Page 26 of With You Forever

She doesn’t spare Mel, or her dresses, a final glance as she rushes out of the bridal store. The bag on her shoulder, holding her magazines and ready-to-be-mailed wedding invitations, feels about a hundred pounds.

Tears begin to run down Lacey’s cheeks.

Heavy. Everything’s too heavy.

“You tryin’ to stare a hole in the window?” Sal asks from behind Seth, passing him a babbling Cash.

Seth grunts softly and juggles the baby in his arms. “Waitin’ on Lace.”

He’s well aware he’s acting like an overbearing asshole, but he’s worried about her. He wants her safe and happy and healthy and he’ll damn well do anything he needs to do to make sure she gets there.

His vow to her.

One day at a time. One breath. One heartbeat.

He hands Cash the salt shaker, which Cash immediately dumps on the front of Seth’s shirt.

Seth stares, impressed. “For some reason I didn’t think you’d actually do it.” He tickles Cash’s chubby toes. “That’s kinda on me, kid.”

Laughing, Sal checks the clock on the wall. “She’s later than normal.”

“Her dresses came in today,” Seth says with a chuckle. “She’s probably camped out at the boutique.”

Sal’s eyes widen. “They did? She didn’t tell me that.”

“She probably forgot,” Seth says, in an effort to make her feel better.

Sal hesitates, reaching across the ready-to-eat salad to move the peach pie away from Cash’s handsy grab. “How’s she doing?”

“She’s workin’,” Seth grumbles. Cash lets out a screech as if to emphasize his point. “Too damn much.”

He knows it’s Lacey’s way, bury herself in work, but he ain’t happy about it. He wants her to slow down, to take doctor’s advice and rest and get enough sleep, but she’ll be damned if she stops.

Sal gives him a look of sympathy. Pats his hand. “The doctors caught it early, Seth. She’ll be okay.” A shaky shudder rockets out of her as if she’s trying to convince herself. “I know it.”

Heat building behind his eyes, Seth stares at his best friend and squeezes her hand. “You saved her life, Sal.”

The honest truth. An awful thought. A thought he’s had about a million times since Lacey got her diagnosis. He thanks Christ Sal dragged her to that appointment. If she hadn’t ...

A rough exhale rattles out of him. “Jesus. I can’t even think about what would have happened if she waited—”

Sal tries to smile. “So don’t. We’ll get you through this. Everyone’s here.”

He knows they are. In the last week, Emmy Lou and Alabama have sent flowers, dropped off food. Griff left a bottle of whiskey at their front door. Sal and Luke have invited them over for dinner every night, steering clear of any hard talk about Lacey’s diagnosis unless she broaches the subject. Everyone in his country music family trying to help, trying to take their minds off it in their own way.

Nodding, throat tight, Seth leans in and smacks a kiss against Cash’s cherubic cheek. “Can’t cry if a baby’s here. It’s the law, ain’t it, kid?”

Sal arches a brow at her son. “Think Cash has got crying down for all of us.”

Seth looks up, meeting Sal’s misty green eyes. He needs to say this. Wants his best friend to know how much his heart is in this. “I’m going to take care of her, Sal.”

Sal holds his gaze, then she smiles.“I know you will.”

The back screen door slams and Luke strides in, beer in hand. Winston, Sal’s scrappy terrier, skitters beside him, begging for a handout. “Burgers are done,” he announces, tongs raised in victory.

“We’re waiting on Lacey,” Sal says, uncorking a bottle of wine. From the living room, the record player croons Merle Haggard. An early-evening spring breeze flutters the curtains.

Seth straightens up, Cash cradled in his arms. “Kid and I were just talkin’ about how the Brothers Kincaid wouldn’t even be a band if it weren’t for me.”

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