"Have you decided what you're going to do next year?" he asked. "Please don't tell me you're going back to the clothing boutique."

"No. Dani hired a full-time assistant manager and has been taking time off to enjoy her pregnancy. She has five weeks to go and is happy as can be. I will be doing something in music, but I haven't decided yet."

"That's right. You're giving yourself until midnight. I assume I'll see you at the party?"

I nodded. Our orchestra was celebrating New Year's Eve on the rooftop of a nearby restaurant. "I'll see you there." I left my violin with the orchestra manager and walked out of the concert hall. It was a beautiful, cold winter's night, and I felt like walking the streets of Paris before I said goodbye to the year and to this beautiful city.

I had barely taken a step when my phone buzzed. I took it out of my bag and saw that Dani was calling on a video chat.

"Happy New Year!" Dani said as I answered.

I smiled as Dani raised a champagne glass. "It's too early for champagne where you are. You have hours to go."

"It's sparkling cider," Dani said. "And I didn't want to miss you today. How was the concert?"

"Perfect. The best I've ever played."

"That's great. What are you doing tonight? Do you have a date?"

"No, but I have a party to go to."

"Well, maybe you'll find someone to kiss."

I hadn't found anyone I wanted to kiss since Kade. He should have faded from my mind by now. It had been four months since I'd seen him, but he kept coming back into my head. "I'm not worried about a midnight kiss," I told Dani. "I'm just looking forward to the new year. What are you doing tonight?"

"Dad and Vicky are in town, so we're going to have dinner with them, but it will be an early night. It's starting to feel more normal when we get together now. We don't talk about the past anymore."

"That's good. I'm glad you're staying in touch. Dad has been sending me texts as well. He's trying hard to be more engaged."

"He really does love us, Brynn."

"I know," I conceded. "And Mom loves us, too. I think Rachel does as well."

"I got texts from them wishing me Happy New Year," Dani admitted. "I decided to text them back."

"I'm glad. It's not that I want you to forgive or forget anything. I just want us all to move forward, to know each other again, to share our lives. I don't want to look back anymore."

"I don't, either, and I'm trying to get to where you are," Dani said.

"You'll get there," I said confidently. Dani might be more suspicious and wary than me, but she also had a lot of love to give.