him. Ava hadn’t been home in seventeen years. She was Hollywood royalty now. Hell would freeze over before she graced Swans Harbor with her presence.

Chance’s phone dinged with an incoming text. He glanced at it and grinned his goofy, lovesick grin. “Be right back. Truly’s outside.”

“She needs help walking from the car to the door?”

Without turning or slowing his steps, he flipped me the finger.

Rusty watched him go, shook his head, and turned back to me. “Did I hear that right? Avaleigh’s coming home?”

“So she said, but don’t hold your breath.” I sounded like a disgruntled toddler, but I didn’t care. I’d put on a happy-freaking-face for everyone else, but Rusty got the real me, the grumpy bastard.

I rested my forearms on the bar, dropped my chin, and hunched over my companion for the evening, a cold bottle of Budweiser.

Lost in thought, I barely noticed the door open behind me. It wasn’t until a familiar ginger and citrus perfume spread through the air that I turned around.

“Rusty! It’s been forever.” Ava smiled her genuine smile, not the fake one she flashed for the cameras out in Hollywood.

Well, I’ll be damned. Hell hath frozen over.

“Avaleigh? Why you’re as pretty as a speckled pup.” Rusty threw his head back and laughed. “I didn’t think I’d ever see you in these parts again. You left town so fast, the rubber you burned was still smokin’ when you reached the state line.”

“Better late than never.” She laughed, the sound bringing back memories I’d just as soon stay buried.

I took her in from her red-soled shoes to her short blonde curls, and finally to her eyes. Once upon a time, those baby blues could’ve talked me into anything. Other than the haircut, she hadn’t changed a bit in the three years since I’d last seen her—and that was the problem.

 

 

Chapter 2

Ava

 

Rusty’s Bar and Grill looked exactly the same as when I’d left home. Yellow wood still covered every available surface. Body odor, fry-grease, and old beer still permeated the air. The same people sat at the same tables and stared with the same judgy expressions.

But I’d never felt more at home.

Enveloped in Rusty’s arms, I fought back tears. Over the years, I’d given my friends and family every excuse in the book to avoid returning to Swans Harbor. Now that I was back, I wondered why I’d stayed away so long.

Rusty pulled back enough to meet my gaze, and his smile wilted. “It was a real nice thing you did, flying your momma and daddy out to California for her operation.”

Nodding, I swallowed hard. “It was the least I could do.”

“If you ask me, there was no need.” Agnes Abernathy, the meanest old woman this side of the continental divide, planted her hands on her hips and stared up at me. “North Carolina has better doctors than those quacks out in Hollyweird.”

“No one’s asking you,” Rusty muttered under his breath.

I patted his chest and turned to Agnes. “You’re right, but Momma wanted to recover at the beach.”

Her already sour expression turned downright bitter. “We have beaches too, young lady.”

I nodded because what else could I do? Tell her the truth, that I was too sick to fly home? That while my mom recovered from a double mastectomy, she and my dad were taking care of me?

What started as whispers from the people around us grew into a dull roar. I made out words like diva, alcoholic, and drugs. No doubt they were talking about me. More specifically, they were repeating the ugly rumors that had surrounded my mysterious disappearance from public view.

Agnes must have taken pity on me because she gave me a soft smile and pulled me in for a hug. “I’m just messin’ around. Rusty’s right. It was a real nice thing you did.”

“Thanks.” I closed my eyes and breathed in her scent: potting soil, hairspray, and an Avon perfume they stopped making before I was born.

Releasing me, Agnes glared at the crowd. “Don’t you listen to the riff raff.”

Once again my throat tightened. “I’m used to it.”

“Yes, well…if brains were dynamite, most folks wouldn’t have enough to blow their nose.” She squeezed my arm. “It’s good to have you home. Willa will be happy to see you. I remember when you and that granddaughter of mine were like two peas in a pod.”

I grinned thinking about Willa, my childhood best friend. “I can’t wait to catch up with her. I’ve missed her.”

“I bet she isn’t the only one you’ve missed.” She nodded to Graham. “Maybe you can pull that stick out of his backside. It’s been wedged up in there since he’s been home.”

Dazed, I risked a glance at Graham. His Swans Harbor Fire Department T-shirt and a backwards ballcap reminded me of something he would have worn in high school. He was my everything back then, but I hadn’t spoken to him in over three years, not since the night I’d broken his heart for the second time.

Shaking my head to clear away the memories, I said, “I’m probably the last person he wants to talk to.”

“Maybe so, but he hasn’t taken his eyes off you since you walked in.” She winked and hurried away.

I turned and caught Graham staring.

What had started as a curious expression hardened into what most people would see as indifference. I wasn’t most people. I knew him inside and out. That cold look on his face was a mask to hide his real emotions, likely pain and anger.

Drawing a deep breath, I reminded myself that I’d made the right decision. That he was better off with someone else. Someone who could give him what he wanted. Unfortunately, that didn’t stop my heart from wanting to leap out of my chest and return to its rightful owner, Graham Alden.

