Page 33 of Last Wish Wedding

She glanced at her watch, two hours until she needed to meet Mac. Enough time to pull herself together. To pretend she wasn’t terrified of losing everything that mattered. The idea that this was a real date was helping to distract her, but obviously not entirely.

Kelsey forced herself up from Noah’s bed, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. Her reflection in his mirror showed tear tracks, she’d need to fix that before seeing Mac. Before pretending everything was fine.

Her phone buzzed—a new picture from Noah. He’d arranged shells in the sand to spell HI MOM. Her heart squeezed.

Tell Mac I found a Junonia! Super rare!!!

She smiled through fresh tears, typing back: Will do! Enjoy your time.

Such a normal conversation. As if lawyers weren’t already drawing up papers to try and take him away. But she was glad he was having a good time, and there were other kids along for this trip.

Kelsey checked the time again and headed to her bathroom. The fresh seafoam green walls reminded her of yesterday with Mac, of his kiss, of the way he’d looked at her. For a moment, she let herself imagine a future where she could have both—Noah and maybe something real with Mac. But Mac was leaving, and Noah…

She squared her shoulders, reaching for her makeup bag. She could handle Mac leaving. She could handle being alone. But losing Noah? That would break her completely.

The woman in the mirror straightened her spine, wiped away the last tears. She had two hours to become someone who deserved a perfect date. Someone who wasn’t falling apart inside.

“You can do this,” she told her reflection. “You can have one afternoon of normal. One afternoon of just being a woman on a date with a handsome man.”

Wandering back to her room her eyes landed on Noah’s latest school picture smiling at her from her nightstand, gap-toothed and gleaming, so much like David around the eyes. But the gentle spirit behind that smile? That was all Noah.

“I won’t let them take you,” she promised the photograph, her voice stronger now. “Whatever it takes, baby. Whatever it takes.”

The late afternoon sun glinted off the water as Kelsey made her way down the dock. Mac was adjusting something on the sail, his movements precise and practiced. He looked up at her footsteps on the gangway, and his hands stilled.

“Wow,” he said softly. “You look… beautiful.”

Kelsey smoothed her sundress, suddenly glad she’d taken extra time with her hair. “Thanks. You clean up pretty nice yourself.”

And he did. The careful shave highlighted his strong jaw, and his fitted polo and deck shoes managed to look both casual and expensive. She tried not to stare at how the fabric stretched across his shoulders as he reached for her bag.

“Brought clothes for later?” he asked, peeking inside.

“Ever the girl scout.”

His fingers brushed hers as he took the bag, and that same electricity from yesterday sparked between them.

They stood there awkwardly until Kelsey blurted, “Oh! Noah texted. He wanted me to tell you he found a junonia shell.”

Mac’s face lit up. “Really? Those are pretty rare around here. Did he find it near the point?”

“I think so. He was excited to tell you about it.”

“That kid has a good eye.” Mac disappeared below deck to stow her bag and was back quickly. “You know, there’s this little island about three miles out, uninhabited, great shelling. I’d love to show you and Noah sometime. It would give me practice anchoring and taking the skiff. We’ll be going past it today. It’s on the route I had planned.”

“I’d love that.” Kelsey settled onto one of the cushioned seats and watched Mac whirl around the deck with fluid efficiency. Every motion seemed purposeful, from the way he checked the lines to how he adjusted the wheel.

The auxiliary engine hummed to life, and they glided out of the cove. Mac kept up a running commentary about wind directions and tides, but Kelsey found herself focusing more on how the sun brought out golden highlights in his dark hair, the way his forearms flexed as he handled the wheel.

“See that island ahead?” He pointed. “It’s got these hidden coves where the shells wash up after storms. Noah would love it.”

“You seem to know every inch of these waters,” she said, admiring how naturally he stood at the helm.

“Spent most of my life out here. It’s home.” He glanced over, catching her watching him. His smile turned softer, more intimate. “You’re staring.”

“Just admiring the view,” she said boldly.

Color touched his cheeks, but his eyes held hers. “It is beautiful out here.”