It Had to Be Fate (An It Had to Be Novel Book 3)

by Tamra Baumann

  Tomas sent him a hate-filled glare. “I’m in love with Marie.”

  “It probably makes it easier if you tell yourself that, I suppose.” Zane stood and Jack followed suit. Tomas’s gaze followed Zane’s hand as he scooped the house keys up and put them in his pocket. “Enjoy being treated like a pet. Goodbye.”

  Zane headed for the terrace doors.

  Change your damn mind, Tomas. Don’t let me leave.

  The afternoon of Meg’s wedding, Casey was more nervous than the bride. And still not over Zane. It had been weeks since he’d left. Planning a romantic wedding hadn’t helped. Or that she’d had another reminder of Zane just that morning. The original ruling on his father’s case had stood—as an accident. Her heart warmed at hearing his good news, and she hoped his reputation would be repaired, but her court case still loomed, so she’d buried those feelings again and gotten back to work.

  Now the chairs were set up in rows on the lawn, the tents were up for the reception, and the hotel was empty for two days, so things were all set. The next challenge would be to wrangle her boys into suits and keep them clean until after the vows at least.

  She jogged up the hill to the hotel and turned to take in one last view of the setup. The dock had a white runner leading up to it that she hoped people would stay off of until after the ceremony. And the little flower-and-vine-covered gazebo at the entrance to the dock, with the lake reflecting behind it, looked beautiful. They’d have to start offering weddings now, so all the equipment her dad bought wouldn’t go to waste. At least that was how she’d justified all the expenses to her father, so the hotel would have to do at least one more. Maybe Tara and Ryan would use it next?

  Smiling at that thought, she turned and went into the kitchen to check on the food. When she walked in, Pam and Dax were in the middle of a steamy kiss. Maybe they’d be the next wedding. “Pam, leave my chef alone, please. He has work to do.”

  Dax’s hand slid down to Pam’s bottom, and he gave her a gentle pat. “You heard the boss, quit distracting me.”

  Pam whispered something in his ear that made Dax smile and then she waved at Casey. “I’ll go get dressed and then be back to help.”

  “Thanks.” Casey wiped her palms on her jeans before she reached for a cream puff, and got a hand slap from her chef for it. “Hey. I never got lunch, Dax.”

  “Then make yourself a ham sandwich, but keep your paws off my masterpieces. These take time to make and I want to be sure we have enough.”

  “Wait. Not enough? Do you need some help? I can ask Jeannie—”

  “Everything is under control. Now go away. Your nerves are making my nerves nervous.” He picked up a cream puff. “Here. You’d just steal one on your way out anyway.”

  He knew her too well.

  She stuffed it into her mouth. The flaky crust and creamy filling exploded pure yumminess onto her tongue. “Awesome, Dax.” She stole another and made for the doors.

  He shook his head then picked up his piping tube and got back to work.

  Meg and Haley were supposed to be getting ready in her bedroom, so that’d be her next stop. She had to get dressed too and then she’d tackle the boys.

  When she opened her front door, she panicked. Meg sat on the floor in her jeans, hair and makeup not done, playing Mortal Crush with Casey’s boys and Haley. She hoped Eric was getting ready with Josh. Her grandmother had fallen asleep in a chair and snored lightly.

  “Megan! You have to be ready to walk down the aisle in an hour!”

  Meg sighed and paused the game. She handed the controller to Ty and then stood and stuffed her hands into her front pockets. “Calm down, Casey. I’m not like you, I can be ready in ten minutes.”

  “Not today you can’t.” She tugged her sister’s arm and dragged her along to the bedroom. “Today we’re doing something with your hair, and you’re wearing makeup. Sit.” She pointed to the chair in front of the vanity. “Please tell me you’ve showered today.”

  “Of course I’ve showered. Geez, Casey.” Meg’s forehead scrunched as she studied all the accoutrements before her. “I don’t even know what to do with half this gunk.”

  “Clearly. Just sit still and I’ll do the rest. At least Haley is in her dress and her hair looks cute. One less kid to dress.” She pulled Meg’s hair to make her point. “And I bet Grandma did her hair, right?”

