The Wedding Wish (Summer Grooms Series) (9 page)

Robert held back the door as Isabel stepped into the car. “Your
carriage awaits.”

She eyed him curiously as he skirted around the car and took
his own place in the driver seat. “Still won’t say where we’re going?” she
asked when he took his seat beside her.

“On a picnic.” He beamed, patting the basket in the
backseat. It was late in the day, and the sun was just setting.

“On the beach?” she asked, hopeful.

“Better.”

After a bit, Isabel realized they were driving north, headed
toward her old neighborhood.

“Robert?” she asked uncertainly. “Don’t tell me this is a
double date with my parents.”

“Nope, sweetheart.” He winked, and her tailbone tingled. “This
night was meant for you and me.”

Soon they were through the gate to her old neighborhood, and
Isabel understood. Robert was taking her to his favorite place. That spot
overlooking the valley where he used to go as a kid.

“My lady,” he said, opening her door and helping her out of
the car.

“You’re being awfully chivalrous tonight,” she said, arching
an eyebrow.

He opened the back door of the car and pulled out the picnic
basket. “That’s because I’m out with a princess.”

“Let’s see…” she said, flirting. “That would make you…a
prince?”

“Don’t make me get out my sword and show it to you.”

“Robert!” she said with a laugh, but her heart was light.

“Come on.” He took her hand. “The sun’s just going down.”

She let him lead her up the winding path that snaked through
falling shadows. This was so romantic, just the two of them stealing away. Even
though it was in her old neighborhood, she couldn’t help but feel a bit
reckless. Like she was sneaking off in the night with some forbidden guy. They
climbed up on that old, flat-topped rock with the magnificent view of the city,
even more majestic now with the sky streaking purple and grenadine.

“I hope this is all right?” he asked her.

“It’s perfect.” She helped him spread the blanket, then took
a seat.

“Hungry?” he asked, settling down beside her.

“A little.”

He rummaged in the basket and handed her half a baguette.

“What’s this?”

“Cheese sandwich.”

Isabel laughed at the memory. As kids, that was what they threatened
to pack when the two of them ran away. They often made plans to run away
together, but Isabel never truly thought it would come to pass. “This is pretty
elegant cheese,” she said, peeking between the bread layers. “And, oh! What’s
that?”

“Brie and prosciutto.” He pulled one from the basket for
himself, unwrapped it, and took a hearty bite. “Since we’re adults now, I
thought I’d step it up.”

Isabel nodded, taking a nibble of hers. Boy, was it good.
Better than any old slice of cheddar on white bread for certain.

“Can I pour you a drink?”

“A drink would be great.”

To her surprise, he extracted a bottle of expensive
champagne. “Really going high-class tonight, huh?”

“Only the best for the best,” he said, popping the bottle
open.

The cork arced through the air and flew off the rock,
catapulting into the valley below them. Isabel giggled. “You’re a lot of good
fun, you know that?”

“Good fun?”

“Yeah,” she said, feeling her face warm all over. “Great to
be with. I don’t know… It’s like… Like I never have to worry too much about
what to do or say. All I have to do is be myself.”

He filled a plastic cup with bubbly and handed it to her. “That’s
the way I like you.”

After he filled his own cup, she raised hers in a toast. “That’s
the way I like you too.”

“Chips?” he offered, pulling out a bag.

“I’m glad you didn’t worry about packing healthy.”

“Hey!” he protested. “These are
all natural
. See?”

Isabel felt as light and breezy as the late August winds
blowing around them. She’d had the very best summer with Robert. One she’d
never forget. They sat in companionable silence, both enjoying their food and
the view. After a while, Robert packed away the remnants of their dinner, but
not the champagne.

“You know what I like about this spot?” he asked her. “I
like the fact that it’s always been here for me.”

“What do you mean?”

“If these hills had ears…” he said with a laugh.

“Oh?” she asked, looking over at him. “What would they hear?”

“Probably an earful about one special girl.” He looked
wistfully over the valley. “
Isabel…
Isabel… Isabel…
That was her name. If you listen closely enough, you can
probably still hear the echo.”

“Go on,” she said, nudging his arm.

“Okay, I will.” He swallowed hard and set down his
champagne. “Isabel,” he said as night grew nigh. “I have something to tell you.
A confession to make.”

She watched his eyes, dark embers in the lengthening dusk. “Yes?”

“When I was, oh, about…” He stretched his hand high above
the rock in front of him. “Yay high.”

“What?”

“Okay,” he admitted. “Maybe I was a little taller. But, hey,
the important thing is it was a long time ago.”

Isabel’s heart skipped a beat as she wondered where this was
going.

“I was thirteen, in any case.”

“I liked you a lot at thirteen,” she said in a low whisper.

“Yeah,” he answered. “I liked you a lot too. We shared a lot
of things between us, kept some pretty good secrets. But there’s one thing I
never told you.”

She looked at him expectantly.

“I never told you about this.”

“This place? No, you didn’t.” She looked around at the
gorgeous scenery. “Why not?”

