Gwen’s muscles clenched, and she couldn’t seem to get them to relax. Her father spoke into the microphone, but she barely heard a word he said. She laughed when everyone else did, and she kept her Heartwood smile on her face.
After the morning meeting in the kitchen, she’d hurried home so Celeste could curl her hair. The wave would be gone in a couple of hours, but it would serve its purpose for the pictures that would be taken once the mayor’s wife said a few words.
She wore too much makeup, and she wondered what Teagan thought of it. His presence behind her felt solid, strong, and warm, and she kept glancing at Celeste. But her sister and best friend kept her eyes glued to the podium as if the Queen of England herself was thanking the family for the honor of having a swimming pool name
