Chapter Twelve
O ne week later, on a frigid, frosty morning, Jordyn, bundled up in a thick coat, scarf, and the green wool hat the Nanas had gifted her, stood at the top of a twenty-two-foot ladder and looped a string of colorful Christmas lights around the top of the Fraser fir tree in the back lot of Chestnut Ridge. Decorating the most perfect Christmas tree in all of Noel was a difficult task for one person with an aloof quarter horse as a supervisor, but Jordyn was determined to get it done right.
“You know,” she said, leaning on the top rung of the ladder and eyeing the white mare standing on the ground below her, “you could help out a bit more. Maybe come over here, brace your belly against the ladder and hold it steady for me? Or,” she said, smiling, “I could stick a string of lights between your teeth and you can just walk around the tree a few times. That would cut my work in half!”
Star lifted her nose in the air and sniffed, then walked away, her long white tail swishing from side to side as she moseyed further across the back lot toward the mountain range in the distance.
“Well!” Jordyn clamped a hand to her chest and pretended to be offended. “I never! You’d think if someone puts a roof over your head, tasty food in your belly, and brushes you down every night, you’d be a bit more accommodating. So, what? You’re not gonna stay and help me out at all?”
Star kept walking.
“Looks like you lost your help.”
Balancing carefully on the ladder, Jordyn glanced over her shoulder and grinned at the sight of the four Nanas, wrapped up tightly in warm coats, scarves, and mittens, strolling across the back lot toward her, bright smiles on each of their faces.
“I can’t imagine that horse of yours would’ve been much help, anyway, decorating that tree,” Carol Belle continued as they drew to a stop at the base of the Fraser fir. She looked up at Jordyn and laughed. “That’s probably for the best though. Fabio Fraser’s right particular about who he lets give him attention. It takes a tender, loving hand to bring out the best in him.”
Holly grinned. “And, dear me, you’ll need to use the absolute best decorations if you want a shot at winning the Christmas tree competition tonight.”
“Not that Fabio Fraser needs decoration,” Eve said matter-of-factly. “He’s the best-looking tree in the entire state.”
Kandy nodded, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she eyed the boxes of decorations Jordyn had lined up near the base of the tree. “No matter how you choose to decorate Fabio, I know he’ll look wonderful. He’s bound to win the contest by a mile!”
“I don’t know,” Carol Belle said, scowling at the white fence that bordered Chestnut Ridge, marking the property line of Frosted Firs Ranch. “I swung by Nate’s place this morning on the way to pick y’all up. He’s got a mighty fine-looking tree. It’s growing right at the front of his biggest Christmas tree lot, standing proud and tall. It’s the first tree that greets you when you round the driveway to the tree lot. I hate to admit it, but that tree of his is going to give our Fabio some competition this year—something I didn’t think was possible given how perfect our Fraser fir is.”
At the mention of Nate, Jordyn’s excitement dwindled.
Over the past week since she’d thrown a potential win in the Gingerbread Architect contest, she’d decided to stick strictly to the Nanas’ rules for the Christmas competition, which meant absolutely, unequivocally, no cross-conspiring of any kind! So, instead of seeking out Nate and Roxie for advice regarding each contest, she’d turned to Kandy instead, asking for singing and dancing lessons prior to the Christmas Karaoke and Christmas Dance Craze contests. She’d also asked for Kandy’s opinion as to which of the ugly sweaters she’d purchased in the town square would have the best chance of winning the Ugly Sweater Wrapping Pretty contest.
Heeding Kandy’s help and advice, Jordyn had done well in each competition, if she did say so herself. Despite her less than stellar singing voice, she’d managed to snag third place in the Christmas Karaoke contest, choosing to sing “Blue Christmas” in her best Elvis Presley impersonation. For the Christmas Dance Craze, she’d fared even better, placing second after rocking out solo to Springsteen’s version of “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.”
And, oh boy, had that been a blast! It had been years since she’d let loose, given herself over to the music and just enjoyed the excitement of the moment, and she had earned much-needed points at the same time.
The Ugly Sweater Wrapping Pretty contest didn’t go quite as well though. She scored points for her fabulously ugly sweater, which featured an evil squirrel, dressed as Santa, stealing gifts from underneath a Christmas tree. But the gift-wrapping portion of the contest proved to be too much of a challenge for her. Because she’d spent Christmas on her own for most of her life, she lacked the gift-wrapping skills Noel’s other participants had honed over the years, and her fingers had fumbled their way through the task, mangling the pretty red bow she’d failed to tie attractively around the gift.
