Page 68 of Lush Curves

“Like Ice said: clearly an idiot.”

“Jesus. Arrogant too, huh? Like she just truly does not give a damn. Practically daring Sam to come and find her.”

“She doesn’t care.” Annie narrowed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I have spentyearstrying to figure out how a parent walks out on a kid, ever since your father did it to you and Noah, and I never understood. I never will. But what Idoknow is that Kathleen covered all her bases legally. She has basically removed herself as a mother, and she’s free and clear to go and live her life however she sees fit. Cindy’s just lucky that her Dad is a good man, because a lesser man would have handled this completely differently.”

“He’s not going after Kathleen, is he?” Sarah asked quietly. “He’s not making any legal moves, he’s not forcing the issue of a relationship with Cindy. He’s leaving her be.”

“He’s focusing on his daughter,” Annie said. “And believe me, that’s a big enough job to be getting on with.”

“And what can he really do, anyway?” Sarah said. “She took the money that was owed to her for almost three years of unpaid child support, and not one penny more. She signed the papers giving Sam full custody. To all intents and purposes, she’s a stranger who just happens to share Cindy’s DNA.”

“Well, you know that’s exactly what Jinx said.”

Sarah sighed. “And what’s your place in all of this?”

“Me?” Annie smiled, a shining, lovely smile. “I’m your matron-of-honor, sweet girl, so my place is by your side as you marry an amazing, generous, loving man. And after that… well… I don’t know.” She handed Sarah her bridal bouquet of pale pink roses, then straightened the bodice on the wedding gown. “After that, I guess we’ll see.”

**

Annie stood at the bar, sipping a Mojito and watching Sarah dance with her husband. Her daughter was an incredible woman in so many ways, and as such, Annie had always thought that her beauty was the least-interesting thing about her, but there was no doubt about it: Sarah was gorgeous in this moment of pure, perfect happiness. Of loving and being loved in return.

Annie sent up a quick prayer (weird, because she wasn’t one for praying, really) for Sarah and Jax’s happiness. She prayed that it would be long and rich and deep: that in their life together, they have more joy than sorrow, more laughter than tears, and more love than anything else.

She glanced to her left idly, looked away, then looked back again.

There he was.

Their eyes met across the crowded dance floor, held. Annie felt her blood humming, her heart pounding. Oh, God, she loved him. She did. She always had, and no matter what was about to happen in this next few minutes, she always would.

“Mom?”

Annie was startled, spun back to the face the bar. Noah was standing there, so handsome in a suit. He’d been in Jax’s wedding party, of course, and he was proud that he’d been a part of making Brother Jax his real brother.

“Hi, sweetheart,” she said, wiping her spilled drink off her wrist with a napkin. “You having fun?”

“Yes. I danced with Callie.”

“I saw.”

“She said that I should dance with you next.”

“Did she?”

“Yes.” Noah frowned a bit. “The wedding etiquette rules on that website said that sons dance with their mothers. I also need to dance with Sarah.”

“Well, sure. If you want to.”

“I do,” Noah said, sounding a bit surprised. “I’m a good dancer. Jax taught me, you know.”

“I know,” Annie said, holding back her giggles. Jax had taught her son to dance and to kiss, and he’d also taught Noah by example how to treat a woman, how to live with a woman. Jax was the man that Noah looked to for many things, and Annie didn’t think that she’d ever stop being grateful for the fact that Jax had taken on that role with grace, strength, and compassion. “He’s a good teacher.”

“Yes.” Noah stared at her. “I don’t want to dance with you now.”

“No?”

“No. I want you to talk to dance with Doctor Sam now.”

Annie looked over at Sam again, as drawn to him as a moth to a flame. He warmed her from the inside out, he brightened her world just by existing… he was a man that she could build a whole life around. She wondered if he saw her in his life at all, if there was a space for her in it. Even just a small one.

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