The Last Bride (DiCarlo Brides #6)

by Heather Tullis

  The faces smiled and his father’s arm was around his mother’s shoulders, but it was a lie. They hadn’t been happy and in love, the happy faces hadn’t smiled like that very often, and certainly not with the same feel to them. He studied his father’s face, picking out the features that they shared.

  The high brow, the line of his nose, the set of his jaw. His father hadn’t been intentionally cruel, but he’d been hard and demanding, certain he knew more about what was good for his kids than his kids would ever be able to figure out for themselves. Like George DiCarlo had been with his daughters.

  Gage’s brain stopped, caught on that thought. “Like George.” Had that been why Gage didn’t care much for the man, why he’d been so against getting to know Jonquil, giving into his own attraction to her? Had he been fighting because he thought George had been overbearing like his own old man?

  Gage walked away a little dazed. Did he really care if George wanted something or not, or what anyone else thought? He missed Jonquil, missed her smile, missed her curls, her laugh, the way she made his house feel like a home. He missed their conversations and arguments about sports, the way she was nearly fearless. The way she made him feel better about himself, more whole. More like he belonged.

  He slumped into the nearby couch. He loved Jonquil.

  He loved Jonquil.

  And he kept saying that he wasn’t going to marry her, that they couldn’t be anything serious, insinuating that she was not important enough to be a permanent part of his life.

  He dropped the watering can next to the sofa, allowing a little to slosh over the edge and onto the deep-pile carpets. He rushed from the room.

  He had to see her.

  The world must have been conspiring against Gage. He went to Jonquil’s house, but if anyone was there, they didn’t answer when he knocked. He went to the hotel, but when he check at the floral center it was locked up and the ladies at the front desk said she’d checked out over an hour earlier.

  Gage called Jonquil’s phone, but she didn’t answer. He called Cami, but she hadn’t seen Jonquil. He called Delphi. No luck. He called the theater where Angela worked, but the guy at the door said she hadn’t been by. He was starting to get anxious when he dialed Rosemary’s number. When he called Sage and even she didn’t know anything, Gage wondered if Jonquil was in trouble or was she just ignoring him? Where else could she be?

  Really worried now, he drove up his street, thinking he might have to call out the cavalry—then he found her car parked in front of his house. His heart calmed, but a new kind of anxiety took over.

  Jonquil stood from the front steps where she had been sitting in the fading sunlight when he came to a stop in his driveway instead of pulling into the garage. Her hair fell down her back in a wave of blond curls, she stuffed her hands in her jeans, her snug peach tee showing every curve. He wanted nothing more than to pull her close and just hold her.

  He got out of his car and circled the front. “I’ve been looking for you, calling around to your sisters.”

  “I’ve been here for more than an hour.”

  “Really?” Somehow he was still anxious, even with her standing before him, looking like sunshine. “I tried calling you.”

  Jonquil smiled. “I guess I left the phone in my car. Sorry about that. I wondered how you were doing. I asked Cami but she said I should ask you myself.” Her lips quirked a little at the corners.

  “Good advice. Want to come in?” Gage gestured to the front door.

  She shook her head. “How about if we stay out instead? It might be easier.”

  He nodded, understanding. “It’s hard for you to be in there after what Natalie did.”

  “That’s part of it.”

  She wants an easy escape when she’s done with me. The thought made panic rise inside his chest—would she never be comfortable in his place again? Would it matter if she was ending it for real today? “Look, I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said last time you were here. About how I’ve been pushing you away. About how I didn’t know what I wanted or maybe I wasn’t man enough to take that step.”

  “I never said that.” She crossed her arms over her chest, shivering slightly in the cool of the mountain evening.

  “You didn’t have to say it. I think there was plenty of subtext in that conversation. I’m not good with that stuff usually, but I’ve had enough time to pick up some of it. And I’ve thought that conversation through a few dozen times in the past three days.”

  She nodded slightly, the last rays of the sun fell on her head, turning it to spun gold. “So what did you figure out while you were thinking?”

  “I took a walk through my mom’s place today, watering plants. And I realized why I fought against my feelings for you for so long.” He gestured to the steps, wishing there was a bench or something. “You want to sit for a minute?”

  She took the top stair, watching him but not speaking.

  Gage used the moment to gather his thoughts. He hadn’t really considered what he would say, just run headlong out to find her. “I guess you figured out from my chat with Natalie that my relationship with my father was not great.” She nodded and he continued, “He was bossy and overbearing, telling me how to run my life. I put up with a lot of it, trying to please him, so he would be proud of me. I had no idea he had been proud of me—not until Natalie said so. And Mom was difficult as well, in a different way. I always felt like someone was telling me how I should live.”

  “I get that.”

  When she didn’t say more, he pushed himself again. “Your dad was smart, knowledgeable, and very sure of himself. Somewhere in my head when he pulled me aside and said he had just the girl for me, I associated him with my father. He had plans, expectations, unreasonable ones, I thought, and I felt an instant need to push against his authority. I was determined not to meet you, fall for you or do anything that would make you happy the way he wanted.”

  He paused to wipe at the tears that trailed down her left cheek. “I’m kind of an idiot.”