But in the end, she’d done well enough, and her name had moved up to second position on the Tree Scoreboard. She was now directly below Nate and right above the Stone family.
All that remained was the Christmas Light Delight contest, which would be coupled with the Christmas tree judging that would take place later tonight. During the contest, Noel’s residents and a trio of judges were scheduled to tour the top three participants’ homes, taking notes and scoring the outdoor Christmas lights. Then they’d inspect each participant’s Christmas tree entry, evaluating the ornaments, lights, health of tree, and overall impression.
Considering the Fraser fir at Chestnut Ridge was as perfect as a Christmas tree could be, she was sure she’d have a really good shot at winning the Christmas tree contest and the competition overall.
But though the thought of winning the Christmas Crown had delighted her before, it didn’t sit quite as well with her now. For one thing, if she did win the competition, it would mean Roxie wouldn’t have a tenth crown to put in her mother’s trophy case. Also rather concerning was the fact that Jordyn’s tree would have to knock Nate’s out of the running, which would end his tradition of winning the Christmas competition and possibly decrease the attention Frosted Firs Ranch would get for its Christmas trees this year.
And then . . . there were the Nanas.
The four women had so graciously welcomed Jordyn into their group and hometown weeks ago, opening their arms and hearts to her, leading her through the Christmas competition and welcoming her as part of their community. And all they had asked in return was for her to enter Fabio Fraser into the Christmas tree contest and walk away a winner. It was a small price to pay for all they’d done for her . . . but, somehow, her heart just wasn’t in it anymore.
“Speaking of Nate,” Carol Belle said quietly as she scrutinized Jordyn’s expression. “We’ve been meaning to tell you how proud we were of you the other night.”
Jordyn raised her brows in question.
“The way you helped our precious Roxie in the gingerbread contest?” Holly prompted. “We all saw what you did.”
“Everyone saw it,” Eve added. “It was obvious to everyone who was watching that you purposely blew your chance at winning so that the little girls would have a better shot at placing in the contest.”
“And our sweet Roxie,” Kandy said, clutching her hands to her chest in an affectionate gesture. “She was so happy when she won first place. She’d worked so hard, and the win was well deserved. There’s no way she would’ve earned it had your gingerbread house remained in the competition.”
Jordyn shrugged nonchalantly, but her mouth curved into a gentle smile as she recalled the surprised but excited cheers that had burst from Roxie upon hearing her name called as the winner.
Deliberately breaking her own gingerbread house had been worth it just to see the sheer delight on Roxie’s face.
“It wasn’t that big a deal,” Jordyn said. “I knew how nervous Roxie was and how much she wanted to do well in the contest. Her success was more important than winning a few more points.”
The Nanas blinked, staring up at her silently.
“What?” Jordyn asked. “What is it? You’re looking at me like I sprouted another head.”
“What we’re thinking of,” Carol Belle said softly, “has nothing to do with your head and everything to do with your heart . . . and Nate.”
Face heating, Jordyn looked down at the string of Christmas lights in her hands and turned her attention to straightening them, putting more effort into untangling the strands than the task necessitated. “Yes, well, not a whole lot matters where my heart is concerned, seeing as how Nate’s heart is unavailable.”
“Oh, Jordyn.” Kandy stepped forward, placing her hand gently on a low branch of the tree as she gazed up at Jordyn. “Did he say that? Did he really say he wasn’t interested in you at all?”
“Not really,” Jordyn said. “But he does have reservations. Ones that have everything to do with Roxie’s happiness and well-being, and I completely understand.”
“But you’re so wonderful with Roxie,” Eve said. “We all saw how well you two got on together at the gingerbread contest. The two of you were having a great time and no one can doubt that you care about her. You can say what you did was a little thing, but your sacrifice meant the world to that little girl.”
Jordyn smiled. “I guess it did. And I’m glad I could help her.” She bit her lip, hesitating. “But I got to thinking this past week that Nate might be right about a lot of things. And that he might be especially right about protecting Roxie’s heart.” She looked down at the Nanas then, her chest aching at the memory of the grief in Roxie’s tone the night she’d spoken of Macy in the kitchen at Frosted Firs. “Roxie has already suffered the loss of one mother. She should never be put into a position where she might end up losing another parent she loves.”
