Vivian reached for her hand.
Elena accepted it.
They sat together for a while, watching the guests move across the dance floor.
Then Vivian asked, “Would you like me to bring you some tea?”
Elena laughed.
“Actually, I’d love some.”
Vivian smiled and went toward the refreshments table.
The conversation hadn’t erased the hurt.
But it had left them understanding each other better than they had an hour earlier.
Near the end of the reception, James returned carrying a small envelope.
“The photographer wanted me to give you this.”
Inside was a printed photograph taken during their wheelchair dance.
Elena was laughing.
James was leaning toward her.
Neither was looking at the camera.
She held it carefully.
“This is the one,” she said.
James smiled.
“For the album?”
“For the first page.”
He sat beside her.
Then he noticed her phone lighting up.
A message from Marissa.
*June says thank you. She watched the dance three times after we ended the call. I hope Theo didn’t make things too difficult.*
Elena read it aloud.
James smiled.
“Are you going to answer?”
“Yes.”
She typed slowly.
*Tell June I loved having her there. And tell Theo I’m glad he asked, even though next time he should check with me privately first.*
