When Wishes Collide (11 page)

"I don't want to let that happen," she said. "I just don't know how to stop it."

"You have to fight fear, and from what I know about you, I'm sure at some point that will happen. You just need a little time."

"So tell me about your family," she said, changing the subject. "What are your parents like?"

"My parents are … what's the right word … adventurers."

"Really?" she asked, turning in her seat. "That sounds exciting."

"They're aging hippies," he said. "They met in Haight Ashbury in the late sixties. My father wore his hair in a ponytail and played in a band, and my mother was a tattoo artist."

"No way," she said in surprise. "And they had you?"

"What does that mean?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, you're a cop, and you seem kind of buttoned up."

"That's because you've seen me on the job. I can let loose."

"Okay, if you say so," she said doubtfully.

"It's true." He paused. "Anyway, my parents grew up on Bob Dylan, flower power, and peace signs. They lived in a commune for a few years before they got married and grew organic produce. My mother even had a cow for a while, and to this day she is very proud of her milking skills."

"She sounds amazing."

"She's a character. So is my dad. After his band split up, he became a carpenter. He learned how to build cabinets, and little did he know that his business would become quite lucrative.
 
He went from being a poor hippie to a successful businessman, although he still doesn't like to admit that. My mom eventually left her farming days behind and became a nurse/midwife."

"Again, she sounds amazing. They both do."

"It gets better," he continued.

"How is that possible?"

He shot her a dry smile. "They volunteer to help at every big catastrophe in the world. They went to New Orleans after Katrina, to Haiti after the earthquake, and right now they're planning a trip to Africa. They're big believers in we're all one family, one community, one planet. I spent a lot of summers building houses in Mexico."

"Now, I'm impressed by you, too."

"If that gets me one step closer to gaining your trust, I'll take it."

"So you have perfect parents."

"No, they're not perfect. They're nosy. They like to meddle. They're disorganized and always late, especially my mother. She likes to say that life is too short to wear a watch, whatever that means. Oh, and they hug way too much. You can't stop them, so don't even try. Just surrender. It goes quicker that way."

She smiled, touched by his words. "I can hear the love in your voice."

"They've been good to me."

"Tell me about your siblings. Are they just as wonderful?"

"My oldest brother, Connor, is a curator in a museum. I had no idea he could turn his love of dinosaurs into an actual profession, but somehow he did it. My little sister, Summer, is a dancer. And when she isn't on stage, she teaches ballet to first graders."

"And then there's you," she said. "The cop."

"Odd man out, not a creative bone in my body," he said.

"What did your hippie parents think of you becoming a police officer?"

"My father was horrified. Like you, he doesn't have fond memories of the police force. He got arrested at several protests, and he doesn't like authority figures."

"But you did it anyway."

"It's what I wanted to do. And my parents always have been big believers in following your heart. So even though my heart took me to a job they don't particularly like, they still support me."

He had the kind of family she'd always dreamed about, loving, supporting, kind, and generous. "You're lucky," she said. As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized her mistake. "I mean, you're lucky that you have good parents and that you grew up in a loving home. Obviously, your current situation is not so great."

"Not even close to great. But that's going to change."

Wyatt fell silent as they exited the bridge and merged into the traffic heading north into Berkeley. They got off the freeway and drove up a very crowded University Avenue. While the nearby college was only in summer session, there were throngs of young people strolling the streets.

Leaving the city behind, they made their way up the narrow and winding hills behind the university, eventually stopping at the end of a long drive, behind four other cars. Beyond the drive, she could see a huge Mediterranean style house with peach-colored stucco and a red tile roof. There was a large front patio, a garden full of colorful flowers and several tiers of decks working their way around the house. On one of those decks was a large group of people, who appeared to be dressed up, and as Wyatt turned off the car engine, Adrianna could hear music playing.

"I thought we were just having dinner with your family," she said.

"We are having dinner."

"This is a party," she said pointedly.

He nodded. "It's my sister's engagement party."

"Are you serious?" She couldn't believe he was taking her to such an important family event. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't think you'd come if you knew."

"I absolutely wouldn't have come. I don't belong here."

"You wanted to know more about me. Everyone who knows me is here."

"I don't think I need to know that much."

He grinned. "It's too late now. Come on, the sooner we go in, the sooner we can leave."

"Soon won't be soon enough," she grumbled as she got out of the car.

Wyatt could feel Adrianna's tension as they headed up the driveway. She might not be happy to be with him, but he liked having her at his side. Family events were always awkward for him these days. No one knew what to say, so they either said too little or too much, just as Adrianna had guessed earlier. Usually, he tried to avoid the family occasions, but this was one event too important to skip. Hopefully, the dinner would serve two purposes. He'd make his dutiful appearance and he'd wipe away any lingering doubts Adrianna might have about helping him.

"Your parents must be rich," Adrianna said.

"I told you my dad accidentally made some money."

"Well, I'd like to
accidentally
make this much money," she said dryly. As they passed a waiter holding a tray of champagne glasses, Adrianna added, "Do you have a housekeeper?"

"Well,
I
don't live here, but my parents do have help. Although, my mother refers to Gloria as her good friend and not her housekeeper. She doesn't like class distinctions."

"But Gloria still cleans the toilets?"

"She does," he said with a nod. "But my parents also gave her extra money to pay for her daughter's college tuition. So it seems to all work out."