“But who says she’s going to lose if you and Nate commit to each other?” Carol Belle asked, stepping forward and joining Kandy at the base of the tree. “You enjoy spending time with Roxie and she with you—you told us so yourself. And Nate has really broken out of his shell since you arrived in town. I mean, he’s taken part in the Christmas competition for a decade now, but in all those years, he never entered the Sexy Santa contest. He did that for you because he wanted to spend time with you.” Her mouth firmed. “Having you in their lives would be good for both of them.”
“If it worked out,” Jordyn said softly. “But I’m not sure it would, long term.” She issued a sound of self-derision. “Well, I know it would work for me, considering the way I feel about Nate. But he told me himself that he didn’t think he was ready for a relationship. And that he wasn’t sure he would ever be ready to let Macy go.” She sighed. “That doesn’t bode well for a new romance, and the last thing I’d ever want to do would be to enter Roxie’s life just to turn around and leave again.” She shook her head, her stomach dropping as she voiced the words she knew she should accept. “If Nate isn’t ready for a romantic relationship, I don’t know that I want to take the risk of ruining any friendship we might have. I just can’t see pursuing a relationship with him unless he’s truly ready to move on from Macy.”
“But there must be a chance that he’ll change his mind.” Holly gazed up at her with wide, pleading eyes. “I mean, he could change his mind. Men do that occasionally. Women, too! Sometimes I think if Don could ever get over the grudge he has against me and catch me at the right time, I might be willing to change my mind about commitment, too. Please don’t give up on Nate yet.”
Smiling, Jordyn nodded. “I’m still holding on to a little hope that he will change his mind. But I’d have to see some sign that he was ready and that he truly wanted to move forward. Otherwise, I just don’t think it’s worth the risk to his or my heart—and, most especially, to Roxie’s.”
The Nanas fell silent, continuing to stare up at her with concerned expressions.
“Anyway,” Jordyn said, summoning a bright smile. “As you said, Nate may very well change his mind. So, if it will please you, I’ll continue holding on to my last bit of hope for the rest of the week. Christmas is one of the most romantic seasons of the year,” she said softly as she gazed at the beautiful Fraser fir in front of her. “So, there’s still a chance that Nate will come around. But in the meantime, Fabio Fraser needs our attention. After all, we have a Christmas tree contest to win!”
Standing in the back lot of Chestnut Ridge among the crowd of townsfolk, Nate hugged Roxie closer to his side, rubbing her arms briskly as she shivered in the cold night air, waiting for Jordyn to introduce her perfect Fraser fir to the trio of judges. At half past seven in the evening, it was dark outside, but the distant glow of lights from Frosted Firs Ranch and the starry sky overhead brightened the shadowy figures that comprised the crowd of onlookers.
But despite the darkness and the frigid temperatures, it was a gorgeous night for judging a Christmas tree contest as the snow-capped mountain ranges, velvet sky, and sparkling stars overhead lent a festive atmosphere to the event.
“I can’t wait to see Ms. Jordyn’s tree,” Roxie said, bouncing against him with excitement. “I bet she has the most beautiful tree in the world! When will she turn the lights on so we can see?”
“Soon, sweetheart. Any minute now, she’ll flip the power and that tree will come to life for the judges.”
And the moment couldn’t come too soon.
For over two hours, Nate, Roxie, Tucker, and a large group of Noel’s residents, including the trio of judges, had toured Noel’s town square, admiring the Christmas lights and enjoying hot cocoa and warm apple cider. Then they’d piled into their cars and driven in a Christmas convoy of sorts to view the Stone family’s entry in the tree competition.
The Stones, currently ranked third in Noel’s Christmas competition, had done well for their entry. Their tree was a fifteen-foot Leyland cypress with full branches and a rich green hue. They’d decorated their tree with red and gold poinsettias of all different sizes and had topped it off with a beautiful bouquet of poinsettia blooms woven together with red and green Christmas lights that sparkled brightly against the night sky above.
The crowd, clearly impressed, had oohed and aahed, strolling around the large tree, taking group pictures, posing for selfies, and getting a closer look at the bountiful poinsettia blooms decorating each limb.
Drake Stone and his family had gathered beside the tree, explaining as they introduced their entry that the theme they’d chosen for their tree was meant to reflect the poinsettia blooms that lined the streets of downtown Noel. He explained that his family wanted to capture a bit of the Christmas magic of the town square and bring it home to enjoy as they celebrated the holidays as a family.
