Insight (Web of Hearts and Souls #1)(60)

Applause erupted again, then Ashten continued, “We have faced many trials and triumphs over the years. The time that Jason was lost will haunt me for a lifetime, just as the time that I found him will be celebrated for all of time.” Ashten raised his glass to my father while tears streamed down Aubrey’s face. It was easy to see that she’d helped Ashten carry the burden when my father was missing.

“Today, we celebrate Jason and Grace. They have been returned to us at last. We also celebrate that my only daughter, Clarissa, has found her soul mate, Dane.”

I noticed Clarissa and Dane standing beside Landen and me. I didn’t know if they’d been there the whole time. They were locked in each other’s gaze, not appearing to notice the world around them.

“We also celebrate that life is not predictable. We are not all the same. Uniformity doesn’t apply to any dimension, not even ours. Landen has proven this to us all as he stands here joined at last with Willow.”

The applause erupted again, and I felt an overwhelming joy beaming from the crowd. An older woman handed Landen and me a glass of champagne. Ashten then raised his glass, and the crowd toasted. Landen turned into me and kissed me softly. I could hear the applause begin again as my head spun with his touch.

My father put his hand around the older woman who had handed me the glass and said, “Willow, this is Rose, your grandmother.”

My eyes widened—she was not what I expected. Rose looked so young. The only sign of age she had was her solid white hair, which fell just to her shoulders. Her eyes were a beautiful green, and beside her was an older man whose hair was short and dark with silver running through it. He looked like my father, only much older. “And this is your grandfather, Karsten,” my father said, tilting his head in the direction of Karsten.

Rose hugged me tightly. “Oh, I’ve been on edge all day, wanting to meet you. Your father said you needed your rest. Do you feel better now?” Rose asked, looking at me then smiling over my shoulder to Landen.

I nodded, not knowing what to say. Karsten stepped forward and hugged me. “You are just as beautiful as your mother,” he said, grinning at me, then at my father.

The band began to play, and we were flooded with welcomes from the crowd. Everywhere we looked, there were smiling faces, handshakes, and hugs from everyone that was introduced to me, but the names escaped me as soon as they were said. You could see the resemblance in some of them, and it was clear that they were from Landen’s family. Others, I wasn’t so sure.

Rose stepped in front of Landen and me. “All right then, give her some room. I’m sure crowds are difficult for her,” she said. Everyone stepped back a little.

“No, no, I’m fine. These emotions are the ones that I enjoy,” I said, a little embarrassed. Out of all of them, I couldn’t help noticing that Rose seemed to have an even greater understanding of my gift than my father did.

“You may want to hide her on the dance floor,” Rose said, grinning at Landen. He nodded his head and winked at her. It was easy to see the favor he had with her.

The dance floor was full. All the couples seemed so immersed in each other; it was hard to imagine that Landen and I were the only ones who didn’t need to use words. They all seemed locked in a world of their own. Even my parents seemed lost in themselves. The grief and danger that had been hovering over me took a back seat as I took my place in Landen’s arms on the dance floor. With each new song, I was passed on to an eager partner: first my father, then Ashten, Brady, Livingston, my grandfather, and finally Dane.

“You look so happy,” I said to Dane as he took my hand.

“Just as happy as you,” he answered, glancing at Landen and Clarissa dancing.

I sighed, feeling the guilt come over me. It didn’t seem right to be this happy, knowing that our friends were in danger. Dane felt my body tense up and looked down at me. “It’s going to be fine, Willow. We’ll find them and make it all right,” he said, sounding sure of himself.

“We can’t make what happened to Monica right,” I said under my breath, holding back tears. I felt grief inside Dane. He may have teased her growing up, but he still cared about her.

“No, but her memory will always be with us, and we can learn to never take anyone or anything for granted. You know if she were here, she’d be furious with you for not enjoying yourself. Monica lived in the moment, and that’s where we need to live. We can’t change the past, and the details of the future have yet to be seen,” Dane said, looking down at me.

I smiled, in awe of his perception. I’d never heard him speak so deeply. I guess love changes everyone.

After my dance with Dane, he returned me to Landen and took possession of Clarissa. I made a conscious effort to be friendly to her. “I’m sorry for the way I acted yesterday. Dane can tell you that I’m saner than that,” I said to her, looking down and feeling embarrassed.

Clarissa put her hand on my shoulder. “You held yourself together more than I would have been able to,” she said, smiling back at Dane. They could stare at each other with a degree of intensity unmatched by anyone else in the room. Fate. That was fate, and so far the one good thing that has come out of my daring escape from Drake.

Libby demanded that Landen dance with her. I stood back and watched as he picked her up and swayed her to the lullaby of a song that was playing, smiling at me over her tiny shoulder. I made my way to one of the tables, so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t notice that my grandmother, Rose, had taken the seat next to me.