  “That hurt. And yes, Grandma did her hair. It’s not a crime to be clueless about stuff like that.” Meg frowned into the mirror as Casey tackled Meg’s long, straight hair with the hopes of a pretty updo at the end.

  “I’m not even going to look like me if you do that, Casey.”

  “That’s the point. Why don’t you pick a scent you think Josh will like while I finish this up?”

  “Josh likes soap and me. He doesn’t like perfume.”

  “Fine.” Zane had said much the same to her after they’d made love in the guesthouse, just after their waterfall adventure. That he loved the way she smelled even after all her perfume had been washed off in the water. She couldn’t help her grin as she thought about that day again.

  “What’s so funny?” Meg asked with a frown. “It’s bad enough you’re making me do this, so don’t make fun of me on top of it.”

  “I’m not making fun of you. I’m admiring my handy work with your hair.” She quickly tilted Meg’s chin up and brushed foundation over the freckles scattered across her sister’s nose and cheeks. “Do you want a smoky eye, or something more subtle?”

  “I give up. You chose.”

  “Smoky then. And a nice red lip.” Casey used a light hand since Meg didn’t often wear makeup. A few moments later she said, “Ta-da!” and swung Meg around to look at herself in the mirror.

  “Holy crap, Casey. I look damn good! Who’d have guessed?”

  Megan looked more than good; she looked beautiful. “Not so bad to be girlie now and again, right?”

  Meg held her hands up. “With everything else looking so good maybe we should do something with these nails?”

  Casey picked up her sister’s hand to inspect the damage. “Have you been digging in the dirt with Haley? At this rate I’m the one who’ll have to get ready in ten minutes.” She picked up her French manicure kit and got to work.

  Meg was too quiet. Casey looked up from her filing. “What’s the matter? Are you getting nervous?”

  “A little, maybe.” Tears threatened to bubble from the corners of Meg’s eyes.

  Casey got back to work because they were quickly running out of time. She’d have to just throw on her own dress and go. “You’re going to marry the man of your dreams in a few minutes. And then you’ll get cake. You love cake, so focus on that.”

  Meg laughed, as Casey had hoped. “Have you been taking gruff lessons from Grandma?”

  “If I’d have given you a hug, you would’ve cried and then I’d have to do your makeup all over again.” And she’d have fallen completely apart too, because she was so happy Meg had found the perfect guy for her. Zane had come as close to that as Casey had ever found.

  She could’ve lived with only FaceTime visits while Zane was on the road, like the day of Caleb’s concert, if she could have him. That Zane remembered and had made the effort was what had counted most. God, she missed him so much.

  Meg said, “I was about to lose it. And you’re right. I’ll be fine.”

  “Yes, you will. And seriously? Focus on the honeymoon. You guys are going to have a blast in Costa Rica.”

  “Thanks for keeping Eric and Haley.”

  “My pleasure. Eric fits right in with the boys, and I love getting my little-girl fix when I keep Haley. Girls are just so different from boys. Well, except for you. You were always a little tomboy.”

  “True. Maybe you’ll meet the right guy too, and then have a little girl of your own one day?”

  Casey had to bite her lip to stop the tears. And she needed to suck it up and stop thinking about Zane. She forced a smile. “We’ll see. But enough about that. T
his is your big day.”

  Nails done, Casey helped Meg into her dress and zipped it up from behind. After Meg stepped into her shoes and turned around, Casey’s dam broke, and the tears fell. “Oh, Meg. You look spectacular. Come see.”

  Casey stood behind Meg as she inspected herself in the full-length mirror, loving the look of awe on her sister’s face.

  Meg swallowed hard then whispered, “I didn’t know I could look this beautiful. Thank you, Casey.”

  She laid her hands on Meg’s shoulders. “You’re beautiful even without all of this, Meg. I wish you’d believe that. Look at the handsome guy you snagged even with those chipped-up nails. What you see today is a slightly more polished version, is all.”

  “No, what I see today is a shorter version of my big sister, who I think is the most beautiful woman in the world. And the best sister a girl could ask for.”

  Casey was on the verge of turning into a useless puddle of mush, but there was no time for that. “Thank you, Meg. Now go stand over there and wait for Dad. Don’t sit or you’ll wrinkle your dress! I’m going to get the boys ready.”

