Surrender to Love
Page 26
“About as much as you are,” Tony countered.
Paul laughed and pounded his son-in-law-to-be on the back. “You know, I think today is going to be the start of a beautiful relationship between you and me.”
Tony held Paul’s gaze as if assessing his sincerity, then happily replied, “I’d like that. I’d like that very much.”
Julia parked her new Ford Ranger in the driveway of her new home. Her smile grew even wider as she looked over at Robin. “So what do you think?”
Robin, already pushing the side door open, flashed an equally large smile back at her. “I love it.”
“That makes two of us,” Julia said, pulling off her seat belt and stepping out of the car.
Her daughter raced up the porch stairs, but before she could open the door, it opened and Bobbi greeted her new sister with a squeal. Champ danced excitedly around them.
“I thought you guys would never get here.” She looked out at Julia and waved. “Hey, Mom. Come and see what color I picked out for our room.”
Julia laughed. “You two go on ahead. I’ll catch up with you in a few minutes.”
“All right. Come on, Robin. Wait until you see.”
The girls rushed inside the house in a flurry of excitement.
“I hope you realize we’re going to have our hands full with those two,” Carson said from behind Julia.
She jumped, startled that she hadn’t heard him approach. Before she could reprimand him for it, he leaned down and covered her lips with a hungry kiss.
“What took you so long, Mrs. Webber? I missed you.”
“Absence makes the heart grow fonder,” she answered with a wink. “Have the carpenters been here yet?”
“Nope, but I’m expecting them any minute. Oh, before I forget, Stacy called. She’s still bouncing off the walls since we bought the house from her.”
“I’ll call her back later.”
“Did you get over to Jerry’s place to sign the lease for your new office?”
She reached inside the truck and withdrew her briefcase. “Yep. You’re looking at Moreland’s newest physician.”
“Dr. Lockhart won’t be too thrilled, I can tell you that.”
“I thought Lilly said he was retiring?”
Carson shrugged. “Dr. Lockhart has been saying that he was retiring since I was in junior high.”
“Well, I hope he doesn’t think that I’m trying to run him out of town.”
“I’m sure it’ll be fine.” Carson returned his attention to the bright candy-apple-red truck. “Are these your new wheels?”
“Yeah.” She slid her arms around his waist. “Do you like it?”
“It’s nice. I just never figured you for the pickup-truck kind of girl.”
“I guess you figured me wrong.”
A car horn blared and the couple turned to see Lilly and her husband pull up behind them.
When Lilly got out of the car, she carried a cake plate in her hands.
Julia walked over to her new sister-in-law and gave her a fierce hug. “What are you doing here?”
“I brought you a little something to celebrate your new home.”
“Is there any occasion that you don’t bake for?”
“Of course not. I am a Southerner, you know. Besides, it’s Carson’s favorite.”
“Carrot cake?” he asked, reaching for it.
“Nothing but the best for my brother.”
His eyes narrowed suspiciously. “You must want something.”
“That’s a low blow. Can’t I just do something nice for my brother without it meaning that I want something?”
This time Julia’s eyes narrowed. “You’re right. She wants something.”
“It’s nothing big or anything. I just need you to check out some wiring in the house.”
Carson winked. “You got it.” He turned to Julia. “I’m going to put this in the kitchen.”
She nodded and kissed him before he left.
“Here. I’ll help you,” Rick said.
Lilly and Julia watched as they ascended the porch stairs.
“It sure is nice to see my brother so happy,” Lilly said. “Thank you.”
Julia faced her. “There’s no need to thank me. Carson makes me happy as well.”
“So what you’re saying is that I was right about you two?”
“It’s not nice to gloat.”
Lilly shrugged. “Fine with me if you can’t admit I was right and you were wrong. My job as Cupid has its own rewards.”
Julia shook her head. “All right, all right. You were right and I was wrong. Are you happy?”
“Now, that wasn’t so hard, was it?”
They laughed; then Lilly’s face grew serious. “If I didn’t get the chance to tell you before, I want to tell you now that I am ecstatic to have you as a part of our family.”
“Thank you. I think Robin and I fell in love with the Webbers the moment we arrived. Thanks for having us.”
“I want you to know that I finally fixed Sheri Higginbotham up with Pierce Taylor.”
“You’re kidding me.”
“Nope. They are perfect for each other. You just mark my words.”
Julia laughed.
From around the bend, little Stanley appeared, wearing the widest lopsided grin Julia had ever seen.
“Good afternoon, Stanley.”
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Webber. Is Bobbi home?”
“She sure is. Are you guys going to play ball this afternoon?”
“Nah. I just figured I’d come over and hang out with her. No particular reason.”
Julia gave him a knowing smile. “I think she’ll like that very much.”
He flushed, then sprinted into the house.
“Honey?” Carson called from the porch. “Mom and Pop are on the phone. They want to know if we’re coming over for dinner.”
“Tell them we’d love to.” She shook her head at the slice of cake Carson carried on a saucer. “I swear, I don’t know where he puts all that food.”
“Ah, you know what he always says.”
“He’s a growing boy.”
“Let me help you with some of these boxes you’ve got here.” Lilly grabbed the first box from the cab of the truck.
Julia plucked up one of the boxes as well and followed close behind her. She glanced again at her new home—her new life—and smiled.
She thought about David, the Montellos, and the FBI, and marveled at what she had had to go through to reach her destiny. And she held no doubts that this place was, indeed, her destiny.
This was her third attempt at love, her third attempt at happily ever after, and this time she had a feeling she’d finally gotten it right.
SURRENDER TO LOVE
ISBN: 978-1-4268-4972-5
© 2002 by Adrianne Byrd
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