KING’S BAY METROPOLITAN INN

It only takes a few songs for Courtney and Jason to tire of dancing. While he goes to join his brother and sister for a few minutes, Courtney seats herself at the table where her parents are now talking with Alex Marshall.

“Done dancing already?” Helen asks.

Courtney offers a sheepish smile. “We got bored.”

“I guess when you’re used to doing lifts and twirls and all that stuff, swaying back and forth isn’t too exciting,” Don says as he hands Sophie off to Courtney. He is proud to get a few chuckles out of them in response.

“It really is lovely,” Helen says as she surveys the reception. “Everything turned out wonderfully.”

“I couldn’t ask for a better wedding.” Courtney stops herself and then adds, “Um, except for the part where my daughter was kidnapped this morning. But at least that had a happy ending.” She pulls Sophie even closer to her, more grateful than ever for the continued presence of this wonderful little person in her life.

“Thank goodness,” Helen says, exhaling heavily.

“Has Brent heard anything else about Sabrina?” Alex asks.

She shakes her head. “She used her credit card to rent a car in Bellingham, but she hasn’t tried to cross the border to Canada yet. I’m just praying that they catch her and that can be the end of it.”

Helen reaches over to take her daughter’s hand. “I’m so proud of you, honey. You’ve grown into such a lovely woman, and a terrific mother.”

“Mom...”

“It’s my only child’s wedding day. Allow me to gush. I couldn’t ask for anything more than for you to be with someone as wonderful as Jason.” A little embarrassed, Courtney nevertheless smiles. “Neither could I. I guess I’m lucky we found our way back to each other. And that you’re all here to share it with me.” She looks from Helen to Don. “I can’t thank you guys enough for being so good to me. I don’t think I ever realized how good I had it until I became a mom myself.” She pauses and then says, “There was a time I was worried that you guys wouldn’t be together for my wedding.”

“But we made it,” Don says. “We all made it. And I wouldn’t change a thing that happened along the way. If some of that hadn’t happened, we might not have Alex with us.” He places his arm around Alex’s shoulders.

Alex grins. “And I’m happy to be an honorary part of this family. I don’t even know how it worked out that way, but I’m really grateful that it did.”

“So am I,” Courtney says. “You have no idea how annoying it was to be the only one these two had to worry about!”

The family shares a laugh, but out of the corner of his eye, Alex catches sight of something he would rather ignore: Graham Colville watching him. When Graham realizes that he has been spotted, he looks away immediately, but the impact upon Alex has already been made. He laughs a little harder, happy to show the man who fathered him how happy he is with his honorary family.

The ringing of a cell phone is a merciful distraction. “I think that’s mine,” Courtney says as she extracts it from Helen’s purse. She checks the screen and then answers. “Hey. Where are you?” She passes Sophie back to Don and moves away from the table, holding up a hand to excuse herself.

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