Unfailing Love (Heart Series #3)

Five-The reunion

Dani.

Familiar sapphire eyes locked with his, and his skin buzzed with awareness. He sucked in a sharp breath and blinked knowing Meredith was watching, but he couldn't have torn his gaze from Dani to save his life.

Relief washed through him. She was safe and here.

At first, he didn't recognize her, dressed in jeans, sneakers, a big army-green jacket, and a ball cap that covered most of her face. Her long dark hair was pulled into a single braid that hung over one slender shoulder.

She looked like the Dani he remembered from high school, the warm, quick-to-smile, compassionate girl he'd fallen in love with. Only she wasn't that girl. Not anymore. She was a sophisticated actress who'd chosen fame and fortune over the life of a wife and mother. But she didn't look like an A-list actress now.

Dani looked about sixteen and scared. His gut twisted. What was wrong with her?

"Mama!" Jacob cried, leaping from the chair and dashing across the room to Dani.

Josh watched as his son threw his little arms around Dani's waist and held on tight. He saw her flinch, but she quickly her arms wrapped around Jacob. He couldn't hear what she was saying, but he saw her lips move and his son's smile.

"You're here! You're really here!"

Jacob's voice was louder and carried. People stopped and stared, watching the reunion between mother and son. He felt the crowd's negative energy toward Dani. Most people didn't understand why she'd left, and they didn't like her very much. He'd never spoken badly of her, but he didn't defend her either.

Caleb made the first move. Tanner was right behind him, and they joined Dani and Jacob. He wasn't surprised. Dani, Caleb, and Tanner had been friends in high school long before their senior trip had forged a friendship between all of them. Before Josh and Dani spent a summer together that would change their lives.

Rachel and Parker were next. People started talking again and the awkward moment ease a little. He could stop staring at her. Her movements were stiff. Was she hurt?

Meredith turned to him, her eyes soft with understanding. "You should go to her. She's Jacob's mother."

"We should say hello." He took her hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze of reassurance. Dani was his past. Meredith was his future. God, help me to remember this.

"I don't want to intrude." Her forehead crinkled in worry.

"That's crazy. You planned this birthday. Jacob wants you here."

"I'm not leaving." She pushed a wisp of hair that had escaped her ponytail behind her ear. "Just stepping back and giving you some space. Jacob needs to be with his mom and his dad today."

The selflessness of her statement made him love her all the more. She understood him so well. "Have I told you how much I love you?"

Meredith's smile eased some of his tension. "Not in the last few hours."

"Well, I do." Josh realized how much he did. "Don't go anywhere. You're part of this family now."

"I want to be," she whispered, a faraway look in her eyes.

"Good, because you're not getting rid of us," he said, holding her hand and giving her a gentle tug.

"Go," she laughed and pulled her hand from his. Some of the doubt faded from her eyes. "I'm cutting the cake."

He let her go reluctantly and discovered how nervous he was without her by his side. The last few times he'd spoken to Dani they'd argued, and he wouldn't ruin Jacob's party no matter what she said or did.