EXPECTANT BRIDE-TO-BE

by Nikki Benjamin

  "You, too."

  "Yes," Jack assured her. "Me, too."

  But he didn't—not for a long time, at least. He stared into the darkness, dreading the days ahead when Abby would be swept up, and perhaps away, by her new family.

  Would the love he had to offer her—the love she had yet to even believe in—be enough to make her stay with him in Promise? Or would he be offering her too little, too late?

  He knew he was going to find out very soon, whether he wanted to or not…

  * * *

  Chapter 25

  « ^ »

  Abby awoke early Sunday morning to the distant sound of the telephone ringing. Despite the dozing she had done on the sofa earlier in the evening, she had slept straight through the night. And even though she was now awake, she was feeling too groggy to jump up and run to the kitchen to answer the phone.

  Beside her, Jack shifted, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed.

  "I'll get it," he said as he grabbed his slacks and started toward the doorway.

  Abby rolled onto her side and watched him go with a pang of regret. They had finally awakened in bed together, but thanks to the ringing telephone, they hadn't had a chance to savor the moment as she would have liked.

  Liked very much, indeed, she amended, smiling with pleasure as she caught a last glimpse of Jack's broad, bare back, tight butt and muscular thighs.

  Aware that she would probably have to speak to whoever was calling, Abby sat up reluctantly and reached for her robe. She had it on, with the belt tied, and was sitting on the side of the bed, trying to blink away the last of her sleepiness when Jack came back into the bedroom.

  "It's Jessica," he said. "She wanted to let you know that your grandfather, along with her fiancé and Sarah's, are on their way to Promise. They should be here by ten. She said that she and Sarah would be here at eight-thirty. Then the three of you will have time to see Hank and Judith first, so you can explain everything to them. As long as that's okay with you."

  "Oh, yes, that's okay with me," Abby replied, glancing at the clock.

  She had an hour to get ready—more than enough time under normal circumstances. But she was going to be meeting Stuart Walker today—something she hadn't expected to be doing quite so soon.

  "I'll tell her, then." Jack turned to go back to the kitchen, then glanced at Abby, again. "Do you want me to let your grandparents know we'll be coming over, or would you rather call them yourself?"

  Abby knew she should make the call, but she also knew Jack would be much more casual about their early Sunday morning visit. She didn't want Hank and Judith to be alarmed for no reason, and she would have a hard time hiding her own nervousness.

  "Are you sure you don't mind calling them for me?" she asked.

  "Not at all. You go get ready."

  "Their telephone number is on the—"

  "Pad by the telephone," he finished for her. "I'll call them, then I'm going to head over to my place and change clothes. I'll be back here by eight-thirty, though."

  Abby hopped off the bed and ran to him.

  "Thanks," she said, raising up to kiss his cheek. "For everything."

  Jack pulled her hard against his chest and gave her a long, slow, utterly delicious kiss on the mouth.

  "You're very welcome," he murmured as he released her. "Now get going. And don't forget to eat something."

  "Not likely," she assured him, patting her tummy with a grin.

  The rest of the day passed in a mind-boggling whirlwind of activity, starting with the drive to Hank and Judith's apartment and Abby's introduction of Sarah and Jessica to their grandparents. After the first long moments of stunned disbelief, Hank and Judith welcomed Abby's sisters with hugs and kisses and tears of wonder and joy.

  With Jack sitting quietly off to one side, his mere presence offering Abby a full measure of much-needed support, she, along with Sarah and Jessica, revealed all that they now knew about how and why they had been separated, as well as how they had come to find each other at last.

  Hank and Judith took in all they were told as best they could. But Abby knew it would be awhile before they fully understood all that had occurred almost twenty-seven years ago, not to mention all that was happening that very day.

  One thing was certain, though. They were thrilled to find out they had three granddaughters, and that, more than anything, seemed to make up for any pain they might have felt as a result of the unfortunate choices Larissa had once made.

  Since Jessica had given Stuart directions to Larissa's house, they headed back there, along with Hank and Judith, shortly before ten o'clock.

