The Inn at Rose Harbor (19 page)

“I’ve only just met Victoria and I love her already.”

“Your father and I feel the same. She’s perfect for Roger, just perfect.”

They came out of the sanctuary and Abby immediately caught sight of her father. He saw her at the same time and hurried toward her, his arms outstretched, his face lit up with happiness.

“Abby, sweetheart.”

Her mother released her and within seconds Abby was embraced in a huge bear hug. “I’m so glad you’re here,” her father murmured against her hair.

“I can’t remember the last time the whole family was together like this,” her mother said.

“All I can say is that it’s been far too long,” her dad agreed.

Abby knew she was the one to blame. For years she’d avoided her family, made convenient excuses not to see her parents. And yet, when she did see them, she felt enveloped by their love. Protected. Neither of them would bring up the painful subject of Angela’s death, but if anyone else did, Abby had the strong feeling that her parents were determined to run interference. Just knowing that made Abby feel like a huge burden had been lifted from her shoulders.

Father Murphy, the elderly priest who would be performing the wedding ceremony, entered the vestibule. Roger, Lonny—the best man—and the three ushers joined him. Abby glanced at the ushers without any real interest. She’d probably met them at one time or another. Deep down she’d hoped that Steve might attend the wedding. She owed her brother’s old roommate an apology for the way she’d treated him following the accident. Apparently Roger and Steve were no longer close, though, because Steve was nowhere in sight. Later, Abby decided, she would ask her brother about him. No doubt Steve was married by now …

Victoria and the rest of the wedding party joined the group. There was more good-natured teasing back and forth and Abby found herself smiling again. She remained close to her mother’s side although she soon realized all the attention was for Roger and Victoria, as it should be.

Gradually Abby felt herself getting caught up in the joy of the moment. It felt so good to be a part of this. It’d been silly and wrong of her to dread her return to Cedar Cove.

Because she didn’t have a role in the actual ceremony, Abby slipped into the back pew and waited while Father Murphy gave instructions to the wedding party.

While the priest spoke to Roger and Victoria, Abby’s mother slipped into the pew next to her.

“You won’t believe what your father did,” she leaned close and whispered in Abby’s ear.

Linda Kincaid sounded like a teenager, telling tales out of school.

“What did Dad do?” Abby asked.

“He bought a new suit for the wedding.”

“Daddy?”

Her mother cupped her mouth. “I told him he needed to try on his old suit and, well, you know your father. He insisted it was perfectly fine and he wasn’t going to spend money unnecessarily.”

“That’s Dad.”

“Well, he put on the suit just to prove how right he was and it was tight across the shoulders.”

“Dad’s gained weight?” That surprised Abby; her father didn’t look as if he’d gained an ounce. He was one of those lucky people whose weight never varied. Unfortunately she hadn’t inherited his metabolism.

“His shoulders are a bit larger,” her mother admitted. “He’s been playing a lot of golf lately and I think he gained muscle mass from swinging the golf club.”

“I thought his shoulders looked bigger.”

Linda giggled again. “Be sure and tell your father that. He’s out on the golf course two or three times a week.”

“Daddy?”

“Yes, and he loves it. He swears he’s in the best physical shape of his life.”

“And he’s tan, too.”

Her mother wrapped her arm around Abby’s elbow. “We’re loving retirement.”

“It certainly sounds like it.”

“I do wish you’d come see us more often,” her mother said, sighing.

This was a constant request. “You don’t regret leaving Washington?” Abby asked, diverting the conversation away from herself.

“Regret taking early retirement?” Linda repeated as if the question was crazy. “Sweetheart, it’s one of the smartest moves we’ve ever made.”

“But all your friends are here.”

“We’ve made new ones. My goodness, your father and I are so socially connected that we hardly have a free night at home. Your father is actually considering joining the country club.”

“Dad?” Abby found that hard to believe. Her father had been a blue-collar shipyard worker. Golfing, socializing, clothes shopping … that simply wasn’t the behavior of the father Abby remembered.

“And you know what else?”

“You mean there’s more?” Abby teased.

Linda nodded eagerly. “Your father wants me to take up golf, too.”