A bout of insecurity overwhelmed me. I’d rehearsed what I wanted to say to him. I’d planned to start with an apology and end with an honest explanation of why I’d left him in San Francisco.

When I’d imagined the conversation, I’d pictured the two of us running into each other in a quaint café, me wearing a vintage Chanel dress, and him in his trademark jeans, dress shirt, and sport coat. I’d ask him to join me and tell him everything. He’d start out defensive, angry even, but would eventually agree that I’d done the right thing. We’d reminisce a little before he had to get home to his new wife and newer baby.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think we’d have our heart-to-heart in the middle of a party, with him nursing a beer and me looking like an extra on The Living Dead. In my defense, six weeks of filming, flying halfway around the world, and finally facing my worst fears could do that to a girl.

Here goes nothing.

Before I could take a step in Graham’s direction, Loretta Alden came out of nowhere and threw her arms around me. “Avaleigh!”

“Hi, Mrs. Alden.”

She eased back and grabbed my face. “Let me look at you! You’re the best anniversary present I could have wished for.”

I lost my ongoing battle with my tears and let out an embarrassingly loud sob.

Growing up, I’d always wished my mom was more like Mrs. Alden. She was the baking cookies, doing arts and crafts, stay at home mother that was always there for her kids. Whereas my mom’s idea of fixing dinner was getting takeout on her way home from the firehouse.

“Oh, honey. Don’t cry.” She pulled me close and rocked side to side.

“Sorry—”

“And don’t you apologize.” She released me, pulled a packet of tissues from her purse, and blotted my cheeks. “I’m so proud of you. You always said you’d be a famous actress one day, and that’s exactly what you did.”

I wanted to tell her my life wasn’t as glamorous as it seemed. That I was lonely and homesick and on the brink of losing my career. Instead I smiled. “Is my makeup a mess?”

“Not at all. I need the name of your mascara. It hasn’t budged.” She glanced between me and Graham. A million questions danced behind her eyes.

I shook my head a fraction of an inch.

She nodded once and patted my shoulder. “Nothing that’s been said or done can’t be fixed with a little honesty and a heaping helping of humble pie.”

I squeezed her arm. “I hope you’re right.”

“I’ll leave you to it.” She nodded to her son before turning and walking away.

I glanced at Graham and sighed. I had two choices. I could allow things to remain awkward between us and risk ruining the party… Or I could pretend I wasn’t a bundle of nerves and talk to him. I chose the latter. I was an actress after all.

Plastering a smile on my face, I sat on the barstool next to Graham. “Your mom hasn’t changed a bit.”

Keeping his eyes on his beer, he shrugged.

I studied his profile. His thick dark hair was peppered with strands of gray. Honey-brown eyes were lined with wrinkles that only served to make him look distinguished. Even with his lips pressed tightly together, he was beyond handsome. As unfair as it was, time had turned him from a Timothée Chalamet cute, to an Ocean’s Eleven George Clooney kind of gorgeous.

Leaning closer, I lowered my voice. “Can we talk?”

“Isn’t that what we’re doing?” He met my gaze with such a hard look, it stole my breath.

I sat back to give him a little space. “No. I’m stumbling over myself, and you’re brooding.”

“There’s nothing to say.” He started to stand.

I’d hurt him. On some level, I deserved his tall, dark, and grouchy treatment, but there was so much he didn’t know. “Graham, please wait. We should clear the air for our friends’ and families’ sake, if not our own.”

His stare bordered on a glare.

My shoulders slumped under the weight of my regrets. “I’m sorry about San Francisco.”

He recoiled as if I’d landed a right hook to his jaw. “Why are you here, Ava? Really?”

“I’ve missed everyone.” I nodded to where Agnes stood reading some kid the riot act. “Even her.”

He eyed me for several heartbeats and shook his head. “Bullshit.”

Graham was right. I’d been back in town five minutes, and I was already lying. This wasn’t going the way I’d imagined at all.

Reconnecting with my roots wasn’t the main reason I’d come home. I was back to handle some health concerns, to figure out the next phase of my career, and to right some wrongs I’d committed over the years.

But nothing could ever right the wrong I’d done to Graham.

I opened my mouth to tell him the whole truth when Chance and Truly walked inside.

“Ava! When did you get here?” Truly rushed to the bar and gave me a rib-crusher of a hug.

“A little while ago.” I forced a smile.

“You must have walked right past us,” Chance said.

I’d walked past them all right. They were making out in the parking lot like a couple of teenagers. “You were busy.”

He dipped his chin. “Right. Sorry about that.”

Truly laughed the same laugh as when we were girls splashing around in the creek. “I’m so glad you made it.”

Seeing her, hearing her, was like stepping back in time. I’d missed her so much it hurt. Although she was my cousin, and ten years younger, she’d always been like a baby sister to me.

Over the years, we’d talked on the phone, and she’d visited me in Los Angeles, but this felt different. Here, I could be myself instead of who people expected me to be. To my family, and the rest of Swans Harbor, I was just plain old Avaleigh.

Grinning like an idiot, I said, “I told you I was coming.”

“Yeah, but I can’t believe you actually came.” Her cheeks flushed. “It’s been a long time.”