  Having flown from Willow Springs to Las Vegas in a private jet, Stuart, Ryan Noble and Sam Dawson completed their journey to Promise in a chauffeur-driven limousine.

  When Abby opened the door to them, and saw the long, elegant black car parked at the curb in front of her house, she wished, for just a moment, that she could have seen the look on Constance Beckworth's face when the old woman first set eyes on it. Then she gave her whole and undivided attention to welcoming her tall, silver-haired, blue-eyed, aristocratic grandfather and her handsome, soon-to-be-brothers-in-law to Promise.

  "Another beautiful granddaughter," Stuart said, his stern face brightening with a wide smile as he hugged her, then added with a quirk of his bushy eyebrows, "And unless I'm mistaken, a little great-grandchild on the way, too."

  "Due at the end of September," Abby replied, taking him by the hand and leading him into the house after exchanging smiles with Sarah's fiancé, Ryan, and Jessica's fiancé, Sam.

  Sam's daughters, Annie and Casey, Abby quickly discovered, had stayed in Willow Springs for the day under the watchful eye of Stuart's housekeeper.

  Larissa's small house had never before been filled with so much laughter and noisy chatter as it was that Sunday. There were tears, too, but they were joyful tears, springing from the gratitude they all felt at finally being together.

  As if conjured by a magician, the big, happy family Abby had always wanted now surrounded her, filling her with a sense of belonging unlike any she had ever known. And except for the time he spent alone with Stuart, discussing Deidre's condition, Jack was right there with her, too.

  It was also Jack who, upon hearing her stomach growl shortly after noon, called the owner of the deli on the town square and organized a take-away meal to be picked up by the chauffeur that proved to be a big hit with everyone. In fact, Stuart was so impressed by the food that he talked about franchising the operation up in Willow Springs.

  As the afternoon wore on, the men drifted into the living room to get to know each other better while the women sat around the kitchen table, nibbling on the last of the two dozen brownies Jack had so thoughtfully included in the deli order for dessert.

  "So, it's settled, then," Jessica said, jotting down a note on the pad of paper in front of her. "Grandfather will send the jet for you, Hank and Judith, Jack and Jack's parents next Saturday, you'll all spend the night with us in Willow Springs and attend our first ever sisters' birthday party, stay another night, and fly home Monday morning."

  "Sounds lovely," Abby murmured. "But are you sure you'll be able to pull everything together on your own in just six days?"

  "Trust me … I grew up learning to entertain on short notice," Jessica replied, then ducked her head as a shadow of sadness flickered in her eyes.

  "Deidre will be all right," Sarah said, reaching over to pat her hand.

  "She doesn't have a right to be," Jessica murmured. "But she is my mother—the mother I knew, at least. And she isn't all bad."

  "We know that," Abby assured her. "Just as we know Larissa wasn't all bad, either. They were just … misguided."

  Obviously relieved by her sisters' understanding, Jessica brightened once again.

  "Now for the next big event in our lives…" She pulled a day planner from her purse and flipped to the calendar for June. "I think we should plan a triple wedding for the third Saturday of the month in
the garden at Grandfather's house."

  "Oh, that would be so nice," Judith said, gazing at each of her granddaughters in turn, her eyes misting with tears.

  Suddenly feeling uncomfortable, Abby sat back in her chair and began to twist her engagement ring round and round her finger.

  "Better plan a double wedding, you two," she said, glancing first at Jessica, then at Sarah, before looking away self-consciously. "You see, Jack and I … we aren't really engaged. We're just … pretending. Because there was some gossip about me going around town and Jack wanted to protect me—"

  "Just pretending?" Sarah's tone was so full of incredulity that Abby glanced at her again, startled. "You're kidding, aren't you?"

  "She is," Jessica interjected, equally disbelieving. "She has to be."

  "No, really … we are," Abby insisted. "Tell them, Gran."

  "There's no pretending going on that I've seen," Judith stated unequivocally.

  "Neither have I," Sarah said.