The three judges in attendance had smiled during the introduction, then circled the tree multiple times, jotting down notes on the notepads they held in their hands.
Then it was time to move on to the next contestant’s entry, Jordyn’s famous Fraser fir.
With her name listed in second place on the Tree Scoreboard, Jordyn had a great shot at winning the Christmas Crown, but her potential win all hinged on this one contest.
Nate glanced around him, noting the eager and excited expressions on other people’s faces as they squinted into the darkness, straining for a better glimpse of the unlit tree that loomed over them in the empty lot.
“Boy,” Tucker said as he stood beside Nate. “She’s pulling out all the stops, isn’t she? It’s real theatrical—and smart—of her to give the tree a grand entrance.” He shoved his hands in his pockets and shivered. “Only thing is, she could’ve taken into consideration that we’d have to freeze our butts off waiting for her to turn the lights on.”
Nate frowned. “Tucker, you—”
“That’s not nice, Uncle Tucker.” Roxie beat Nate to it, poking her head around Nate’s midsection and sticking her tongue out at Tucker. “Ms. Jordyn can have all the time she wants. Now, take it back.”
Tucker held up his hands, palms out, and grinned. “I know, kid. I’m well aware of how much you like Ms. Jordyn—I like her, too! And I know you want Ms. Jordyn to do well, so I’ll cheer her on . . . no matter how cold I get.” He made a face. “How about that? You forgive me?”
Roxie smiled. “Yeah. I forgive you.”
A flurry of movement near the back of Jordyn’s cabin caught Nate’s attention and he glanced over, peering into the darkness as Jordyn’s voice rang out across the clearing.
“Thank you for coming, everyone,” Jordyn called out through the darkness. “I’m sorry to have kept you waiting but I wanted to make sure everything was in order before I introduced you to my fabulous Fraser fir.” She fell silent for a moment, then, in a proud tone, announced, “Ladies and gentlemen of Noel, North Carolina, it’s my pleasure to introduce you to the spectacular Fabio Fraser fir!”
A click echoed across the clearing, an electrical buzz filled the frigid air, then a burst of multicolored light shined from the almost twenty-foot-tall tree, sending a festive glow across the back lot.
Every lush, emerald branch of the perfect Fraser fir was graced with lights and colorful round ornaments. And the brightest of the lights was saved for the very top of the tree, where a five-point star blazed bright white high above them, standing out among the blanket of stars that sparkled in the night sky.
A collective gasp arose from the crowd as the perfectly formed tree towered above them in dazzling holiday splendor, a mesmerizing glow of color, rising high before the snow-capped mountains in the distance.
“Please come closer.” Jordyn walked into the dazzling pool of light that emanated from the tree and waved everyone over, smiling brightly at their pleased expressions. “If you look closely at the ornaments, you’ll see that each one has a unique design that represents the things I love most about Noel.” She glanced up at the tree, her pretty features highlighted by the glow of the Christmas lights, her expression tender as she spoke. “You’ll find a red ornament etched with a glittery cupcake, which represents the delicious red velvet cupcakes Kringle’s Café bakes every year. They were my first treat when I arrived in Noel.”
“And on this side,” she continued, walking a few feet to the left, “there’s a blue ornament hanging from one of the branches that has a snowman painted on it to represent the Snowman Fight at First Snow.”
Leading the crowd of onlookers further around the impressive Fraser fir, she said, “You’ll find dozens of other ornaments with designs that represent all of Noel’s Christmas contests, each of the Christmas stores in Noel’s town square, and”—she continued walking around the tree, waiting as the crowd joined her for a better look—“over here, you’ll find a series of ornaments that bear the names of people I’ve met so far, all of whom have helped me in some way and brightened the season for everyone in Noel.”
Roxie, her eyes wide with delight, tugged Nate’s sleeve. “Come on, Daddy. Let’s look at the names. Do you think ours are on one of the ornaments?”
Nate smiled, his chest warming as he studied the tender smile on Jordyn’s face. “I don’t know, but we can take a look.”
He led Roxie closer to the tree and forged a path to the front of the crowd so Roxie could search the thick branches. She carefully studied the colorful ornaments, narrowing her eyes as she read the names painted in glitter on each one.
Jordyn, standing nearby, walked over, bent close to Roxie’s ear and whispered, “To your left, three branches down.”
Nate met Jordyn’s eyes over Roxie’s head. She smiled at him, her cheeks flushing, then turned away and walked to the other side of the tree.
