In the Mood for Love (23 page)

“We’ll be fine,” Sam said as he escorted her down the steps—always the gentleman. “And you look great,” he added as she fussed with the sash of her dress.

“I’ll do,” she said with a genuine smile. At least she looked professional today. She’d snagged a dress from her closet, a lightweight leopard-print pullover with an A-line skirt. The sash cinched her waist and the hem fell just above her knees. She stepped into a pair of black heels and pulled her long hair into a low ponytail. Just now she shoved on big trendy sunglasses. It was a beautiful sunny day. A beautiful day for the birth of Chloe’s baby and a blitz on the Cupcake Lovers’ social sites. Even though they’d be getting to the hospital later than Harper had wanted, Sam was right, they’d make it before the scheduled surgery. They were fine. It’s just that she had so much to cover, including hotel accommodations for all of the Cupcake Lovers traveling to Vegas. Just as she’d hoped, production would cover expenses, but there were still a lot of details to handle.

“Did you just skip?”

Harper looked over her shoulder. “What? No.”

“I know a skip when I see one. Mina skips all the time. It means you’re happy.”

Harper turned, heart in throat. “I am happy.” She placed a hand to Sam’s chest, fingered his collar. “Last night wasn’t easy for me.”

“I know.”

“I don’t like to think about it or talk about it, but I’m glad I did because, well, it helped. You helped. I feel a little better, definitely calmer.”

He palmed her hand, squeezed. “I’m glad.”

“I’m not running, but I’d like to put the past to rest.”

“Understood.”

“I’d like to move forward as quickly as possible. Together.”

He held her gaze, stroked her knuckles, waited for her to explain. God, she loved his patience.

“Why wait until Tuesday night to seal the deal?” she asked. “Why not tomorrow? As soon as we land in Vegas? I’m sure we could find an excuse to steal away. I know you wanted to take advantage of the ‘got-drunk-and-ended-up-married’ cliché. A smoke screen for the real reason for our haste. And I still see the wisdom in that. We could follow through with that pretense Tuesday night, after the filming of the show, but let’s do it for real tomorrow.”

He didn’t answer and Harper tensed. She was rushing things, even more so than before, but Edward’s post on her FB page had spooked her, along with the feeling of being watched. The sooner she and Sam were officially married, the sooner they’d secure her legal right to stay in this country. She considered telling Sam about Edward—he’d been so understanding about everything else—but her pride reared. She’d allowed herself to be bullied all these years by a lonely bitter man. The power he’d held over Harper shamed her. She’d handle Edward Wilson on her own. She just had to figure out how.

“Would it make you happy?”

Harper blinked back to the moment, to Sam. “Deliriously happy.”

He smiled a little and her stomach flipped. “Then we’ll get married tomorrow. Indoors or outdoors?”

She assumed he was talking about the ceremony. With Andrew she’d envisioned an elegant church wedding. Even though her parents weren’t traditional (hell, neither one had taken real interest in Harper’s engagement), she’d dreamed of an old-fashioned, fairy-tale wedding. Now that dream was tainted. “Something simple.”

“Done.”

Harper threw her arms around Sam and hugged tight. Yes, she was big on control, but when it came to their wedding, she didn’t want any part of the planning. The venue, the dress, the flowers … none of that should matter. It had mattered far too much with Andrew. The possibility, no, the probability, that she’d been more in love with the idea of a wedding … more in love with the thought of marrying a brave soldier than with braniac Andrew Wilson himself, tore at Harper’s soul and triggered more shame. “We should hurry,” she whispered in Sam’s ear. Hurry to the hospital, to Vegas, to us.

He hugged her back, kissed her forehead, her cheek, her mouth. “I need to do something,” Sam said. “It’ll take some time, not sure how much, but I need to do it now. You can come with me and wait or you can go ahead to the hospital and wait there.”

“Can you give me a clue?”

“Paula’s parents. I need to tell them about us. Not the deportation part. Not our business arrangement, no details. But I owe them the heads-up on our marriage. And the kids…”

“I understand.” Harper’s heart swelled. “I’ll drive ahead. This is personal and—”

“Are you sure?”

She realized then that she hadn’t driven off the property on her own in days. Because of her agoraphobia. Because of her fears. Sam was worried about her. She loved and hated that he was worried. “Of course I’m sure. I’ll see you at the hospital. Later. Bring the kids. They’ll get a kick out of seeing the baby. Everyone loves babies.” She hugged Sam again then swung away before she lost her nerve. Harper strolled to her rented car (she’d have to purchase one soon) then tossed her purse and laptop into the passenger seat.