  "Nor I," Jessica echoed as she reached across the table and took Abby's hand in hers. "Jack loves you and you love him. I've seen it in your eyes every time you look at each other. In fact, it's almost palpable every time you touch. Right, Sarah?"

  "Exactly right."

  "I admit I do love him," Abby said, looking down at the table. "But he doesn't love me. At least, he's never actually said he did."

  "Probably because you've never given him a chance," Judith pointed out. "I know he hurt your feelings way back in December, but he's more than made up for it since then. Only you've been too stubborn to let yourself see it the way we all do."

  "It's because of the baby," Abby protested, wanting to believe they were right about Jack, but still a little afraid to.

  "Silly goose," Sarah sputtered in exasperation. "It's because of you. You're beautiful and sweet and kind and loving. Everything any man in his right mind would want in a wife."

  "Yes, you most certainly are. And we should know," Jessica added with a smug smile. "Since you're just like us. Identical … in fact."

  Abby couldn't help but laugh with her sisters, though tears blurred her eyes, as well. She was so lucky that they had found her, and so lucky they had opened their hearts to her, too.

  They weren't stupid or silly, either. They were smart, savvy young women, and if they thought that Jack really loved her—

  "Hey, what's going on in here?" Jack asked as he led the men into the kitchen.

  "Just making plans," Jessica replied.

  "Well, I hope you're just about finished," Stuart said. "I told the pilot to be ready to take us home no later than six o'clock tonight, so it's time for us to get on the road."

  "Finished for now," Jessica told him with a wink at Abby. "We can pick up where we left off on Saturday. I'm sure you'll have everything sorted out by then, won't you, Abby?"

  "One way or another," she answered in a wry tone that had her sisters grinning conspiratorially all over again.

  After hugs and kisses all around, and a promise by Jessica to call so they could finalize the plans for their birthday party weekend, Stuart, Ryan and Sarah set off in the limousine with Sam and Jessica following in her rental car.

  Back in the house, Abby filled a bag with some of the deli leftovers for Hank and Judith, then she and Jack took the obviously tired, but happy, couple back to their apartment.

  "What a day," Hank said as he shook hands with Jack.

  "A good day," Judith added, hugging Abby. "With many more to come. Our family certainly has grown."

  "And it's going to grow even more." Hank winked at Abby.

  "Oh, Granddad." She blushed as Jack put an arm around her shoulders.

  "We'll talk tomorrow," Judith said. "Now you two run along and have some quiet time together."

  On the short drive to her mother's house, Abby sat wordlessly, looking out the window, remembering what her sisters and her grandmother had said about Jack.

  He, too seemed disinclined to talk, and when they pulled into the driveway, he hesitated before opening the car door.

  "I can go on home if you would prefer to be by yourself tonight," he offered.

  Abby looked over at him, wondering if that was what he wanted. He met her gaze steadily, but she couldn't really tell from his expression. In the past, she would have assumed that he'd had enough of her company for one day and told him to go.

  But in the note he'd left for her he had said that there were things he needed to say, and he hadn't yet had the chance. If his sentiments were true and lasting, it wouldn't matter if he expressed them today, tomorrow, or the next day. Abby didn't want to wait, though.

  She wanted Jack to say the words now—if such words were to be said—so she could start, immediately, to hold them close in her heart. And if he had no words for her, she wanted to know that, too.

  She was tired of pretending. She wanted the real thing, she wanted it with Jack, and she wanted Jack to want it, too.

  "Actually, I would rather be with you," she said, offering him a tentative smile.

  His answering grin made her heart swell with hope.

  "That's good because I wasn't really planning on leaving you here alone, anyway."

  Jack got out of the car, walked around to the passenger side, opened the door with a flourish, and held out a hand to her. As Abby climbed out, then stood beside him, smoothing the skirt of her green knit dress, a garrulous voice hailed them from the yard next door.

  "Quite a lot going on over there the past two days," Constance Beckworth stated. She stood on a patch of her lawn, her little dog cradled in her arms. "Thought I was seeing double."