“Too long.”

A few feet away, Chance and Graham whispered back and forth. Neither man seemed overly thrilled.

Graham’s voice rose. “I’m leaving.”

“Stay until Mom and Dad cut the cake,” Chance said.

Graham’s jaw tensed the way it did when he struggled to hold his temper. “How long have you known she was coming?”

“A few days, but you know how it is…” Chance glanced at me and Truly, muttered something under his breath, and pulled Graham toward the dining room.

“Chance thought it best to spring you on Graham tonight.” She sighed. “I told him it was a bad idea.”

“He hates surprises,” I said, watching the brothers. “I should go.”

“No. Please stay. Whatever happened between the two of you can’t be that bad. Can it?” She stared, likely waiting for me to finally tell her why we’d gone from basically living together to not speaking.

Once again, I became hyper aware of the people around us. Some were staring, others were pretending they couldn’t care less, but they were all listening.

Rather than answering her question, I embraced her again. People in southern California would call the police if someone mauled them the way I was mauling my cousin, but I had to do something. “We’ll talk another time.”

Nodding, she pulled away. “You must be exhausted. I mean, yesterday you were working in New Zealand. I’m sure you have more important things to do…”

Guilt overwhelmed me. I might not have seen her as often as I would have liked over the past seventeen years, but I knew her well enough to read between her lines. “Nothing’s more important to me than being here tonight.”

She stared as if trying to decide if she should believe me.

“Come with me.” I took her hand and pulled her into Rusty’s office.

Her eyes went comically wide. “Rusty’s going to pitch a fit if he catches us in here.”

“I’d rather ask for forgiveness than permission.” I took her other hand and waited until she met my gaze. “I’m sorry I didn’t make it home when your mom died, or for the birth of your girls, or all the other times you needed me. I’ve been a horrible cousin, and a worse friend.”

“I’m just glad you’re here now.” Truly dipped her chin and turned her head like she used to do when our grandmother had caught us climbing trees in our church dresses. “I um… didn’t want Chance to tell Graham, because I didn’t think you’d show up tonight.”

I’d made so many mistakes, and hurt so many people, all in the name of my career and my pride. Hell, the one time I’d tried to put someone else first, I ended up hurting the person I loved most.

I tilted my head to put my face in her line of vision. “I would have thought the same thing if I were you. I’ve been as flakey as a box of Kellogg’s cereal.”

Truly laughed. “Careful, Avaleigh. You’ve been back in town a couple of hours, and you’ve already lost your California accent.”

“Eh, I’d love to lose more than my accent. I have so much makeup on, I can’t feel my face. And don’t even get me started on these shoes.” I scowled at the mile-high Christian Louboutin heels. “I should run out to the car and grab a change of clothes.”

“Do it after you make Graham drool a little longer.”

I rolled my eyes. “He’s barely looked at me.”

“If you say so.” Truly hooked her arm in mine and led me back into the bar. “How was your trip?”

“Long. On the bright side, Auckland is eighteen hours ahead of Swans Inlet. My body still thinks it’s two o’clock in the afternoon.” I left out the part about my grueling filming schedule, the fact I couldn’t sleep on planes, and my stress migraine somewhere over Europe.

On the other side of the restaurant, the Alden men stood on a small stage with Loretta and Michael Alden and an enormous Pepto-Bismol pink cake.

Graham raised his beer bottle. “Happy 40^th Anniversary, Mom and Dad. You two taught us kids what it means to love. Here’s to many, many more years to come.”

Loretta beamed at her adopted son before meeting my gaze. Waving the cake cutter overhead like Tom Hanks in Castaway signaling the rescue plane, she shouted, “Truly, Avaleigh, you two come over here and join the family.”

All eyes turned to me. And I froze.

“Yes, ma’am.” Truly, the traitor, shoved me forward.

Smiling my awards show smile, I spoke without moving my lips. “Don’t make me do this.”

“Make a toast or make a scene. Your choice.” She winked and darted off to join Chance at Loretta’s side.

I raised my chin and walked to the stage. Truly said something about mothers and love and families, but I struggled to hear her over my pulse pounding in my ears. When she finished, Graham cracked a smile that reminded me entirely too much of the boy I’d fallen in love with back in high school.

It hurt to look at him, but I couldn’t turn away. It wasn’t until Truly nudged my side that I realized everyone was staring, waiting for me to say a few words.

My mind blanked.

“I…uh…it’s good to be home, and…” Standing on the stage surrounded by the people I’d always thought would become my family was too much. The yearning I thought I’d left behind years before returned so strong it took my breath away.

“Um…” Out of habit, I glanced at the one person who’d always come to my rescue.

Graham avoided making eye contact as if he thought I might turn him to stone.

It took every ounce of my acting skills to hold back tears as I raised my glass. “Loretta and Michael, forty years ago today you made vows to each other. Since that day, you’ve loved and cherished each other through better and worse, richer and poorer, and sickness and health. You’ve proven that love can conquer all. Here’s to spending the rest of your life with your best friend, and to marrying your first—and only— love.”