A Winter Wedding(109)

“A lot’s changed in the past five or six years,” Baxter mused.

“Yeah. But for the most part, everyone’s happy,” Kyle responded. “That’s what’s important.”

Baxter selected his own glass of champagne. “Are you happy?”

Kyle shrugged. “I’m doing better now that the plant is almost repaired.”

“That’s not what I was talking about.”

“I know.” He sipped from his glass. “How’s your father?”

“I’m worried about him or I wouldn’t have moved home. I love it here, love being with all of you. But I wouldn’t have come back if it wasn’t for my father.”

“I guessed as much,” Kyle said. “I’m sorry. It’s shitty timing, shitty luck. I hope he pulls through.”

“He’s just ornery enough to do it.”

They continued to observe the revelry until Kyle had finished his champagne. “Do you think they’d notice if we left?” he asked as he put down his glass.

Baxter checked his watch. “It’s too early,” he said. Then Callie came over and drew him away. She’d met someone who had a question about a particular stock, and she thought Baxter might be able to answer it. That provided Kyle with the perfect opportunity to slide over to the exit. He’d done his part. The fact that they’d all helped decorate had saved Riley some money, but the cleanup would be handled by Riley’s parents, some of their church friends and the staff here at the venue.

Kyle had just stepped outside, finished removing his tie, which he stuffed in his pocket, and taken a deep breath when a different song started. A woman was singing this one, which was odd, since he didn’t remember seeing a woman in the band. It made him curious but not curious enough to go back. He started toward his car and would’ve kept going, except that a second later, he recognized the voice.

*

Lourdes had never been so nervous about a performance. It wasn’t just that she was crashing a wedding. By coming back to Whiskey Creek, she was putting her whole future, her entire career, on the line—as well as her heart. After achieving success, losing it and wanting it back so badly, trusting her instincts had been especially difficult. She’d walked away from her best chance at success when she got on the plane to come here. But she knew she wouldn’t be happy, even if she returned to the top of the charts. Not if she had to live without Kyle.

Besides, showing up and taking the stage didn’t really count as crashing, since she would’ve been invited to sing if she’d stayed.

She’d seen Maroon 5 crash weddings on YouTube to sing their song “Sugar,” and everyone loved it. So she hoped this would go over just as well. She couldn’t think of a better way to debut the song she’d written for Kyle.

“All the things I never knew...until I met you,” she sang as she began the first chorus.

Everyone had stopped talking. They’d even stopped dancing. She recognized many of their stunned faces as they turned toward the stage, including Phoenix’s and Riley’s. Noah and Addy, Ted and Sophia, Brandon and Olivia. They were all there, and the rest of Kyle’s friends, too.

But she couldn’t find Kyle.

“Oh, my God, it’s Lourdes Bennett!” she heard someone exclaim. Then her name went through the crowd like a ripple, and even those around the perimeter who hadn’t yet realized what was happening started paying attention.

Lourdes caught the sound of Kyle’s name, too. She could tell everyone was searching for him. So where was he? Why wasn’t he here?

She was beginning to worry that he’d already left, when the crowd parted and she saw him standing in the center of the floor with his collar loosened, looking casual and yet elegant at the same time.

She experienced a moment of terror, wondering if she’d made a mistake doing this in public—doing this at all. When she’d told Derrick she was returning to Whiskey Creek, he’d severed their business relationship and given “Crossroads” to Crystal, which Lourdes had expected. Now she was entirely on her own and would have to start over, not much ahead of so many other artists who were trying to gain the ear and the confidence of the right people. But whether she made a comeback or not, she hoped to have Kyle as her husband and life partner.

If getting back on the country music charts didn’t work out, she could always do weddings, she told herself and couldn’t help smiling at the lengths she was willing to go for the man who was walking slowly toward her.

“I never knew love...until I knew you,” she finished.

The room was completely silent as the final notes of the song died away. Everyone was too intrigued by the drama playing out before them to clap.

Shaky and a bit breathless, she set her guitar aside and stepped back up to the microphone. “I’d like to wish Phoenix and Riley a long and happy life together. I hope they aren’t put off by this little surprise.”

“No way!” Riley called as everyone applauded.

She grinned at him. “That song is called ‘Refuge.’ This is the first time I’ve ever sung it in public, but it seemed appropriate to do it here, since I wrote it in Whiskey Creek.” Her gaze landed on Kyle. “And the man I wrote it for is a good friend of yours.”

Several people whistled as she gestured for Kyle to join her onstage.