“Here we are, Daddy!” Roxie tugged at his sleeve again. “Look! It’s all of our names. Yours, Uncle Tucker’s, and mine.” She looked up at him, grinning from ear to ear. “And she drew hearts underneath every one of them.”
Nate stilled as he studied the ornaments that bore his and Roxie’s names and the heart Jordyn had painted in glitter beneath each one. The gesture, though seemingly small to some, left a warm glow in his chest.
“Chestnut Ridge is the first real home I’ve ever known,” Jordyn told the crowd. “And this Fraser fir is my first true Christmas tree.” She smiled, the pretty blush deepening across her cheeks. “Whether my tree wins this contest or not, it’s perfect to me. Because every branch holds something—or a reminder of someone—that’s dear to me.” She looked up then, her eyes finding Nate’s. “And so”—her gaze left him as she refocused on the crowd and the judges—“even though I’ve only been here a few weeks, I couldn’t be prouder that I’ve chosen Noel as my new home.”
A collective sound of approval murmured through the crowd and applause followed. The judges, as meticulous as ever, strolled slowly around the tree, examining the ornaments closely, whispering to each other and making notes on their notepads.
Nate nudged Tucker, who stood beside him, with his elbow. “You mind staying here with Roxie for a minute while I speak with Jordyn?”
Tucker shook his head, still shivering. “No problem. But don’t interrupt the judges or anything. It’s cold out here and we still gotta trek over to the ranch and show them our tree.”
Nate chuckled. Tucker might be the most musclebound bull rider he’d ever come across, but his brother sure couldn’t handle the cold.
Nate weaved his way through the crowd and joined Jordyn on the other side of the tree. Up close, she was just as gorgeous as the Fraser fir, her beautiful green eyes sparkling in the glow of the Christmas lights.
“The tree turned out beautiful,” he said quietly. “It looks absolutely magnificent the way you’ve decorated it.”
“Magnificent?” She grinned and tapped her chin thoughtfully as she studied him. “I seem to recall hearing that word somewhere before . . .”
Nate ducked his head and laughed. “Oh, Lord. Let’s not relive that night at this moment. It’s too perfect to ruin.”
“You think so?” she asked softly, looking up at him. “You think the moment’s perfect?” Her gaze lowered to his mouth, her lips parting on a soft breath. “Perfect for what?”
He stood still as she searched his expression, an expectant look in her eyes. There was so much he wanted to say. So many things he wanted to share with her—including his gratitude for the concern she’d showed for Roxie’s feelings during the gingerbread contest.
As they stood there in the glow of the tree nearby, the crowd milling around them seemed to melt away and he leaned closer to her, longing to wrap his arms around her, hold her close and prolong the magic of the moment.
But . . . this wasn’t the right time.
“Well,” he said, clearing his throat and stepping back. “The tree certainly couldn’t be more perfect.”
His response disappointed her. Some of the joy faded from her smile and she stepped away as well, rubbing her hands together briskly to ward off the cold.
“You know . . .” he said softly. “I haven’t had the chance to thank you properly for what you did for Roxie.”
Her smile returned as she waved away his thanks. “It wasn’t a big deal. I just knew how hard she’d worked on her gingerbread house. Besides, a grown woman, competing against two little girls?” She shook her head and shrugged. “Well, it wasn’t exactly fair play, was it? Dropping out of the competition was the only right thing to do.”
“Maybe,” he said quietly. “But not everyone would do it.”
She shrugged again then looked away, her gaze straying to the crowd.
“Looks like the judges are done,” she said, gesturing at the trio of judges, who’d tucked their notepads back in their coats and had begun their walk across the back lot toward the white fence that bordered his ranch. “You should probably get going.” She met his eyes again, her smile sincere this time. “You don’t want to be late introducing your own tree, do you?”
“That’s a good point,” he said, backing away reluctantly but offering a teasing smile. “I have a contest to win. And, woman, perfect Fraser fir or not, you and your tree are in for some competition.”
She laughed as he walked way, calling after him, “Good luck with that!”
He glanced over his shoulder, his stomach dipping as the distance increased between them. “Thanks! After what I’ve seen here, I’m gonna need it.”
But twenty minutes later, as he stood with Roxie and Tucker beside the nineteen-foot Fraser fir in the front Christmas tree lot of his ranch, he had to admit that their tree was still in the running.
