Everyone knew Jane kept besting Terrance head-to-head.
“Who do you think?” her boss said in an aggrieved tone. “She’s got a perfect record.”
Blake put his other arm around Jane’s shoulder, and the two of them shared a conspiratorial wink. “I know exactly how that feels, sweetheart.”
Jane laughed and reached for Natalie’s left hand. “I still can’t get over how beautiful your ring is.”
“It really is,” Elizabeth said, touching it as well from across the counter. “So, have you set a date yet for your renewal ceremony?”
Natalie had been insistent they see to Blake’s career first. She’d wanted to put him first since he’d done that so many times for her. Fortunately, he’d let her.
“As soon as possible,” she said.
After all, they were doing their best to get pregnant. Neither of them wanted a big ceremony this time around. Only family and close friends. Then they planned to have another party—a big, loud, raucous party with lots and lots of champagne.
“That soon?” Elizabeth asked. “Most of the venues around here get booked up pretty fast. Trust me. Terrance and I know about this. Don’t we?”
Natalie felt her mouth curve. “Actually it won’t be a problem.”
Blake gave her an answering grin. “We’ve already picked out a place.”
Which was another reason he’d agreed to wait until his career was settled. It wasn’t like they would have to do any crazy planning in advance. And the hotel could easily cater the ceremony for them.
“You have?” Jane asked. “Oh, I didn’t know. Have you found some super wedding planner with connections? If so, Elizabeth and I have to hire her.”
Natalie fingered her ring. “No. We actually own the place. We’re going to get married on the bridge Blake built. It’s out back.”
“Oh,” Jane said, not understanding the significance. “I haven’t seen it. After all, it didn’t exist when Matt lived here.”
Natalie walked to the back door. “Here, I’ll show you.”
She led them all outside and pointed to one of her favorite sights on earth. She’d already told Blake they were going to bring that bridge with them to their new house. She was not leaving it behind. No way. They were going to tell their kids about that bridge and stroll across it at night after they’d tucked them in for the night.
“It’s the bridge to a better life,” she told the group, her eyes holding Blake’s the whole time. “Right, babe?”
He swallowed thickly and nodded. “Right, babe.”
Then she rushed him like a linebacker, knowing she didn’t need the bridge anymore to find her way back to a better life.
She was holding that life and all it promised to be.
She was holding him.