“Are you going to?”

“Oh, I don’t know … I’m not much good at that sort of thing.”

“You could try, Mom.” Abby knew that her mother enjoyed quilting and being part of a book group. She was an excellent cook, too. But she hadn’t ever been particularly athletic. With one small exception—when they’d lived in Cedar Cove, Linda had been part of a Jazzercise group.

“Do you honestly think I’d be any good at golfing?”

“You won’t know until you try.”

Her mother considered Abby’s advice and then slowly shook her head. “You’re right. I should sign up for classes. Your father even offered to buy me my own set of clubs.”

Abby smiled at her mother. Both of her parents seemed genuinely happy. Even if they had moved away from Cedar Cove to escape criticism or speculation, it’d obviously been a positive transition.

“Oh … Oh, my goodness I got so caught up telling you about your father golfing that I forgot the best part.”

“Do tell,” Abby teased.

“I went with your father to help him choose a new suit and …” She paused and looked around for fear Tom might be close enough to overhear the conversation. When she spoke again, she lowered her voice to a whisper. “He bought
two
new suits.”

“Two?” In all her life Abby had never known her father to walk inside a department store.

Her mother cupped her mouth once again as though she was trying to squelch the giggles. “And a sports coat, too.”

Abby felt like laughing herself. “Oh, Mom, that’s just great.”

“Oops, I’m up.” Her mother scooted out of the pew and Abby watched as she approached Father Murphy. “That would be me. I’m the mother of the groom.”

While her mother and father were busy with the rehearsal, Abby watched the proceedings. Roger waited at the altar as Victoria walked down the center aisle on her father’s arm. Father and daughter laughed and teased each other along the way.

A few years after the accident, when her high school friends had started to marry, Abby had been asked to be a bridesmaid in two weddings. Both times she’d declined because it would have meant traveling back to Cedar Cove. Since she’d lived in Florida, it’d been easy enough to make an excuse. She’d mailed off generous wedding gifts and left it at that. Christmas cards and birth announcements
had followed. Abby had ignored those, too, choosing to turn her back on her old life and concentrate on the new one. The life where no one knew about Angela and the accident. A life free of guilt and speculation and pity.

She’d grown comfortable in Florida. Her life was uncomplicated by the weight of the past. Gone was the carefree young woman who’d taken off for an evening of shared fun with her best friend over Christmas break. In an instant, her life had forever changed on a patch of icy roadway. How abruptly she’d transitioned into the reserved young woman who kept her secrets to herself.

Abby was mesmerized by the rehearsal, and she found herself smiling several times. Unrestrained happiness was foreign to her. Joy had become a rare commodity for someone unworthy of contentment. How could she be happy? How could she laugh when her best friend was buried in the ground? Especially when Abby was the one who’d put her there.

“Would it be all right if I sat with you?”

Abby jerked herself away from her thoughts and turned her attention to the man who sat down beside her.

“Oh … of course.”

“I’m Scott,” he said, and held out his hand.

“Abby Kincaid.”

He seemed surprised but for what reason she could only guess.

“You’re Roger’s sister, right?”

“I am.”

“The one who lives in Florida?”

She smiled and relaxed. “He only has one sister.”

“So I understand.”

“Are you related to Victoria?” she asked him.

“Actually no. I’m one of the groomsmen. I met your brother in Seattle after college. We play basketball together.”

Abby glanced from Scott to the altar. “Shouldn’t you be up there with the rest of the wedding party?”

“Probably. But I’ve been in a lot of weddings so I’m familiar with what to do. You looked so alone back here that I thought I would join you.” He relaxed against the seat and stretched his arms along the back of the pew.

“Scott,” Abby said slowly, dragging out his name. “Are you flirting with me?”

He grinned and his eyes flashed with amusement. “I would say that I am.”

“I’m flattered but …”

The wedding party broke up then and Roger noticed for the first time that one of the groomsmen was missing. Shaking his head, he walked toward Abby and Scott.

“Is Scott pestering you, little sister?”

“Me?” Scott planted his hand over his chest and cast a look of pure innocence toward Roger. “She was making eyes at me.”

