Page 54 of All You Need Is Love

Chapter 12

Her cheeks hurt from smiling.

And not just thanks to all the photos required of the bridal party, but also because love was in the air—and it was beautiful.

Shannon stood inside the courtyard strung with a plethora of tiny white lights overhead and watched Ben and Bella dance across the wooden dance floor they’d installed for the occasion. The tables were filled with loved ones finishing their dinner of steak and salmon, laughing, having a grand time just being together. And none of the ladies could stop oohing and aahing over the beauty of Bella’s drop waist gown, with its sweetheart neckline and draped tulle body, as well as the adorably intense looks of devotion Ben kept fixed on his new wife. Shannon hadn’t even known her cousin could waltz, but apparently he’d learned.

Love did that—it changed a person.

Shannon grinned again as Ben gathered his bride in his arms and dipped her. The music faded and applause erupted.

“Give it up again for our beautiful bride and her handsome husband.” The DJ, a woman in her thirties with a tasteful nose piercing and short hair, spoke into her microphone from the sound booth set up near the courtyard fountain. “Now Ben and Bella would love for any couples out there to join them on the dance floor for the anniversary dance.”

Some good-natured groaning ensued as women tugged their men up from their seats. While the music to “The Way You Look Tonight” flowed from the speakers, Shannon took the opportunity to snag a Sprite from the bar. The cool liquid soothed her parched throat and she leaned against the stone wall, watching all the couples she loved make their way to the dance floor.

Mom and Dad, aunts and uncles, Madison Price and Evan Walsh, Ashley and Derek, Tyler and Gabrielle—though the pregnant woman looked fairly uncomfortable despite the flats she wore, poor thing—and so many more.

A contented sigh puffed from her lips, down deep from her very soul. These were the people she loved, all gathered together in the place she loved. Maybe at the next town wedding, she’d be out there with Marshall and Noah.

Their own little family.

“You deserve a guy who is all in, Shannon.” Was Marshall that guy?Only time would tell.

She continued to scan the dance floor as she sipped her drink, and her eyes landed on Quinn and Marshall. It was just for show—she knew that—but her insides twisted at the sight of Quinn’s arms looped around his neck, of his fingers skimming her waist. Thankfully, they stood a respectful distance apart and looked deep in conversation.

“Shannon, there you are.”

She jumped at the words, her hand flying to her chest as she turned to find Piper Lansbury standing beside her, a pad of paper and pen in hand. The thirty-something newspaper reporter wore wide-leg black trouser pants and a smart white collared shirt, her brown hair pinned back into a sleek ponytail and a large black camera around her neck. She must be covering the wedding for the local paper. “Hey, Piper. How are you?”

“I’m all right.” Piper lifted an eyebrow. “How are you?”

Goosebumps traveled the length of Shannon’s arms, and they had nothing to do with the light breeze coming up from the water in the distance. The reporter, who was best friends with Shannon’s cousin Samantha, had always made Shannon a bit uncomfortable with her directness. Between that and her uncanny ability to ferret out the truth in every situation, Piper really was made for big-city reporting, but for some reason had returned to Walker Beach after college.

And right now, she was looking at Shannon with a mixture of sympathy and shrewdness. Did she somehow know the truth about Marshall and Quinn?

If so, that would not end well for anyone.

Shannon cleared her throat. “Happy for Ben and Bella, of course.”

“Oh. Right.” Piper waved her hand, dismissiveness in her tone. “I meant how are you doing now that Julie Robinson is back in town? I know you wanted to adopt Noah.”

Shannon twisted to face Piper, the motion sending splashes of her drink onto the stone pavers at her feet. “What?”

The reporter frowned. “Julie is back and seeking custody of Noah. The social worker didn’t tell you?”

“No.” Shannon hadn’t heard from Miranda all week, but the woman knew about her intentions toward Noah. She gripped the cold cup in her hands so hard the plastic creaked beneath her fingertips. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. I was at the memory care facility visiting my grandpa when Julie came to see Mary.” Piper’s nose crinkled.

Shannon’s ribs and lungs squeezed, making it difficult to draw in more than a scant amount of air.

Julie was back. Back for Noah. But she’d abandoned him. Surely they wouldn’t grant her custody, right? “How did she look?”

Tapping her fingers along the edge of the camera, Piper studied Shannon. “Good, actually. Much more put together than I’ve ever seen her. I heard she got a job as a CNA in Los Angeles and is going back to school to be a nurse.” She paused. “I’m sorry, Shannon. I thought you knew. After I saw Julie, I called Noah’s social worker to get an update. As a reporter, you know.”

In front of them, the song ended and couples started leaving the dance floor. Quinn and Marshall parted ways, and Marshall headed toward the drink station. His eyes found Shannon’s and they narrowed. He mouthed, You okay?

Her whole body urged her to seek comfort in his arms, but she couldn’t. Not here, where all of her family would be able to see them. She looked away, her lower lip trembling, swallowed. “What did Miranda say?”

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