by Ellie Hall
Noah and Ruby gave each other a look.
Izzy's intuition told her there was another miracle. “What is going on?”
Noah let out a light laugh. “Nothing.”
Ruby put both hands over her face. “Should we tell her?”
Izzy's heart raced and she couldn't believe it. “Just tell me.”
“You said you didn't want to tell anyone until you are further along.”
Instantly, warmth filled her and tears misted into her eyes. She pulled Ruby in for a hug. “You’re pregnant?” She said softly.
Ruby let out a half laugh and half cry. “I am.”
“It is a miracle.”
They held each other for a long time.
“I never thought I'd be able to have a child.” Ruby said through tears. “I'm two and a half months along. We’re not sure if it's a boy or girl yet, but I don't care. I'm just so grateful. My dad will spoil this baby rotten.”
Izzy laughed. “Yes, he will.” She reached for her hand. “I'm so happy for you.” She could not believe that Ruby was pregnant. The woman had almost died of cancer. She pulled back and then reached for Noah.
He was already leaning into her hug. “It’s surreal.”
“I'm so happy for you guys.”
Noah laughed and held her tightly. “I know, right? If anything makes me believe in God, it is this tender mercy he has given us.” He pulled back but kept both hands on Izzy’s shoulders. “I don't know what's in store for Mr. Browne, but I do know that God is always working miracles.”
“I agree.” She said, feeling the truth of that statement.
Noah leaned into her. “As your big brother, I want you to know that I have wanted to kick Brian's butt since I first met him. That guy is a jerk. You need to cut things off, sis. If he thinks you need to move in with him and he's putting all this pressure on you, just cut the guy loose.”
Izzy had probably shared way too much, but she was past the point of caring. The last few days had made her feel vulnerable and fragile and she realized that she knew what was right. “I'm going to call him and end it right now.” She pressed his phone number and waited. The call went straight to voicemail. “He's not answering.”
“Then text him,” Ruby said. “Tell him you're done. Tell him that he's a jerk and how dare he act this way? How dare he treat you that way? Tell him you don't need him and that you're not going to ever talk to him again.”
“I can't break up with him over a text.”
Noah bumped her shoulder. “Yes you can. Just do it.”
Izzy felt nervous, but she texted it. Brian, we’re through! Done! Over!
11
Oliver sat at the wedding table reserved for family. Minutes ago, he had given the greatest best man toast in the history of best man toasts, and now he was watching the bride and groom dance.
No matter what he had learned about his father the night before, he was so happy for his sister. And he was grateful to know that his friend would take care of his sister and move heaven and earth to make her happy. That was just Chad's nature.
The song changed, and Chad’s father started dancing with Tess while Chad danced with his mother.
Oliver looked over and was surprised to see his father staring back at him. Understanding washed over them, and Oliver stood and moved to the seat next to his father.
After last night, it was as if all the barriers between them had slipped away. He lightly put his arm over his father's chair. “What do you think, old man?”
A light smile filled his father's face. Oliver used to call his dad old man all the time when they were on good terms. It was something that Oliver's father had called his grandfather. “It's a good day, son. I'm glad I'm here to see it.”
Cancer. Cancer. Cancer.
Stage three.
They would fight it. Why had Oliver wasted so much time being angry, stupid and immature? He should've come back sooner. “It is a good day, Dad. Grandfather would have liked it.”
The song changed and his father stood. “I’m going to go dance with my daughter, but maybe you should ask Izzy.”
He looked over at her table. She sat with her brother and his wife, Ruby. “You think?”
His father put a light hand on his shoulder. “We may not have talked that much in ten years, but son, I’ve always known you were in love with her. Always.”
He stood. “Okay, maybe I’ll finally take my dad’s advice on something.”
His father laughed. “About time.”
“Can I have this dance?”
He turned and there she was.
Gorgeous. In her pale pink bridesmaid dress, her hair done up and looking pretty much perfect, he felt his mouth go dry. But he told himself to chill. He held his hand out to her. “I was just going to come and ask you.”
“Were you?”
Gingerly, he touched his aching nose. “I would never say no to you.” He winked at her. “I know better than to say no to a championship boxer.”
Izzy cocked her head to the side and gave him an annoyed expression. She took his hand and they walked out to the dance floor. “That's going to be the joke for the rest of my life, isn't it?”
Oliver liked that she was including him in the rest of her life. He gently twirled her before pulling her back into him. “You can bet that I'll be teasing you about taking me up on my double-dog dare and busting my nose for the rest of our lives.”
The moment went tense between them.
Carefully, he transitioned into the two-step as a country song began to play. It felt so good to have this woman in his arms.
Their eyes locked and it was another magic moment. He wanted to kiss her. He didn't think he would ever stop wanting to kiss her.
“Oli, are you okay?”
