Page 65 of Finding Out

Startled by the flash of a camera nearby, I studied her. “You’re not coming?”

She shook her head.

“You’re in the wedding party too.”

She sighed. “Avery’s not happy about us. And although I should.” She reached out and linked our hands together. “I can’t care enough to walk away from you. But I can care enough to give her space. Especially today. It’s her day, and its better if I stay out of the way.”

She blinked hard. I turned over my shoulder to see Avery frowning at us.

“Wren.”

Expression going stormy, she shook her head. “I might never have dreamed of a wedding, but Avery always has. Today is her day. I won’t do anything else to mess it up.”

Anger and hurt made my muscles tense. Wren was being a good friend. The problem was that my daughter wasn’t.

With a light tap over my heart, she said, “Go be her dad. I’m fine.”

Resigned, I pushed to my feet and strode across the room. I obediently posed for pictures, but all the while, my eyes drifted to Wren, who didn’t move from the corner. Years from now, Avery would regret that her pre-wedding pictures didn’t include her best friend.

Kristine met my eye and gave me a small, helpless shrug. She’d texted me earlier saying Avery didn’t even want to talk to her about it.

I’d promised Wren I’d get everyone on board with our relationship, and so far, I’d failed.

I understood Wren not wanting to upset Avery. I wanted my daughter to be happy, to have a wedding day that was magical. But excluding her best friend wasn’t the answer. And I hated seeing both of my girls upset.

By the time we lined up to walk down the aisle, the air was uncomfortable with the weight of all the unspoken words hanging between us, and it was clear that ignoring the issue wasn’t working.

Stepping up beside my daughter, I took her arm, eyeing the cage where her Atlantic puffin—who was, of course, part of the ceremony—was hanging out.

“You good?”

“So good.” She didn’t look at me.

I figured that neither Avery nor Chris would have doubts, but it was still a relief to see them both so calm.

“Well, if I were you, I’d be nervous about the damn bird,” I joked. At this point, I was desperate to lighten things up.

“Ha ha.” She rolled her eyes, but she was wearing a small smile. “Puff has been practicing. We went over it multiple times yesterday.”

“He’s totally ready,” Jana agreed.

“I can’t believe we’re letting a bird fly the rings down the aisle.” I shook my head.

“Don’t worry, Wren’s got it.” Jana took the puffin out of the cage and handed his lead over to Wren. “Right?”

Wren nodded, but her focus was only on the black-and-white clownlike bird. “Hey, little man. You ready to steal the show?” Her voice was soft, like she was trying not to be heard.

The wedding coordinator clapped, and Puff jumped, flapping his wings.

“Hey now. None of that.” Wren resettled the bird, stroking his back softly, her tone soothing even my nerves.

I angled down to whisper to Avery as Gianna started down theaisle. “Do you know how lucky you are to have a friend willing to deal with that damn bird on your wedding day?”

Avery’s throat bobbed, and she blinked twice, but she kept her focus averted. “It was her idea.”

“Because she knew you and Chris would want him here.”

She nodded.

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