He, Roxie, and Tucker had worked hard over the past few days, adding lights and decorations to the tree during every minute of their spare time, hoping to put their best foot forward in tonight’s contest. Overall, he thought they’d done a good job. Their Fraser fir might not be as perfect as Jordyn’s, but the attention and care that had gone into the decorations were evident.
“Welcome to Frosted Firs Ranch,” Nate announced as the crowd, along with the three judges, gathered in front of the impressive tree.
Just beyond the first line of onlookers, he spotted Jordyn’s red hair and pretty features. She smiled up at him and he smiled back, then said, “I planned to introduce the entry for our team, but someone else wanted the honor.” He glanced down at Roxie, who stood beside him, smiling brightly. “My daughter, Roxanna—or Roxie, as we call her—has asked to explain the theme of our tree this year. It seems she’s had some recent practice at standing in front of a crowd, and after considering the advice of someone she admires very much, she wanted to give it another try.” He held out his arm in invitation. “Roxie, would you please introduce our tree?”
Smiling, Roxie followed his lead and moved to the front of the tree.
Nate stole another glance at Jordyn, who looked back at him, her eyebrows raised and surprise in her eyes as Roxie took his place in front of the tree. He winked at her, mouthing the same words he’d spoken to her the day she ensured Roxie would win the gingerbread contest: Thank you.
The two words were simple and small—not nearly expressive enough for the encouragement Jordyn had given Roxie—but he hoped she knew how much her gesture had meant to him.
Jordyn smiled, her eyes glistening as she mouthed back, You’re welcome.
A brief flash of fear moved through Roxie’s expression as she cleared her throat to speak, but she glanced over at Nate, then Jordyn, studied their encouraging smiles, took a deep breath and spoke. “This year, we decorated our Fraser fir tree in honor of my mama’s memory.”
A soft hush fell over the crowd. Many of the onlookers who’d known Macy smiled gently as Roxie moved closer to the tree and began her explanation.
“My mom was Macy Reed,” Roxie said. “And she loved Christmas. She liked white lights the best, so we used white Christmas lights to decorate our tree.”
Nate smiled. The white lights on the Fraser fir contrasted beautifully with the dark green branches. Macy, no doubt, would’ve been pleased with the sight.
“My Dad tied a big, white bow at the top of the tree,” Roxie continued, “and my uncle Tucker wound white ribbon around the tree all the way to the bottom. The bow and ribbons are made of white silk—the kind my dad said my mama’s wedding dress was made out of.”
Nate’s smile faltered, his throat closing at the memory of Macy, dressed in her wedding gown, walking down the aisle toward him.
The day they’d married, there’d been so much hope in her eyes. So much love. And so much certainty. Macy had been confident that they would have a long, happy life together.
Only things hadn’t turned out that way.
“And over here,” Roxie said, pointing to a small silver crown that hung from one branch, “there’s a crown hanging from one of the branches and eight others on other limbs. There’s nine in all. One for each year my mom or my dad has won Noel’s Christmas competition. If we win this year, we will be able to add the tenth, and that would make a whole decade of winning the Christmas Crown for my mom.” She turned and faced the crowd again, smiling brightly, a sheen of moisture glistening in her eyes as she spoke. “My dad said we would put the brightest lights on our tree so that Mama can see them from heaven and know we still love her.” Lips trembling, Roxie—his beautiful, brave girl—managed to smile. “Dad said he knows she can see it. And he knows she’d be proud of us, too.”
Nate studied Roxie, her gentle voice and long blond hair so reminiscent of Macy. An ache stirred in his chest as the crowd applauded and circled the tree, gazing up at the bright lights and sparkling Christmas Crowns that hung from the branches.
It was unavoidable then—the knowledge that Macy was no longer physically with them. And that she never would be again.
But instead of the grief, pain, and regret that had weighed Nate’s heart down for years, something shifted inside of him in that moment and broke free, releasing the tension in his shoulders and the heaviness in his chest.
And then, something small but strong unfurled within him, streaming through his veins, coaxing his mouth into a smile and dissolving the tears that coated his lashes. He’d loved Macy . . . so very much. But he’d lost her. Though things would never be the same for him or Roxie, they could be different. They might even be . . . better.
All he had to do was summon the courage to reach out.
His attention returned to the crowd, his gaze sifting urgently through the crowd of onlookers, searching for Jordyn’s face, hoping to share another smile, to catch a glimpse of the joy the future might hold for him.
But she was no longer there.