He knew she was referring to his father. Truthfully, he didn't want to talk about that right now. “Not really. Not about that.” He pulled her in a bit closer, loving the way her hip felt against his hand. Loving the way she smelled like strawberries. He focused. “My dad and I stayed up late last night. We talked for a long, long time.” He snorted. “I guess the good part is, my dad and I are good now. But, the bad part is…”
His mouth went dry, and emotion got stuck in the back of his throat. “Why am I going to lose him when I have just found him?” He wished he could keep his voice from cracking, but he couldn't with Izzy.
“I'm sorry.” She put her head against his shoulder and hugged him tight.
He dropped the façade of dancing and just held her, swaying like they would at a junior high dance.
He felt like he was finally home.
“Your father is going to be fine. People beat this all the time.”
“He will be.” Oliver nodded. “He will be fine.”
For a long time, they simply held each other. A million thoughts rushed through his mind and all he knew, again, was that he wanted her. He needed her. “Freckles that were like the big dipper?”
She pulled back. “What?”
He reached out and touched the spot on her cheek where her freckles used to be. They had faded, but he knew they were still there even though he couldn't see them under her makeup. “The date you don’t remember.”
“I don’t understand.”
He decided to tell her the complete truth. “I wanted to tell you that night that your freckles reminded me of the big dipper.”
She grinned. “O-kay.”
He felt foolish. “Listen, the big dipper has always been the way sailors found the North Star. And when they can find the North Star, they can find their way home.”
She blinked and tears misted her eyes. “You wanted to tell me that?”
Warm chills rushed through him. “You’ve always felt like home to me, and when I was finally going to leave this place, the one thing that could hold me here was you.”
She blinked, looking like she might cry. “Are you serious?”
“I’m serious.”
She shook her head. “That's why you
wouldn't kiss me?”
He nodded and felt ridiculously stupid. “I wanted to. I just had to get my head straight and realize that my dream of living on the beach didn't mean I had to give up on my dream of being with you.”
Izzy stared up at him. “Am I your dream?”
Gently, he reached out and moved a strand of hair out of her face. “I know you have a boyfriend. I don't want to argue about that. But I do have to tell you who my secret wedding date is.”
12
Izzy didn't know how to respond. She felt confused and stepped back. “Oh. Right. Your secret wedding date?” She looked around. “Where is she?”
Oliver took her hand. “Izzy, listen.”
She had almost forgotten that he had someone else. She couldn't deal with this right now. She didn't want to make a big scene at Tess's wedding. She stayed where she was. “Just tell me. Who is it?”
He bridged the distance between them and pulled her in. “It's you, Izz.”
She froze.
“My secret wedding date is you.”
Her heart thumped wildly inside of her chest and she felt like some girl in a movie. “It is?”
He let out a sardonic laugh. “It’s always been you. Us.” He pointed back and forth between them. “I crushed on you, too.”
Too many things were happening. “You did?”
Oliver looked at her lips, then back to her eyes. A sad look washed over his face. “But I know you have a boyfriend.” He looked around. “When is he supposed to be coming?”
“I … actually don’t have a boyfriend anymore.”
He went completely still. “You don’t?”
“I just broke up with him.” She couldn’t believe Oli had just said that he had crushed on her, too.
“You did?”
She laughed.
“For real?”
“For real,” she said, mystified by the way Oliver pulled her closer.
“Can I kiss you?”
She giggled and couldn’t believe this was happening. “Yes.”
He pressed his lips to hers and everything else faded into background noise.
She felt herself melt into him and she new that this man, this moment, this kiss—was all she’d ever wanted. She was free falling. Lost. Found. It was just them and it was perfect.
At least it was perfect until she heard, “Listen, you little hussy. I knew you were cheating on me.”
13
Oliver pulled back from Izzy and stared into the face of the guy who must be Brian.
Izzy frowned and moved toward the man. “Brian, be quiet. This is my best friend's wedding. We are not doing this right now.”
Her admonishment only seemed to infuriate him more. He roared back a loud, cackle type of laugh. “Oh no. Oh no. You can't act like Little Miss Perfect now.”
Oli still had her hand in his and he was by her side. “Shh.”
Brian’s eyes met his and another cackle came out of him. “Shut up.”
“Stop,” Izzy said, moving in front of Oli, but still holding to his hand.
“I will not stop,” Brian said. He pushed Izzy in the shoulder. “And you need to get away from your boyfriend while you explain this to me.”
Oliver saw red. A man should never lay a hand on a woman in anger. He was milliseconds away from belting the guy.
Izzy glared at him. “Did you just shove me?” She stepped closer to Brian.
Oliver stepped closer too. “That's the question I'm asking myself.” He pointed at Brian. “Did he just push you?”
Brian shoved Oliver. “You're not part of this. Stay out of it.”
Oliver cocked back to punch the guy, but he was too late.
Izzy's fist cracked against Brian’s nose. And by the sound of it, she’d broken it.
Brian cried out and stumbled back, then fell to the ground. “What did you just do?”
Izzy looked horrified.
All Oliver could do was laugh. He rushed to Brian’s side and leaned over him. “You didn't even have to double-dog dare her.”
Blood trickled down Brian’s ugly mug. “What are you talking about?”
