Page 124 of Always a Bridesmaid
After the dance with the parents, there were toasts and cake cutting and more photos and a myriad of greetings and well-wishes.
As the reception wound down, Violet sought out Addie and Lexi. “Congratulations again,” she said as she hugged Addie.
“Thank you so much for stepping in. For everything.”
Lexi came over and turned their embrace into a group hug. “Are you heading out?”
Violet nodded, her throat too tight to speak.
They said their last rounds of goodbyes, and then Violet snuck away from the bustling town center. She’d have felt guiltier about breaking her promise to Ford if he hadn’t broken her heart.
She just couldn’t say goodbye to him. It was better to make a clean break, although she doubted that was a thing that even existed.
Tears filled her eyes as she changed clothes and packed the last of her stuff. So silly, crying over leaving Uncertainty, Alabama, when having to visit used to move her to tears.
…
Ford searched the crowd as people lined up to wish Addie and Tucker goodbye. Where was Violet? It shouldn’t be so hard to find a bright yellow dress.
After passing twice through the farewell line that’d formed, he darted inside the building. The rest of the gang was there, gathered in the lobby, but Violet was nowhere to be seen.
“Where’s Violet?” he asked, and Addie—now dressed in her typical T-shirt and jeans—and Lexi glanced at each other. “What?”
“She’s leaving town,” Easton said. “Tonight.”
“Dude.And you decided to wait to tell me why?”
“She seemed determined. I tried to take the blame, but she said there was nothing to be done and asked me to let it go.”
“I don’t accept that.” The panic Ford felt before he’d gone full dumbass and ruined things with Violet paled in comparison to the hysteria suffocating his body now. “I love her.”
Shock transferred from face to face.
“Tell me what to do. I’m throwing myself on your mercy, begging you to tell me what to do.” His gaze homed in on the bags in Tucker and Addie’s hands. “Shit. Here I am, ruining your day again. You guys go. These guys got me.” Ford turned to Lexi, Shep, and Easton. “You guys got me, right?”
“We’ve got him,” Lexi said.
Ford gave Tucker a quick bro hug, then pulled Addie into his arms and squeezed her tight. “Enjoy your honeymoon. Love you.”
It wasn’t something he normally said, but he’d decided to learn from his mistakes.
“We don’t fly out until tomorrow morning, so send me a text letting me know how it goes with Violet.” Addie pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. “I believe in you, McGuire. Always have, always will.”
A lump took up residence in his throat, and he managed to choke out a mangled goodbye.
Hand in hand, Tucker and Addie rushed out the door and down the pathway the townsfolk had formed.
As soon as they’d climbed into Tucker’s decorated truck, Ford turned to the rest of his friends. “I’ve got an idea, but I need help, and we’ve got to work fast.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Hug number three was too short, so Violet went in for hug number four, embracing Maisy once more.
Violet gave Isla’s cheek one last kiss, and then she forced herself to climb into her car and fire up the engine.
While she’d already been crying, the instant she turned onto Main Street, the tears flowed. Part of her heart would always remain in Uncertainty with Maisy, Isla, the friends she’d made, and the rest of the ragtag mix of people who made up the small town.
And okay, a piece would always belong to Ford McGuire.