  She smiled, laughing lightly. “Yeah, you kind of are.”

  “I kind of hate that your dad was right about us.”

  Her smile grew. “You wouldn’t be the first of the group to feel that way.”

  “Forgive me?”

  “I might be able to do that.”

  “I love you, too.” He held his breath. Her eyes widened but she didn’t say anything so he continued, “I know I don’t deserve you and you probably don’t want to live in this house, but I can build again, design something you’ll love. I just don’t want to have to live without you. You make everything seem so much better, brighter. I want to marry you and have some kids to raise here in my hometown with my friends and your sisters in running distance and—”

  Gage didn’t get any further because she threw her arms around him, nearly toppling them both from the steps as she kissed him long and hard. “Yes. When you have a ring for me, I’ll say yes. Just don’t make me wait for long, okay?” She kissed him again, holding him near. He pulled her up to sit on his lap. This was where he belonged, with her, in her arms.

  “So, do you need me to design us a new house?” he asked.

  She paused to consider. “No, I’ll adjust. I have many more good memories in this house than bad ones. We’ll stay here and grow old together. You and me on the back porch with the sunset settling over the grandkids playing on the grass.” A smile teased her lips as if she could already see it in her head.

  Though he’d never imagined a future like that before, at that moment, it seemed as perfect as could be.

  The sun was out, the birds sang in the trees and Jonquil was running behind. She checked her watch, hoping everyone else wasn’t already there. They probably were—it seemed like everyone else was habitually early and the past few days she’d been running behind all of the time. She admired the square-cut diamond Gage had bought her the day after they worked out their problems, and smiled.

  “Hurry, Gage,” she
called from the front steps where she was waiting to go to work. He came down the stairs in his black dress pants and a green blue polo that stretched across his shoulders so perfectly it made her want to kiss him good morning. Again—and just as thoroughly as she had when she’d arrived to pick him up.

  “You’re so impatient.”

  “You know Delphi has a clock built into the back of her mind. She’ll probably know to the second exactly how late we are.”

  “Unless Jeremy kept her up late last night finalizing wedding details.” Gage grabbed a bagel from the bag on the kitchen counter and followed her outside. “Only five more weeks. She reminded us when we went over there for poker night.”

  “You and all of the current and future sons-in-law?” She’d gotten a kick out of learning that’s what the guys had been calling themselves for the past year.

  “Not too future.” He took her hand and turned her engagement ring so it caught the sunlight. Their wedding would be only three weeks after Delphi and Jeremy’s. She couldn’t wait.

  They climbed into the car and headed for the hotel. Jonquil could see—even before pulling into the parking lot—that most everyone else was already there.

  Nearly a dozen people milled on the south lawn of the hotel, a buffet table holding champagne bottles in silver bowls sat on top along with a dozen flutes. She felt a little pang of sadness that Angela had already gone back to school—once they got past all of the weird childhood garbage they’d both been carrying around, it had been great to be able to spend the summer together.

  “It’s about time,” Rosemary said when Jonquil and Gage arrived.

  “You’re late,” Delphi said, tapping her watch.

  “What, three minutes?” Jonquil asked, laughing.

  “Four.” Delphi’s lips curved a little and she turned back to answer some question Lana had asked her.

  Lana stood with her baby boy snuggled in her arms, the light turning her auburn hair to a blazing bronze. Blake stood with his arm around her shoulders, whispering something in her ear, making her smile. And was that a blush? Jonquil was glad to hear the situation with his family was getting a little easier since the court case had been heard. It would be years before his dad was out again, but there was a good chance that things would keep getting better for them. And at nearly four months old, Ash was the center of their world.

  Cami and Vince snuggled along the side of the group, her stomach getting larger every day. It would be a Christmas baby and Cami was already talking about using Amaryllis if the baby was a girl, but calling her Amy.

  Sage’s baby was due anytime now and Joel, her solid, steady husband, had just declared that she was on full-time bed rest—to keep his nerves steady—not because the doctor insisted. Sage had declared an exemption for the day so she could attend their event.

  Rosemary and Harrison stood watching Cleo play with Ash—her favorite nephew. Which was by virtue of him being the only nephew—for the moment. Rosemary had blossomed under Harrison’s love, her rough edges softening and a new happiness radiating from her—unless someone messed with her kitchen.

  And Delphi stood with the man who would be hers, legally and lawfully in a month with a brighter outlook than she’d started on this journey and many, many plans. Almost all of which involved Juniper Ridge. And their motorbikes.

  “Hey, hear anything about Natalie’s case lately?” Alex asked, walking over to join them.

  Jonquil noted that neither Delphi or Rosemary felt it necessary to tell him he was late. He wore his standard suit and held a manila folder—as per usual.

  “Her attorney is trying to get her off by reason of insanity, but I don’t think the judge is going to buy it. We’ve got a while to go before its seen by the court,” Gage said.

  Jonquil wasn’t sure how she felt about that. It seemed like Natalie still thought she should be able to duck responsibility for her actions, but they would have to wait to see what happened. She had all but confessed to the police, and had confessed to her and Gage. Jonquil didn’t see Natalie ducking out of responsibility, no matter how good her attorney was.

