“I’m gonna go get a cupcake.” The little man slid out of the chair and skipped across the sand.

Alan had left the dance floor and plopped down in Tommy’s chair. He gave Liddy’s hand a squeeze and smiled at her with his whole face.

“Is this weird?” Liddy asked.

“A little bit,” said Alan.

“I’m glad you’re here.” Liddy patted him on the cheek.

“Me too, pal.” Alan got a rare serious look on his face. “I’m happy for you, Liddy.”

“I know you are.”

They both leaned back in the chairs and watched the dancers and laughed when Joy Lynn and Marina Tangoed through the group, and back again.

“So, how’s everything going with the George and Bradon merger?”

“It’s been very nice, actually.”

“I’m happy for you too, Alan.”

“I know you are. I told you I’d land on my feet. You okay I landed where I did?”

“Are you kidding? It’s so obvious.”

“It kind of is, isn’t it?”

“Joyfully so,” said Liddy, “Perfect really, two of my favorite people in the world being happy together. I’m just hoping the landing sticks.”

Bonnie ran up and grabbed Alan by the hand and took him back to the dancing. It was hard not to speculate if it would last, but Marina and Alan were having a wonderful time of it. Liddy watched the pair and realized there are a few people who have the gift of love and Alan Bradon was one of those people. And she couldn’t think of anyone she wanted him to give the gift to more than Marina George.

Reid finished a dance with his nieces and walked back to Liddy. He reached out for her hand. “Can I have this dance, Mrs. Trent?”

“And many, many more.” Liddy set her hand in Reid’s.

Reid pulled Liddy to her feet and led her into the middle of their people. With the next song, the guests broke into the Bet dance and twirled and bopped around the newlyweds, while the bride and groom held each other and swayed a little hole in the sand. That which willed their hearts to soar would float them free until they were down again, if ever they were, and the sky above and the water below spun into a thousand shades of blue.

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Copyright © 2008 Cynthia Lee Cartier

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