Chapter 127
Selene glanced up at the steps. As soon as Dames saw her, his lips jutted out in a sulk. He turned away, arms folded across his chest, refusing to spare her a single glance.
Felicity’s voice rang out, sharp and indignant. “Selene, honestly, you’re far too superstitious! Always praying and lighting candles–how is Dames ever supposed to hold his head high with you doing things like that?”
“Flick’s right!” Dames piped up immediately, eager to back up anything Felicity said. Just moments ago, he’d been wandering around the chapel until Felicity called him over, pointing out the blessing card and candle bearing both his and Daph’s names.
Daph wasn’t even part of the Vaughn family anymore. Yet there her name was, right beside his–the bona fide heir of the Vaughns. The more Dames thought about it, the angrier he got.
“Hey!” he shouted at Selene.
“Blow out that candle you lit for me! I don’t want anything–anything at all–to do with you anymore!”
Father Benedict’s face tightened in concern. “Mr. Vaughn…” he began, casting a meaningful look at Harrison, silently urging him to rein in his son.
“Father Benedict,” Selene’s voice was gentle but unwavering. The priest turned to her. Against her fair, calm features, Selene’s dark eyes shone with a quiet, resolute
determination.
“We’ll do as young Mr. Vaughn wishes. I won’t light another candle for him. Not
ever.”
Father Benedict opened his mouth to say more, but after flicking his gaze between Selene and Dames, he simply let out a weary sigh.
A cool mountain breeze drifted through the old abbey, making the red wish tags hanging from the great oak tree outside tinkle softly.
The stairway stood between the two families, a silent divide.
“Young man,” Father Benedict said, “come, I’ll show you. If you don’t want the candle your mother lit for you, then you should be the one to put it out.”
He started up the steps.
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10:17
Chapter 127
“Dames!!” Daph’s clear, ringing voice called out, echoing through the chapel. Dames‘ face tightened at the sound, but he followed the priest inside, never once looking
back.
Daph had a thousand things she wanted to say, but she knew in this moment, words were useless.
Selene turned her gaze to the Whispering Oak, its thousands of red ribbons fluttering in the wind.
“Did you ever make a wish under the Whispering Oak?” someone asked.
“I did,” Selene replied, her smile tinged with sadness. “But no prayer can make someone love you if they don’t. It’s time I let go and stopped holding on to false hope.”
“Turning back is sometimes the best way forward,” came Adrian’s warm, easy voice, as refreshing as a sprig of mint. Selene looked at him; he met her gaze openly, his handsome profile bathed in honest, unguarded emotion.
Before she could say anything, Adrian rolled up his sleeves. “Come on, I’ll help you take down all those impossible old wishes, one by one.”
He actually fetched a ladder and climbed up into the oak tree himself, turning over each wish tag to find Selene’s.
Luke Holloway hoisted Daph onto his shoulders, and she joined the effort, searching for the wishes Selene had once hung.
Before long, Dames came skipping out of the chapel, triumphant.
He crowed to Felicity, “I blew out every single candle that woman lit for me!”
Felicity folded her arms, looking even more pleased. Now, whatever she said was law in Dames‘ eyes.
“Our young master of the Vaughn family–a real man–doesn’t need any of that nonsense,” she declared.
Boosted by Felicity’s approval, Dames strutted with pride.
“Dad, let’s go!” he said, following Harrison down the steps. Harrison left without a word or even a glance for Selene, his expression cold and distant.
“Wait!” Daph called out suddenly. “There’s a tag up here with Mom and Mr. Vaughn’s names on it!”
At that, Harrison stopped dead in his tracks.
