Page 102 of Last Wish Wedding

“Face what?”

“That you’re in love with your husband.”

Kelsey’s denial died on her lips as Mac appeared in the kitchen doorway. Had he heard? His expression revealed nothing.

“There you are,” he said. “The fireworks crew just arrived. They’re setting up on the beach.”

“Perfect timing,” Amy said brightly, lifting her platter. “I’ll announce it to the guests.”

As she brushed past Mac, Kelsey was left alone with him for the first time that evening. The kitchen suddenly felt too small, too intimate.

“Everything okay?” His voice was carefully neutral.

“Fine,” she replied automatically. “Just taking a moment.”

Mac moved further into the kitchen, close enough that she could smell the faint woody scent of his cologne. “It’s a good turnout. Grandad would have been pleased.”

“Half the island, just like his birthday.” Kelsey smiled despite herself. “He made an impact.”

“He did.” Mac’s gaze softened with memory.

The moment stretched between them, taut with possibilities. Then Mac glanced at his watch. “We should get outside. Fireworks start in fifteen.”

As they moved toward the deck, Kelsey found herself waylaid by more well-wishers, more curious questions about their relationship. She answered on autopilot, her awareness fixed on Mac as he moved through the crowd, accepting condolences with grace, raising a glass in his grandfather’s memory, playing the role of grieving grandson with perfect composure. Only she seemed to notice the tension in his shoulders, the way his smile never quite reached his eyes.

Outside, guests gathered on the expansive lawn, necks craned toward the darkening sky. Noah darted up to Kelsey, his friend Tyler in tow.

“Mom! The fireworks are going to be epic! Mac says they ordered special ones that explode in blue because that was Truman’s favorite color!”

Kelsey smoothed his wild hair. “That sounds perfect.”

“Can I sleep over at Tyler’s tonight? Please? His dad said it’s okay, and they’re making pancakes for breakfast!”

She glanced at Tyler’s father, who nodded confirmation. “Alright. But don’t stay up too late, and be good.”

“Yes!” Noah pumped his fist in victory before turning serious. “Is it okay to be excited? Since it’s a funeral and all?”

“It’s a celebration of life,” Kelsey corrected gently. “And yes, it’s absolutely okay to be excited. Truman would have wanted you to enjoy every moment.”

Satisfied, Noah raced off with Tyler, their young voices carrying back through the gathering dusk. The simple joy of his excitement stood in stark contrast to her complicated emotions.

The first firework shot into the sky with a distant whistle, exploding in a shower of blue sparks. A collective “ahh” rose from the assembled guests. More followed, illuminating upturned faces with flashes of blue, silver, gold.

Kelsey found herself standing beside Mac, close but not touching. Above them, the sky bloomed repeatedly with light, the explosions reflecting off the dark water of the bay. From the corner of her eye, she could see Mac’s profile, strong and defined, but his expression was softened by the ethereal light from above.

“It’s exactly what he would have wanted,” she said softly.

Mac’s hand found hers in the darkness, fingers intertwining with a familiarity that made her heart clench. “He told me he wanted his send-off to be memorable. ‘Nothing too somber,’ he said, ‘or I’ll come back and haunt you.’”

A particularly large burst of blue and silver lit up the night, casting momentary daylight across the lawn. In that frozen instant, Kelsey saw the glitter of tears in Mac’s eyes. Then darkness fell again, and his expression was once more hidden.

They stood that way through the remainder of the display, hands linked, neither speaking. When the final volley exploded overhead in a cascade of blue stars, the crowd erupted in appreciative applause. Mac’s hand tightened briefly around hers before releasing it. She wondered if he too was thinking about their first kiss, under the fireworks at Truman’s first party.

The evening wound down gradually after that. Noah departed with Tyler’s family, his goodbye hug fierce and quick. Guests drifted away in twos and threes, leaving behind empty glasses and plates of half-eaten food. Amy was among the last to leave, pulling Kelsey into a tight hug.

“Call me tomorrow,” she whispered. “And remember what I said.”

Finally, only Kelsey and Mac remained, moving through the quiet house collecting glasses, straightening furniture, postponing the moment when they would be truly alone with nothing to distract them from the conversation they’d been avoiding.