  When Casey was in the hallway, Meg called out, “I should’ve said the bossiest, most beautiful, best sister in the world.”

  Casey laughed, and when she turned the corner to the living room she found the boys on the couch wearing their suits. Caleb was quietly practicing his guitar, and Ty was frowning at the TV because Haley was watching a Disney movie. Everyone looked perfect. She should probably take a picture because it wouldn’t last long. But there was no time for that.

  Grandma sat in a chair with her bum leg on the ottoman. “I figured you’d have your hands full with Meg. The boys aren’t happy with the ties, but they’re dressed.”

  Casey leaned down and gave her grandmother a kiss on the cheek. “You’re a lifesaver. When Dad comes, send him back, will you?” She hoped her dad would show up. She and Dad had barely spoken for weeks. She’d warned Ben to be ready, just in case.

  Grandma waved her off. “Fine. Now go get yourself dressed. It’s almost time.”

  Casey was painfully aware of her lack of time, and started unbuttoning her blouse on the way back to her room. She passed by her nervous, pacing sister and ran into the closet. After wriggling out of her jeans, she pulled a dress over her head, then stepped into a pair of heels that made her legs look great but made her feet hate her. Next she plopped down at the vanity to fix her face and hair.

  Meg, staring out the window, said, “People are taking their seats. Ryan and Ben look nice in their tuxes.”

  “Get away from the window! Josh might see you. It’ll ruin the surprise.”

  Meg turned and rolled her eyes. “Josh’s number-one goal in life is to get me out of my clothes. He won’t care about my dress.”

  “You won’t say that when you see his face light up as you walk down the aisle.”

  “How would you know? You eloped.”

  Casey shook her head. Her sister didn’t have a romantic bone in her body. As Casey applied her lipstick, she said, “It happens all the time in the movies, right?”

  “I guess.”

  Their dad’s thunderous voice greeting the boys and Haley in the living room made Casey’s stomach clench. She hoped Dad would be nice to Meg, just this once.

  Dad knocked on the doorjamb. “Everyone decent?”

  Casey called out, “Yes. Just about ready to go.”

  She stood and headed for the door, but pulled up short. Dad stood before her in a tux. “You look very nice. Thank you for wearing that, Dad.”

  “Welcome.” He pulled out a piece of paper from his coat pocket. “But let’s get something out of the way. I’ve decided I’m not accepting your resignation after all.” He tore the page in two.

  She glanced at her sister, who was busy looking out the window again, then tugged her father into the hall. “This is not the time to discuss this. Besides, I’m starting my new job in Denver in a few weeks.”

  “Please don’t leave.” Dad shoved his hands into his pockets and stared at his feet. “I knew you skipped college for Meg and Ryan. I should have made you go away to school like the others did and then left the decision to come back here afterward up to you. I know what it’s like to feel trapped here.”

  “And yet you basically blackmailed Ben into staying when he told you he and Kline had planned to live abroad after he finished med school?”

  He met her gaze. “That was entirely different. The town needed a doctor, and it was only for a few years. He chooses to stay now. With you more than the others, I was afraid to let you go because I worried you wouldn’t come back.”

  She tilted her head. “Worried you’d have to step it up and be a better parent, if I didn’t come back?”

  “No.” He rubbed his temples and grimaced as if in great pain before he said, “Worried I’d have to run this whole damn town without you. If I rely on you too much, ask you to fix my problems, it’s because I do respect you. Even if I’m crap at showing it. So I won’t ask you to stay if you don’t want to anymore, but I’d prefer you did.”

  Her throat constricted. That was the closest thing to an apology she’d ever heard come from her father. “If I stay, will you make an effort to change how you treat me?”

  He nodded. “I’ll try, Casey. But old dog, new tricks applies here. I’ll never be Prince Charming.”

  “That’s the understatement of the year.” A wave of cool relief rushed through her. She really hadn’t wanted to leave. “I’ll stay for now, but things had better change.”

  “I wore a damn tux today because you asked me to, didn’t I?”

  Baby steps. It wouldn’t be easy, but he had made an effort. “Yes. I appreciate it.”