  Jonquil was comfortable in the house again, and making it theirs rather than Gage’s, more every day.

  “More letters from Dad?” Jonquil asked Alex, looking at the bulging folder. This would be her third counting the day of the reading of the will and the day they opened the hotel. It made sense that he’d written another one to commemorate the completion of his requirements.

  “Yes. He had one more for each of you. His final tribute, I guess.” Alex put a hand on her shoulder, giving it a squeeze.

  “Is everyone here?” he asked louder, though he must have been able to tell at a glance that they were.

  “Of course, we’ve been waiting on you,” Delphi said.

  “Just as long as you don’t get up and walk out halfway through,” he teased back.

  The sisters chuckled. Jeremy slid his arms around Delphi’s waist from behind and she leaned back against him.

  “This has been an amazing year,” Alex started. “I know it hasn’t been easy. Or always safe. And you’ve struggled with the choices your father made. I hope you’re all a little happier about that now than you were the first time we all gathered together. You’ve built something good and strong here. And I’m not really talking about the hotel, though that’s pretty impressive too.”

  He looked at them, one by one. “You’ve built the family that he always wanted for his girls. I’ve seen you come together, live, learn, and weave your lives into each other’s. I know though he would be very proud of your accomplishments in there,” he pointed at the hotel, “your sisterhood, and brotherhood, is what he really had in mind when he wrote the final version of his will.”

  Alex gestured to the table. “We have glasses of champagne for everyone—except those who shouldn’t. Sorry, Cleo, you and the future mommies get to have sparkling grape juice instead.”

  She put on her fake pout, which made most people chuckle.

  Everyone gathered around and collected their respective glasses and Alex lifted his.

  “I propose a toast. To George, for knowing his girls a little better than they knew themselves.” That earned him some good-natured laughter, “and to his girls—long may your friendships and your families grow.”

  “Hear, hear.”

  Glasses clinked, and as Jonquil brought hers back down, she noticed the sparkling grape juice in Rosemary’s. She cleared her throat loudly. “Rosemary, do you have something to announce?”

  Every eye turned to her.

  “I thought you said you were going to wait until everyone else had a turn?” Delphi said, archly.

  Rosemary looked supremely unconcerned about having that fact pointed out. “My daughter’s already ten. I think I’ve waited long enough, don’t you?” Rosemary pushed her long, blond hair behind her shoulder.

  Cleo did a little boogie, nearly spilling her juice. “I’m going to be a big sister. She made me promise not to tell anyone else yet. Now I can.”

  Jonquil leaned in and gave Rosemary a congratulatory hug, and saw Gage pounding Harrison on the back. she felt happiness expand in her chest.

  When Gage slid his arm around her waist he whispered. “What do you say we start on our own family—in a few months?”

  She turned into his arms and kissed him, whispering back. “I can’t think of anything I’d love more.”

  The End!

  A Perfect Fit

  SEALed with Love

  Reclaiming His Bride

  Family Matters

  Wild Hearts

  Learn more about Heather’s books and sign up for her newsletter for regular updates on her website.

  And now for a sneak preview of Angela and Alex’s story. Still to be named. (You didn’t really think I’d leave them hanging, did you?)

  Coming Spring 2014

  Champagne glasses clinked, music wafted from the string quartet playing in the corner and voices buzzed around Angela as she spo
ke with her great-aunt on her mother’s side. She glanced at the clock in the corner—only thirty minutes left until they were schedule to cut the cake at her sister’s wedding. It couldn’t end soon enough for her.

  She smiled and nodded at the old woman, who was droning on about her many wins for her preserves at the county fair. They had a county fair in Philly? Angela had never paid attention enough to know.

  Her gaze moved uncontrollably toward the corner where Alex was speaking with his cousin, Lana. His gaze flickered in Jonquil’s direction and then he looked away again. Angela managed to keep the smile pasted on her face, though she wanted to frown. She thought their last encounter had ended well enough. He hadn’t run for the door as if he were on fire anyway. That was an improvement.

  So why was he avoiding her now? It had to be avoidance and not just coincidence because he hadn’t gotten within twenty feet of her since arriving for the wedding hours earlier.

  She shifted her gaze back to great-aunt Sophia and made a humming noise that was calculated to sound like agreement and understanding.

  “But I showed her, didn’t I?” Sophia asked, cackling.

  “You certainly did. I bet she never forgot it either.” Angela squeezed her elbow in support.

  “You look so lovely tonight. I keep thinking some young man is going to come over here and sweep you on to the dance floor like your sister.” She turned to look at Jonquil, who was dancing with her new husband. “She’s a lovely bride.”

  “Yes, lovely.” Angela’s smile grew more natural now as she glanced at her older sister. Jonquil was so beautiful in her white lace-covered dress and the corkscrew curls rolling down her back. Beneath the dress she wore bright pink walking shoes—thankfully covered by the skirt—so she could dance the night away. Angela had stayed with Jonquil the previous summer, saw her fall in love with Gage and find perfect happiness—or as close to perfect as anyone could really find. It hadn’t been an easy time, but it had turned out well in the end. Very well for Jonquil and Gage.