“She’s fine. Just upset.”
I nodded.
Then Megan said something unexpected.
“You know, most people didn’t understand what was happening until your mother announced the honeymoon.”
I looked at her.
“What do you mean?”
“The smoke was confusing, but everyone assumed it was some kind of surprise you’d agreed to. Then your mother announced that you were giving away your honeymoon, and people started looking at each other.”
I stared.
Megan continued.
“Daniel’s aunt asked me whether you were really giving your trip away. When I said no, she looked horrified.”
I glanced across the ballroom.
Several relatives smiled reassuringly.
Others were talking quietly.
The guests weren’t all celebrating what my family had done.
Some had simply been applauding a baby announcement before they understood the rest.
That mattered more than I expected.
Because for a few terrible moments, I’d believed the entire room was cheering while my family publicly took something from me.
The DJ approached.
“Ready when you are.”
Daniel smiled.
I slipped my hand into his.
“Ready.”
The music began again.
Our song.
The one we’d chosen after listening to nearly forty possibilities during a rainy Sunday afternoon.
Daniel pulled me close.
This time, the ballroom remained clear.
The photographer raised her camera.
And when Daniel leaned toward me, he whispered, “I think we’re getting pretty good at starting over.”
I laughed against his shoulder.
