Then she reached the front and took her place as Perrie’s bridesmaid, her brothers blocking his view. Dev shifted to the left, to find her still watching him.
She winked again, her eyes full of promise.
Dev grinned.
Then Boone stirred in front of him, and Dev turned his head to watch Maddie come down the aisle. She only had eyes for Boone, a secret smile playing between the two of them. Only last night, they had shared the news that they would be parents in seven months. A new life to heal the pain of the past, the blood of Dalton and Jenny uniting in joy and celebration this time around.
Then Perrie appeared in the doorway, a vision in Jenny Gallagher’s wedding gown, her eyes fixed on Mitch and glowing with love. Davey proudly held her arm, all set to give her away. Mitch went very still, his dark eyes fastened on her and the small blond boy who already called him Dad.
Dev stood as groomsman behind Mitch and Boone, thinking how much life could change. A year ago, he’d never heard of any of the Gallaghers. Now one man and wife had come together from the ashes of tragedy and heartache; after today there would be two couples.
Dev intended to make it three as soon as possible.
Only one shadow remained—Lacey’s relationship with the DeMilles. She would never fully heal until she dealt with them. Dev felt a faint tug of nerves, hoping that his surprise didn’t blow up in his face.
Then the ceremony started, and Dev forced himself to concentrate.
Lacey stroked Davey’s hair at the reception on the lawn of Boone and Maddie’s two-story dream of a house. She’d loved it on sight, this place of her roots. “You were very dignified, Davey. And you look so handsome in your suit.”
The five-year-old grinned, then motioned her to lean down. “I was kinda nervous, Aunt Lacey. Don’t tell anybody, okay?”
Aunt Lacey. She couldn’t get over how wonderful it sounded. “Okay,” Lacey stage-whispered back, hugging him. She couldn’t wait for Christina to meet him. Then he scampered off to find his adored Mitch, and she looked around to see where Dev had gone.
Maddie appeared at her elbow, touching her lightly on the back. Lacey glanced over as Mitch and Perrie walked up to her other side, Davey in tow, and Boone moved toward them across the grass. They arranged themselves around her silently in a protective flank, expectation buzzing through the air.
Then Dev appeared before her, looking serious. She frowned slightly, wondering. He leaned close and murmured, “Do you trust me, sweetheart?”
“Yes, of course. Dev, is something wrong?”
Dev stepped away from in front of her. Lacey saw her parents approaching, looking uncertain in a way she’d never seen them before.
Lacey watched her mother’s eyes fill with tears she’d thought she would never see Margaret DeMille shed. She saw her father, looking much older, study Dev for a long moment.
The silence felt stilted. Awkward.
Her mother spoke up first. “Darling, we’re so sorry. It was misplaced pride that kept us silent. You were ours from the first moment, you were a treasure we never thought to find. We didn’t want anyone to have a claim on you, but we should have told you. You have to know that you’ve been a joy to us for all these years, and if you leave us now—” Her mother choked up.
Charles DeMille took over. Voice slightly hoarse, he looked straight at Lacey. “Princess, what I did to keep you and Devlin apart was because I thought I knew what was best for you.” He cleared his throat. “I told Devlin that he was nothing, that he would never be good enough for my daughter. I was wrong. I know that now.”
He glanced at Dev. “I will have to live with the knowledge of what I did to the Marlowes in the name of keeping a business going. That won’t be easy, but neither will what he has offered be easy for him. He doesn’t want our past battles to tear you apart, so he’s informed us that he is not going to pursue the matter.” Charles shook his head. “The man cares enough for you to give up his chance for justice in order to spare you. If I ever needed proof of how wrong I was about him…”
Her father’s shoulders settled into resignation. “I still intend to do what I can to make it up to his family, but the only price he has asked is that we not make you choose between your two families. He seems to think that you still need us in your life, that you can forgive us.” He paused, then looked at her, bereft of his usual certainty. “Is he right?”
“Oh, Daddy…” Stunned and shaky, Lacey looked up at Dev, leaning into his side, feeling his support and strength. After what her father had done to him, Dev deserved better.
“Lacey, it’s all right,” Dev murmured, his green eyes soft and concerned. “I’ll be all right. You need this.”