Months blurred into a whirlwind of physical therapy for Violet. A few hours earlier, her dance rehab therapist had told her she could return to work in a few weeks. The relief was overwhelming; her boss's one-year leave was ending in less than three months.

Noah had been incredibly supportive throughout her healing and muscle retraining, by her side every step of the way. She doubted any other man would go to such lengths for her or make her feel so cherished. Falling in love with him felt inevitable.

She planned to tell him today, as soon as they returned home. With her feelings certain, there was no reason to keep him waiting. They only needed to endure the next few hours, and then the air would be clear.

Violet wasn't sure why, but her father had apparently reconciled with his estranged half-brother, Gray, and had asked her to attend his wedding. This is how she found herself in a coral pink wrap dress (the bride requested the color to match her bouquet, given the small guest list) and matching heels, entering a hotel conference room arm in arm with a sharply dressed Noah.

Aaron might have made peace with Gray (whom he now called by his first name), but Violet remained unconvinced. She'd seen him only a couple of times in the past six months, but his fiancée seemed to have completely changed him.

“I know you don’t like him, Vi—I’m still getting used to his changes myself—but it would mean a lot to him if you came. You’re the only one who knows he’s your uncle,” her father had pleaded.

So, here she was, reluctantly. Without the wedding, she could have told Noah she loved him immediately after physical therapy.

But the timing felt wrong, a realization that dawned on her earlier that day, on her way home from her appointment. It was better to wait until they were alone; she was sure Noah would consider it a significant moment.

Violet and Noah were the second-to-last to arrive. Aaron was picking up the cake, so her parents were still out.

A woman around her age with curly brown hair and a warm smile approached. "You're Violet, right?"

Surprised, Violet wondered how the woman knew her. "Yes, and you are?"

"Oh, sorry, I'm Brittany. The bride's daughter. Michael told me you're a ballerina, and I've been eager to discuss performances with you. My husband and I go to several shows a year. I'm sure I'd recognize your work."

It had been a long time since anyone had discussed her performances; her last show was a short run as Clara at Christmas. Violet returned the woman's smile, and they began chatting about ballet.

Brittany had seen her as Cinderella, Odette, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and in some ensemble roles, though she didn't recognize Violet in those. The other woman's starstruck reaction lifted Violet's spirits. She was glad she'd come.

Eventually, they remembered their partners and hastily introduced them. Noah seemed amused by Violet's absorption in the conversation; he knew her passion for dance.

At that moment, Aaron burst in with the cake and his wife, announcing they could begin as soon as he set it down. The bride, not wanting to be seen in her dress beforehand, hadn't yet appeared.

Brittany went to the side room to let the bride know it was almost time. Michael and the officiant stood at the front of the makeshift aisle as Jason played the wedding march on his phone.

The door opened, and Mandy walked slowly and purposefully forward, beaming. To Violet's surprise, her uncle was smiling just as broadly as he watched her walk down the aisle.

She had truly inspired him to change his life. Good for him.

The music stopped as they took each other's hands, and the officiant began. Violet's mind wandered throughout the ceremony. She couldn't help but imagine her own wedding to Noah someday.

She'd want to invite her entire ballet company, some college friends, and all their mutual friends, as she had no cousins. She might even invite Brittany and her husband; she could see herself becoming friends with a fellow ballet enthusiast.

The bride and groom's kiss brought Violet back to the present with a burst of applause. She joined in the clapping.

After the ceremony, Mandy wanted to dance. Jason's playlist consisted mainly of songs she and Michael had grown up with. Violet knew many of them; her mother often listened to music while cooking and cleaning, and they were from the same generation.

A vaguely familiar song, "I'll Be" by Edwin McCain, came on after the couple's first dance. With others joining the dance floor, Violet extended her hand to Noah with a smile.

"Shall we put my dance rehab training to the test?"

"Gladly. High heels are only a step away from pointe shoes, after all," Noah replied.

"Ballerinas everywhere would disagree," she laughed as he spun her into his arms.

Unlike the other couples, who moved in slow circles, these two, ballroom-trained, moved with effortless grace. Noah whirled her around in a Viennese Waltz. They hadn't danced together often, but their familiarity and the dance style made their movements seamless, as if they'd practiced countless times.

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