  "Triple," Jack told her. "You were seeing triple, or rather, triplets. Abby has two sisters. They came to Promise just to see her."

  "Well, now, if that isn't a fine howdy-do. Three of you, huh? And limousines—two of them—one yesterday and an even bigger one today," Constance observed, her old eyes gleaming with curiosity. "What was that all about?"

  "It's a long story," Abby said.

  "One better left for another day," Jack added, scooping Abby into his arms and starting toward the front door.

  "You young people … all you can think about is sex," the old woman grumbled.

  Abby giggled as she clung to Jack, her arms around his neck.

  "I'm thinking about something else," Jack murmured for her ears only.

  "What's that?" Abby asked as he set her on her feet so she could unlock the door.

  "Tell you when we're in the house."

  "Okay, tell me," Abby insisted when they stood in the entryway with the door closed on Mrs. Beckworth's avid gaze. "What were you thinking about just now?"

  "I'm not sure if I should. Every time I've tried in the past, you've cut me off. I've done my best to try to show you, too, but it hasn't seemed like you've been picking up my signals."

  "I promise I'll listen to whatever you have to say without interrupting. As for your signals, I've been reading them loud and clear, only I've been afraid to admit it."

  "Why is that, sweet Abby?" Jack asked, tracing the line of her jaw with his fingertips.

  "Because I'd convinced myself that the message was too good to be true," she admitted, ducking her head.

  "And now?"

  "I don't want to pretend anymore. Jack?" Abby hesitated, then slanted her gaze at him again. "What about you?"

  "Abby, my love, I was never pretending in the first place. Maybe just at the very outset. But that was really pretending to pretend so you wouldn't run away.

  "I've loved you since that night we spent together in December and I will keep on loving you as long as there's breath in my body. That's why I asked you to marry me, and why I put a ring on your finger. And that's why I'll follow you wherever you want to go until eternity."

  "Actually, I've come to like Promise quite a lot the past couple of weeks," she admitted with a shy smile.

  "And me? Have you come to like me, too?"

  "Oh, Jack, I've liked you as long as I can rem
ember."

  "Just … liked me?"

  "Well, most of the time." She tilted her head to one side consideringly, then added, "As for the other—loving you—that never changed, and it never, ever, will."

  * * *

  Epilogue

  « ^

  Standing just outside the open French doors of the Walker mansion on the third Saturday in June, Abby looked out over the stone terraces and the gardens filled with flowers of every kind and color, her heart bursting with happiness.

  Crowds of people, some she knew, others she would get to know, milled around the vast expanse of manicured lawn, the women looking lovely in their pastel summer dresses, the men sophisticated in their suits and ties.

  By the buffet table, Jessica and her husband, Sam, helped his little daughters, Annie and Casey, choose from the wide selection of luscious food on offer.

  Strolling hand-in-hand along a path winding through the beds of pink and pale yellow roses, Sarah and her husband, Ryan, paused, turned to each other and exchanged a long and tender kiss.

  Hank and Judith, along with Elaine and J. B. Randall, sat at one of the white, linen-skirted tables, laughing heartily at something Stuart had just said.

  Her family, all together on her wedding day, Abby thought, almost tempted to pinch herself to make sure she wasn't just dreaming.

  How Jessica had managed to pull together such an elegant affair in only four weeks' time seemed like a miracle to Abby. Fortunately, Sarah had been able to help. With a resignation to tender and a town house to sell in San Francisco, Abby hadn't been able to do much except help to choose their dresses.

  The three of them had fallen in love with the simple, sleeveless, ankle-length, ivory silk creation they had seen while shopping together in San Francisco, and that had been tailored just a little differently to suit each of their distinctive personalities. In lieu of a more traditional veil, they had also decided to wear small garlands of baby's breath woven in their hair.

  The grooms, in their gray morning coats, were as handsome as their brides could have wanted. And Annie and Casey, doing the honors as flower girls, were exceptionally pretty in their long, pink-and-white striped dresses.