After that, things escalated rather quickly.
Noah appeared next to them and he and Oliver picked Brian up and hauled him off toward the house.
Brian started to fight and argue, but Oliver pinched the inside skin right below his armpit. “Dude, I'm just looking for a reason to put you in the hospital, so you better shut it.”
Izzy was on their heels with Oliver's own father right behind.
Oliver could hear his mother saying to the crowd, “Everyone back to dancing. There's nothing to see. Just a little situation, but it's all being taken care of.”
By the time they got to the house and into his father's office, Brian was outraged, shouting threats to sue Izzy, her brother, Tess and her father. Oliver. He looked remarkably similar to a toddler throwing a fit, stomping around the office and cursing up a storm.
Noah glared at him, arms crossed, looking as dangerous as Oliver felt.
Izzy glared at Brian, too. “Stop it,” she said periodically.
Finally, Mr. Browne said, “Young man, I won't file charges if you leave peacefully right now. Otherwise, I’ll call the sheriff. And you're not gonna like the charges I stack together with all of these witnesses.”
“I’ll sue everyone here. I’m an attorney if you didn’t know.”
Noah moved toward him. “And I’ll represent all of them.”
It was nice to have another attorney in the house.
Brian glared at him, then looked at Izzy. “Izzy, is this what you want? Is this what you really want? To just abandon a relationship we've worked so hard at for the last year?”
Izzy closed the distance between them and stared Brian down. “I should have dropped you—literally and figuratively—a long time ago. We are done, Brian.”
Oliver was so proud of her.
Brian shook his head. “For him?” He pointed at Oliver, sweeping him with an imperious look from head to toe. “He is a loose cannon, the prodigal son type, you told me about him. He is the guy who broke your heart. That's really the guy you're leaving me for?”
Oliver was stunned; she’d told him that?
Izzy put her hand up. “I'm not leaving you for Oliver.”
Oliver wasn't sure he liked where this was going.
Brian snarled at her. “Then why are you dumping me?”
“I'm dumping you because you're a huge jerk and I never should've stayed with you. I’m dumping you because you belittle me and my beliefs. Go!” She pointed to the door.
Brian hesitated.
Oliver longed for a reason to fight the guy. “Don’t ask me to walk you out.”
Izzy met Oliver’s eyes, then reached for his hand. “But let the record show, I do love him. I always have.”
Oliver was floored. “I love you, too.”
She let out a light laugh. “You do?”
“Oh my … really people?” Brian spat out.
Oliver laughed and pulled Izzy into him, not caring that this thing was so messy.
Izzy laughed and then pulled back, glaring at Brian. “Brian, just leave before the sheriff shows up.”
Brian hesitated, then glared at them. “Whatever, your loss.” Evil laughter came out of him. “Hope you’re ready to date a nun.”
Oliver started to follow him out.
Noah put a hand on his shoulder. “I got this. You go.”
14
The next morning, Izzy packed her bag quickly and walked down the stairs quietly. It was early, six a.m., and she didn't want to wake anyone.
She was grateful that things were done with Brian. She'd slept well last night. Part of her had wanted Oliver to show up at her door, but the other part of her had been grateful he hadn't.
She didn’t know why he hadn’t, but … she had a feeling things would work out. Carefully, she shut the front door behind her and walked down the steps toward her car.
Sh
e stopped short when she saw Oliver. He was sitting on the hood of her car, a wry look on his face.
As she got closer, he leaned back and propped his feet up. “You weren’t going to say goodbye?”
Dang, the man was gorgeous.
It made her extremely happy to see him there, and her heart hammered in her chest. She grinned broadly. “I didn't know how to say goodbye.”
They could work out a way to make things work between them, but with Oliver’s father and his diagnosis—not to mention everything that had happened with Brian—she didn't know what to say to him.
Oliver nodded and hopped off her car. He reached for her bag.
She smiled and gave it to him.
“How about like this?” He dropped her bag and pulled her into his arms, then pressed his lips to hers.
So many emotions washed through her; love, happiness, that feeling of first love, relief.
This was Oliver. Her friend. Her confidant. Her person.
She giggled, even though it was smothered by the kiss. Yes, this was how it should be. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer, deepening the kiss.
He responded in kind, holding her tighter.
Again, she found herself soaring against him. Time fell away.
He pulled back, keeping his arms tight around her, and smiled. “I know there's a lot going on, but I want you come to South Port, Izz. I had to talk through things with my dad last night, but we decided to have his treatments divided between Billings and South Port.”
“Okay, then I’ll come and visit.”
He sucked in a long breath. “Okay, but I want … I want … so much….more.”
Her heart raced. “Do you?”
He pulled her in and kissed her again. The whole world tilted.
She pulled back. “What do you want?”
“I know you just ended things with Brian. I don’t have the best timing, but I want to court you.”
“What?”
“Stupid word, but …it’s my grandfather’s word.”
Warm tingles swept through her.
“He always said you should court the woman you want to marry.”