She gave her Serenity bracelet a couple of twirls then keyed the ignition.

She could do this.

Heart full, confidence high, she drove off the property, turned onto Swamp Lane, and made a beeline for Pixley. No sweat. No anxiety. She imagined Sam’s smile and punched the gas.

*   *   *

Sam had sweated skirmishes with hostiles less than this confrontation with Paula’s dad. No, not a confrontation, Sam told himself. Charlie wasn’t like that. He’d voice understanding and he’d mean it. Still, Sam had come to this very house to ask Charlie Kessler for his only daughter’s hand in marriage. Now Paula was gone and Sam was preparing to marry another woman. Surely the Kesslers would at least feel a sting.

Sam moved to knock on the door, noticed his palm was sweaty—
hell
—and wiped it down his thigh. He paused another second, gathering his thoughts, catching his breath. Sue had taken the kids to church, and since Sam had hoped to break the news to Charlie first, the timing was perfect. He told himself he was making a mountain out of a molehill. The Kesslers had encouraged Sam to get on with his life. They knew how much he loved Paula and they knew their daughter had wanted Sam to find happiness with another woman, a loving mother for their children. That had been her dying wish, although Sam had been certain he’d never be able to grant it. Paula would approve of Harper. Sam felt it in his heart. And he imagined her up in heaven just now, rolling her eyes at him for stalling on her dad’s front porch.

It was as if she reached down and interceded. The door swung open and Charlie stood there, bushy gray brows raised in mild amusement. “Been hovering on the stoop for five minutes, son. Figured I better hurry this along before you lost your nerve completely.”

“That obvious, huh?”

Charlie waved him inside. The house was neat as always, with the exception of a few of the kids’ toys. Charlie motioned Sam to sit while muting the television. One eye on the Nascar race, he offered, “Coffee?”

“No, thanks.”

His gaze shifted to Sam. “Snort of whiskey?”

“Look like I need one?”

“A little.” With that Charlie settled into his worn recliner. “Figure you’ve come to talk to me about Harper Day. Whole town’s buzzin’ about the unlikely match.” His eyes flickered with amusement. “Sounds interesting.”

Sam dragged a hand through his hair. Leave it to Charlie to cut to the chase. “I should have said something sooner, but to tell you the truth, it sort of hit me out of nowhere.”

“Happens like that sometimes.”

“And, as Ben would say, escalated at hyperspeed.”

“Uh-huh.”

“It’s not the same as it was with Paula, then again Harper isn’t anything like Paula.”

“Heard that through the grapevine, too. Plus Ben and Mina have mentioned Harper here and there. They like her.”

“I know.” Sam braced his forearms on his knees, leaned in and clasped his hands. “They told me if I wanted to marry Harper, they’d be okay with it. Said they don’t want me to be a lonely old man.”

Charlie’s mouth crooked. “Sue and I don’t want that, either. So … are you here for my advice or blessing?”

“You’re making this awfully easy.”

“No reason it should be hard.” Charlie drummed his chunky fingers on the arm of his chair, cleared his throat. “Listen, Sam. Sue and I know how much you loved our daughter. We saw it, felt it. And we know you’ll love Paula till your dying day. Making room in your heart for another woman doesn’t diminish what you had before. Does Harper make you happy?”

Sam thought beyond the petty irritations. He thought about the way he’d felt this morning when she’d kissed him awake and hugged him good-bye. He thought about the tender heart buried within her bossy façade. “Yeah,” Sam said, acknowledging a warm feeling. “She does.”

“Is she accepting of Ben and Mina?”

“She’ll do her damnedest to make them happy.” He didn’t doubt that for a second.

“Seems like a no-brainer then.”

Sam smiled a little. “We don’t want to wait and we don’t want a fuss, Charlie. In fact, we’re flying out to Vegas tomorrow on business for the Cupcake Lovers and while we’re there we’ll make it official.”

“Eloping. Tomorrow.” Charlie whistled low.

“I’m only sharing this with you and Sue. Given the whirlwind nature of Harper and my relationship, I don’t want to give anyone time to try to talk us out of it.”

“Didn’t think
I’d
try?”