He pursed his lips a beat, then sweetly stroked back her
hair. “Because…this is where I’d planned to take you.”

“Take me?”

“Once I’d saved up enough money…and grown into a man, I
suppose. I couldn’t think of a quicker way to do it. But I did know I’d want
to. The fact of the matter is, I spent a hell of a lot of time practicing up.”

To her amazement, Robert pulled a small box from the picnic
basket.

“I want you to know that it’s true. You’re the first girl I
loved and actually wanted to marry. I asked you over and over again… Right up
here on this rock.”

“What did I say?”

His eyes twinkled. “You always said yes.”

He flipped open the ring box, and Isabel covered her mouth
with a gasp. A beautiful solitaire glistened in the rising moonlight. “Isabel
Miller,” he said, taking her hand, “my sweet, long-lost Izzy. Swear to me you’ll
never be lost again. We fell away from each other one time, through no fault of
our own. But now that fate has brought us back together, I can’t imagine my
life going on without you.” He took the ring and positioned it over her finger.
“Say that you’ll be mine. For as long as we both shall live.”

He met her eyes, and Isabel’s heart rose in her throat.

“Be my bride.”

Isabel didn’t know if it had started to rain or whether
those were tears streaming down her cheeks. She nodded, and Robert’s face
opened up in a rainbow. He slid the ring on her finger and kissed her soundly. “I
love you, baby,” he said in a husky whisper. “I always will.”

“I’ll always love you too,” she returned. “I probably always
have.”

He took her in his arms then, knocking over the champagne,
but neither one cared. They just stayed locked in a tight embrace, each sensing
the rhythm of the other one’s heart. It was just like it used to be, only
better. And nothing could be better than this. Isabel was so happy, she felt
she could fly, straight up to the moon and past the third star…straight on till
morning.

“You’ll always be my girl,” he said, holding her close. And,
in her heart, Isabel knew that she would.

“That’s the only way I’d have it,” she said, hugging him
back.

Epilogue

Cindy sat beside Trudy at the head table. Both were dressed
in elegant attire.

“I want to thank you for helping organize the wedding,”
Trudy told her. “It was a beautiful affair, and you were a lovely maid of
honor.”

“Isabel was a beautiful bride,” Cindy said, motioning with
her champagne flute toward the dance floor.

Isabel and Kip were enjoying the traditional father-daughter
dance, while Robert waited in the wings, prepared to take over.

“She certainly is,” Trudy said with a smile. “You know,” she
said to Cindy, “I don’t believe I’ve ever seen Kip so happy.”

“What happened to the overprotective dad?”

“I guess he grew up.”

“Yeah,” Cindy said with a longing look at the happy couple. “I
suppose a lot of people did.”

On the dance floor, Kip gathered Isabel and her billowy gown
in his arms. It seemed an eternity he’d waited for this day. Waited for it and
dreaded it both. For the main thing he feared was that Isabel wouldn’t find
somebody good enough. Someone to love and care for her in the special way that
Kip hoped. Now that she had, Kip’s spirit had lightened. Robert was a good man.
A man who deeply loved his daughter. He would look after her, Kip was sure of
it. And nothing gave him greater peace.

“Dad,” she said, looking up at him, her eyes a beautiful
blue. “I want to thank you for this day. For everything.”

“I’m glad you’re happy,” he said, holding her close. Then he
swirled her around, those old memories flooding back. Cradling Isabel as a
baby… Isabel dancing on his shoes at his cousin’s wedding… Isabel beaming in
his arms in her first communion dress… Isabel in her graduation cap and gown… And
now, Isabel the beautiful bride, about to leave his arms forever.

Robert approached, and Kip graciously stepped aside. “Take
care of my baby girl,” he said in a hoarse whisper.

“I will, sir,” Robert assured him.

Kip passed off Isabel as she gave them a laugh. “Come on,
guys,” she said, rolling her eyes. “
I
can take care of myself.”

“I believe that,” Robert said, taking her in his arms.

“Then you’ve learned a lot already.” Kip studied him with
admiration, then walked away.

“What did you two talk about on that walk?” Isabel asked
Robert beneath the sway of the music.

“Oh, you know… Stuff.”

“Stuff?” Isabel playfully swatted his shoulder. “Fine. Keep
your little secret.”

Robert thoughtfully watched Kip pull Trudy onto the dance
floor. Even after all their years together, when Kip looked at Trudy, she still
blushed like a bride. “Something tells me I could learn a lot from your father.”

“What?”

“He won the love of two terrific women. That says something.”

Isabel grinned broadly. “Yeah. It says a lot.”

“Will you promise me something?”

“Anything you wish.”

“Promise that you’ll go easy on me…if we have a daughter.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s nothing, really,” he said, studying Kip and Trudy from
across the room. “It’s just that I guess I’m starting to understand your dad.”

“Robert Reed,” she scolded, “swear to me you won’t be that
impossible.”

He held her close, kissing the top of her head. “Sorry, Izzy.
Can’t promise you that.”

The End

A Note from the Author

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The
Wedding Wish
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