"Wyatt." His mother's excited voice broke out over the chatter of the guests on the deck. She ran down the front steps to greet him, her floor-length sundress flowing out behind her. She had dark brown hair that showed no trace of gray today, and her eyes were the same color blue as his. She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed tight. She smelled like peaches, an ingredient in her favorite shampoo. For some reason, the smell made him feel safe, as if home would solve all his problems. But this wasn't his home, he reminded himself. His home was with his daughter.

"I'm so glad you're here," she said, stepping back to give him a long look. Then she turned her gaze on Adrianna. "And you brought someone."

There was surprise in her eyes and no wonder. He'd made it clear to her that he had no intention of dating anyone until he had Stephanie back. He suddenly realized the number of questions he was going to have to field regarding Adrianna's presence.

"This is Adrianna Cavello," he said. "My mother, Daria Randall."

"It's nice to meet you," Adrianna said, extending her hand.

"And you, dear," his mother replied. "And we hug around here." She gave Adrianna's stiff body, a quick squeeze. "I hope you don't mind."

"I already warned her," Wyatt said.

"I feel like I'm intruding," Adrianna said as his mother released her. "Wyatt did not tell me this was an engagement party."

"Wyatt has always been full of surprises, but you're not intruding at all. We always have room for one more," Daria replied.

"Her favorite motto," he said to Adriana.

"It's true," Daria said, giving them both a big smile. Then her lips turned down into a frown. "You look skinny, Wyatt. Are you eating?"

"Better now that I met Adrianna. She's a chef."

As expected, his mother turned to Adrianna with a whole host of questions. As they were talking, he looked around the crowd. His brother Connor was standing with his father and two other men. Connor gave him a wave, but he didn't move. He'd catch up with him later.

"Wyatt!" His sister squealed and came running across the deck, giving him a great big hug. Summer had light brown hair and the green eyes that matched their father. Today, there was a glowing smile on her face, and who could blame her? She'd put off her wedding for over a year because of Stephanie's disappearance. Finally, she'd given in and set a date, something she'd expressed some guilt about. But while he couldn't go on with his life, she needed to go on with hers, and he completely understood her decision.

"Thank you for coming," she said.
 
 

"You're welcome. You look happy," he added.

"I'm so happy," she said, her smile widening. "I have my whole family here, and so does Ron. It's perfect."

"I'm glad. This is my sister, Summer," he said, introducing her to Adrianna.

"Congratulations," Adrianna said.

"Thank you. I'm so glad you could come. Do you mind if I steal Wyatt for a minute. I promise it won't take too long."

"Uh …" Adrianna sent him a pleading look, but he could hardly deny his sister at her engagement party.

"I'll take care of Adrianna," his mother said quickly, putting her arm around Adrianna's waist. "We'll get better acquainted. This will be fun."

"Yes, fun," Adrianna echoed somewhat weakly. "Hurry back."

"I will." He felt a little guilty for leaving Adrianna so soon, but his sister was dragging him up the stairs and into the house.

They ended up in Summer's old bedroom. The room still bore the remnants of her youth, the posters of teen stars, the dance trophies and the enormous pile of stuffed animals on the bed. The furry brown bear in front made his gut clench. Summer had given Stephanie the same bear when she was born, and his daughter had loved that bear as if he were her best friend. But she hadn't taken the bear with her. Brown Bear, as Stephanie called him, had been laying on her bed, waiting for her to come home.

"Wyatt," Summer said, drawing his attention back to her.

"Sorry, what?"

"I know tonight is hard for you. I really appreciate you being here."

"I want you to be happy, Summer."

"I want
you
to be happy."

"I'm working on that."

"Mom said you had a lead. Is there any news?"

"Not yet. What did you want to talk to me about?"

She walked over and closed the door to her room. "I'm nervous, Wyatt. I love Ron. I've known him for four years, and I've wanted to marry him since our first date, but the closer the time comes to actually saying,
I do
, the more worried I become."

"Why?" he asked.
 

"Because of you and Jen. You were in love, too. You had a fairytale wedding. You left in a carriage with two white horses. It was beautiful."

"That was Jen's idea -- Jen and her mother," he added with an edge of bitterness. If Jen's mother hadn't spoiled her rotten, maybe she wouldn't have been so used to getting her own way in everything.

"It was such a perfect day," Summer continued. "And your first year was good, too, and then everything changed. What if that happens to Ron and me? What if we wake up one day and we hate each other? I don't want to go through that kind of pain. I'm afraid."

"That won't happen."

"You didn't think it would happen to you."

He couldn't argue with that logic. "No, I didn't think it would go down that way," he admitted. "But love is a risk. No one knows what will happen. You put your heart on the line and hope no one breaks it.
 
I don't think you have anything to worry about."

"Ron
is
wonderful. He treats me well, and he gets me."

"Then marry him. And stop thinking about my disaster of a marriage. You've got a great example right in front of you."

"Mom and Dad are still crazy about each other," she agreed.

"Still crazy in every way," he said with a grin.

"That's true." Her eyes clouded with tears. "I wanted Stephanie to be my flower girl, Wyatt. I had a dress all picked out for her. I couldn't ask anyone else to do it. And it's killing me that she's not going to be there. I love that kid. And part of me thinks it's wrong for me to have this wedding. I should wait."