“No. You’re one of the most nonjudgmental people I know, Charlie.”

“When do you aim to break it to Ben and Mina?”

“Not sure.”

“You could surprise them. Tell them after it’s a done deal.”

“They did preapprove the match.” Sam nodded. “I could spin the surprise thing.” Damn, he sounded like Harper in slick publicist mode.

“Tell them beforehand and they might let it slip to friends or family. You can count on me and Sue to keep your secret. Ben might hold strong, too. But Mina?”

Sam imagined his animated daughter and chuckled. “She’ll want to tell the world.” He blew out a breath, stood. “Right then. Surprise it is. I’ll pick up the kids this evening as always, tell them about the business trip, drive them to school tomorrow morning. But could I impose on you and Sue to pick them up in the afternoon and look after them through Wednesday?”

“Be insulted if you didn’t.” When Charlie stood, Sam offered his hand, but the shorter man pulled him in for a swift hug. “You feel that? My baby’s smiling down on you, son.” He smacked Sam’s shoulder as he walked him to the door. “Go be happy.”

TWENTY-FIVE

“Step on it, Speedy!”

“We wouldn’t be running late if you hadn’t insisted on attending church and staying for the whole dang service.”

“I never miss church,” Daisy said. “Besides, I needed to say a special prayer today.”

“I know you’re worried about Chloe and the surgery—”

“Of course I’m worried. She’s going under the knife!”

“Don’t think of it that way.”

“But that’s the way it is. Maybe you should let me drive.”

“Why?”

“You’re going too slow.”

“Going eight miles over the speed limit.”

“Like I said.”

Vincent edged to the side of the highway.

Daisy blinked as he unfastened his seat belt. “What are you doing?” she asked as he opened his door.

“Letting you drive.”

Her eyes fairly bugged out of her head. “You are?” Her family had banned her from driving. Too many accidents. And the few times Vincent had let her behind the wheel it had been on deserted back roads. This was the highway to Pixley! With oncoming traffic and everything!

“If I let you drive,” Vincent said as he stepped outside, “you’ll feel in control. Which could help your fretting. Also, you’ll be concentrating more on the road than Chloe.”

Vibrating with excitement, Daisy scooted across the seat. When Vincent climbed into the passenger side they jerked the seat closer to the wheel. Then Vincent reached in the backseat, nabbed a small pillow and passed it to Daisy who slid it under her heinie for a higher view.

“Buckle up, Petunia. And don’t forget you’re carrying precious cargo.”

“That you are, Vincent,” she said as she accelerated and pulled onto the road. “That you are.”

A half hour later, Daisy turned into the hospital’s lot and parked the Caddy without incident. She even refrained from tapping the bumper of the car in front of her, which she often did given a slight problem with depth perception. She looked over at Vincent and smiled, her heart bouncing when he smiled back. “I love that you trust me,” she said.

“I love that you’re fearless.”

Again her heart fluttered. Vincent Redding made Daisy feel like she was sixteen again. She didn’t know about fearless, but she was impetuous … and head over heels in love. She started to say so, but the words stuck in her throat. Yes, she’d loosened up over the last couple of years, but she wasn’t wholly comfortable sharing sappy sentiments. Besides, her man had already left the car, rounding the hood to help her out.

“Ten forty-five,” he said as he waddled and she shuffled toward the hospital. “Not too early. Not too late.”

Daisy gave a little
whoop
. “My first great-grandchild. What a thrill!”

“Speaking of grandchildren…”

Daisy followed Vincent’s line of vision and saw two young people striding their way. His granddaughter Peppy and Daisy’s grandson’s friend Adam.

“I can’t believe she moved in with one of the Brody boys,” Vincent said close to Daisy’s ear.

“The responsible, good-hearted Brody,” Daisy reminded him. Not that Kane wasn’t kind, but he wasn’t ready to settle down. From everything that Luke had told Daisy, Adam was. “Peppy was driving Marvin crazy,” Daisy went on in a whisper, “and vice versa. And Adam needed a roommate. I think they make a cute couple.”

Adam was really tall and Peppy was really short. Adam looked like a sports star and Peppy looked like, well, like a sports star’s little sister. Not quite the dynamic Daisy was going for. Still, her heart told her they were good for one another and, according to her horoscope she was supposed to trust her instincts.

“They’re not a couple,” Vincent said. “They’re roommates.”