  She led the way back to her room and smiled. This standing up for herself had been working out pretty well. Why hadn’t she done that years ago?

  Dad followed behind and adjusted his sleeve. “I told that guy it was too tight but he wouldn’t listen.”

  “I think you look great. Almost as nice as Meg.” She held a hand out toward the window where Meg stood wringing her hands.

  Dad glanced Meg’s way and his eyes widened. “Is that really you, Meg?”

  She cringed. “I know. Casey’s a magician, right?”

  “No.” His jaw twitched. “You look just like your mom did on our wedding day.”

  Casey held her breath.

  Say it. Just this once on her big day. Tell her she’s beautiful.

  He stuck out his arm toward Meg. “Damn good thing I changed my mind about the tux. Or you’d have looked ten times better than me walking down the aisle. Let’s go show them all who the best-looking Andersons are.”

  Close enough.

  The relief on Meg’s face as she tucked her arm in his melted Casey’s heart. Maybe Dad would actually be able to change after all.

  She called out, “Okay, everyone. Let’s go make this happen.”

  Casey hurried everyone out the back door of the hotel. Eric stood waiting for them dressed in his suit. When he saw Meg his eyes grew wide. “Wow. You look awesome, Meg.”

  Meg said, “And you look like that gazillion dollars you guys were trying to find. Ready?”

  Eric gave Meg a hug and then stuck his arm out toward Casey. “May I escort you down the aisle?”

  Josh must’ve told Eric to say that. She wrapped her arm through his. “I’d be honored.”

  Caleb started playing his guitar when he saw them line up, so Ty, and Haley, throwing flowers with complete abandon, headed down the aisle just behind Grandma. It looked like a flower shop had exploded on everyone. There were petals everywhere.

  When the kids had almost gotten to the front to join the rest of their family, Casey gave Meg a peck on the cheek. Her sister had turned so white she whispered, “No passing out or puking, got it?”

  Meg winced. “No guarantees.”

  It was their turn next, so Casey and Eric started down the aisle. Almost everyone in town had turned up and they all h
ad huge grins plastered on their faces. Gloria’s was the biggest.

  Once they got to the front, she and Eric took their places near Josh and the preacher and then turned to watch Meg. After everyone stood, Meg and Dad proceeded down the aisle. Meg had to practically trot to keep up with Dad’s long strides.

  When Casey glanced at Josh, who beamed from ear to ear, absolute love written all over his face, it took all she had to hold it together. How she hoped a man would look at her like that someday. She wished it could have been Zane.

  Once everyone was in place, Meg held up a finger to the minister. “I have something I need to say.”

  Oh, no. Was Meg going to back out? She couldn’t. Not after she’d seen Josh’s face. Could she?

  Casey turned toward Josh to gauge his reaction, but he looked perfectly calm.

  What was going on?

  Meg turned and faced everyone. Her voice wobbled a bit when she said, “I forgot to give Casey her maid of honor gift. And we can’t go on until I do.” Meg held her hand out toward where Caleb sat, and Zane appeared from behind the white fabric Casey had hung a few hours earlier.

  Her heart nearly beat right out of her chest when her eyes found Zane’s. His whole face slowly lit up as he smiled and walked toward her. The expression on Josh’s face earlier was lovely, but the heat, love, and determination in Zane’s eyes as he approached were ten times better—and all for her. No one else existed at that moment, only the two of them. She could practically feel her broken heart stitching itself back up.

  But then a thought struck. She wasn’t supposed to be seen with him.

  Zane had nearly gone mad waiting to see Casey all day. Meg had to talk him out of ruining the surprise three times, but now he was grateful he’d waited. To see the gleam in her eyes quickly turn from surprise to elation had been worth it. And God, she looked so beautiful. Her long, pretty legs looked fantastic in tall, killer heels, and her blue dress hugged her curves in just the right places. He’d have liked to scoop her up and take her back to the guesthouse right away and just skip the wedding.

  As he got closer, Casey’s expression turned to panic. Probably because she’d remembered they weren’t supposed to be together. The anguish on her face made him quicken his pace the rest of the way to her and then wrap her up in a tight hug. “God, I missed you, Casey.”