Excerpt of Castle on the Rise by Kristy Cambron

Laine accepted a wedding in France, though beautiful, for what it was: an escape from the life crumbling back home.

Now was not the time to share her brand of advice. Or brutal honesty. The story of a broken marriage and uncertain future would have to wait its turn. Maybe she could come clean when Ellie and Quinn returned from their honeymoon. Or in the spring, when life had settled down. By then, Laine and Cassie would be back home—in a new home.

She could face the truth when it felt safe to pick up the pieces and start again.

It was a battle, but Laine shoved the ache away. She held on to her smile with everything she possessed and stood back, marveling as Ellie dropped her train—satin and lace absorbing the glow of light from the chapel door. They paused together, the snow drifting in a dance around them.

“Live every moment,” Laine whispered into the twilight. “That’s what you said to me when I walked down the aisle, remember? I gift it back to you. Fix every second of this night in your heart. Protect it, and visit it often.”

“Live every moment. Yes.” Ellie half laughed, then paused and cast her gaze off in the distance. She creased her brow. Deep. Like she was lost somewhere else for a breath.

Funny, she always did that just before she . . .

“Oh—no tears!”

Laine rushed forward a step and dotted impending tears with her gloved pinkie before Ellie could ruin her wedding photos with mascara tracks. “I’m so sorry. What did I say?”

“Nothing!” Ellie blinked, turning her face up to the night air as Laine continued patting and fanning. “It’s nothing. I’m just so glad you’re here, that’s all. With everything moving so fast and getting married without Grandma Vi . . . It’s a lot to manage on my own.”

“Well, you’re not on your own. You have Quinn. You have me and Cassie—that little flower girl in there who loves her honorary Auntie Ellie more than anything. And there’s a chapel full of guests who are probably wondering where in the world we are. All that love makes me sure Grandma Vi’s watching over you right this minute. So no tears, darling. At least not until after Quinn sees you, heels and mascara intact.”

“You’re right. No tears now. Not even the happy ones.” Ellie inhaled deep, then let it out in a fog of frozen breath.

Being a head taller and a shade older, Laine couldn’t help it; she had everything necessary to give her friend an effective maternal glare. And she did. Staring down her nose with just enough pertness to warrant her concern. “Are you sure you’re okay? I want this to be perfect for you.”

“It already is perfect. His family is here and so is mine. And I get to become his wife. What else could I need?” Ellie bit the corner of her bottom lip, alerting Laine that a sweet little request from her best friend was likely to follow. “Except maybe to get on your good side so I can convince you and Cassie to stay a bit longer?”