“I most certainly was not.” And then she burst out laughing at the old-fashioned expression he’d used. “Making eyes?”

“You most definitely were,” Scott insisted. “I looked back here and you were all alone and I said to myself, ‘Self, the most beautiful woman in the room needs you.’ ”

“My sister is indeed beautiful, but the most beautiful woman in the room at any wedding is always the bride,” Roger chastised, “and especially in this case.”

“Right,” Scott agreed, “but Victoria is obviously not interested in me.”

“I would hope not,” Roger agreed, chuckling.

“So,” Scott explained with perfect logic, “that leaves your sister, and I was simply staking my claim before any of these bozos took the lead.”

Roger shook his head. “I don’t think Abby’s interested, Scott. I actually think someone else has dibs.”

“Someone else?” Abby asked.

Roger patted her hand. “Just wait, sis. I have a small surprise for you.”

“Which leaves me out in the cold,” said Scott mournfully.

“Sorry, Scott,” Roger said, without the least bit of contrition.

“Foiled again.”

Abby laughed and so did Roger.

Scott was obviously a player. And she was sure that Roger had said someone had dibs on her just to deter Scott from hitting on her.

Her parents joined them and Abby stood. “Do you need a ride to the restaurant, sweetie?” her father inquired.

Before she could tell them she had a rental car, Scott interjected. “She can ride with me.”

Abby’s father arched his brows.

“Actually, I have a car, but thank you both,” she said.

Her parents started out of the church and Abby stood and reached for her purse.

Scott remained stubbornly at the end of the pew. “You could ride with me and I could drive you back to the church after dinner,” he suggested, as they walked out of the sanctuary.

“That seems like a lot of unnecessary driving.”

“Maybe, but those few minutes alone with you would be worth having to backtrack.”

Abby shook her head, both amused and flattered. “You really are a silver-tongued devil, aren’t you?”

“You wound me,” he said, and pressed his palm over his heart. “Won’t you ride with me?”

“I appreciate the offer, I do, but I might want to leave the dinner early.”

His eyes brightened. “With me?”

“No. It’s been a long day and I’m exhausted.”

Scott released a long, exaggerated sigh. “If you must.”

“I must,” she insisted.

The two walked side by side toward the parking lot. Abby wasn’t fooled. Scott was a flirt and way too glib for her to take him seriously. Nevertheless, she couldn’t remember an evening she’d enjoyed more … and the festivities were just getting started.

Michelle placed the last of the dirty dishes from their simple supper in the dishwasher while Josh wiped down the kitchen countertops. Richard had managed to swallow down a couple of spoonfuls of soup while Michelle and Josh had sat with him.

Being with Michelle reminded Josh of working in the kitchen with his mother when he was young. She’d made even the most mundane tasks fun. They used to sing silly songs while washing the dinner dishes. She’d never had a dishwasher until she married Richard. Instead, Josh had washed the dishes, and he’d so enjoyed the songs and simply being with his mother that he hadn’t minded scrubbing pots and pans.

Kitchen time with his mother had been special. She’d let him mix and stir and on rare occasions they had baked cookies together.
Those good times with his mother were memories he’d clung to through the years. He remembered how she’d talked to him while they worked together; how she’d encouraged and praised him. According to his mother, Josh had a brilliant mind and was capable of achieving anything he wanted in life. But she’d never failed to add that he had to create his own opportunities.

Those early years with her had been the happiest of his life.

In the evenings they sat around the table together while he did his homework. She’d look over his work, and because she made him believe he was smart, he always did well in school. To his way of thinking, their lives had been idyllic, until she met Richard.

When his mother and Richard had first started dating, it hadn’t been so bad. Josh and Dylan had gotten along well and Josh had thought it was super cool that he might have a brother one day. When Richard proposed, his mother had talked the decision over with Josh. He’d assumed everything would continue as it had been and they would become a regular family.

“You’re looking thoughtful,” Michelle commented as she closed the dishwasher and pushed the button to start the wash cycle.

“I was remembering my mother.” Even now he missed her and he knew Richard did, too. For all his faults, for all he lacked, Josh couldn’t fault his stepfather for one thing: Richard had loved his mother.