This Wandering Heart

by Janine Rosche

  Guilt compressed Robbie’s lungs. During the hardest time of her life, she’d needed a friend, and he’d failed her. “I’m sorry, Vivian. It couldn’t have been easy for you.”

  “What? To watch you love our daughter and your ex-girlfriend, but not me? No, it wasn’t easy. What was so wrong with me?”

  “Nothing, Viv,” Robbie said. “Nothing was wrong with you. It’s just that Keira and me? We’re right together. I look at her the same way Eric looks at you. Man, that guy thinks the world of you.”

  Vivian’s lip twitched. “I don’t deserve him. Or Anabelle.”

  “That’s the thing about grace. It’s most appreciated by the ones who deserve it the least. I know that more than anyone. My family has plans for a grand feast back at the resort. I want you and Eric there. Anabelle will want her Vivian there.”

  “After all I’ve put you through?”

  “Absolutely. You aren’t my enemy, Viv. And I’m not yours.” Robbie stood and held out his hand to her. “Come on. We’ve got a little girl to raise.”

  Vivian gave the hand a suspicious glance, as if it might electrocute her on the spot.

  He’d have to earn her trust and respect, but he was game for the challenge.

  The door opened. Keira peeked in. “Someone wants to see you both.”

  “You can send her in,” Robbie said.

  Keira opened the door farther. She held Anabelle in her arms.

  The moment the little girl saw Vivian, she beamed.

  Keira lowered her feet to the floor, and the courtroom filled with the delightful sound of tiny dress shoes clapping against the tile as Anabelle ran to them.

  Robbie lifted her over the gate and handed her to Vivian.

  “Oof. You’re getting so big!”

  “That’s because I ate a whole waffle. Guess what.” Anabelle cupped her hand by Vivian’s ear and began to whisper-shout. “We’re going home to have a party. Nana and Papa are going, Grandma, Grandpa, Ryann, Thomas, and Mommy Kat.”

  Vivian pinched her eyes closed at the sound of Keira’s nickname.

  “Daddy, can Mama and Eric come to the party, too?” Anabelle pressed her cheek against Vivian’s. “Please.”

  Mama.

  Tears filled Vivian’s eyes.

  For the first time, Robbie could see a bit of Vivian in Anabelle. The shape of the nose and chin maybe. “If they want to,” he said.

  Vivian took a moment. Finally composed, she looked Anabelle in the eye. “Mama would like that very much.”

  EPILOGUE

  And this one is from Nana and Papa.” Keira placed the present in front of Anabelle. Its shimmering pink wrapping paper reflected the colors of the Christmas tree. Keira’s grandmother had spent a half hour wrapping it, and yet Anabelle shredded the paper in seconds.

  She pulled open the flaps of the white box and lifted a handful of candies like the ones she devoured at their general store that day back in June. The laugh that ricocheted out of Anabelle was equal parts maniacal and victorious.

  “The next time I come to visit you, I’m having a word with your grandparents,” Robbie said.

  “It won’t do any good. Anabelle has them wrapped around her pinkie.” Keira tucked her feet beneath her as she reclaimed her spot on the couch beneath Robbie’s arm. So far, this had been the best Christmas morning ever. After spending the night in Ryann’s cabin, she’d snuck into Robbie’s early enough to see Anabelle open her first present.

  Robbie pulled her tight against him. “I’m surprised they didn’t ask you to spend Christmas with them.”

  “They know what you and Annie mean to me. Plus, they have my mom with them. Robbie, you should see her now. She’s fully alive. She and Papa even crack jokes together. And she’s pretty much running their store. She may even get her own place.”

  “That’s awesome. I still can’t believe your father signed the divorce papers. Last week I heard that Judge Keller had a talk with him and strongly recommended he not press his luck.”

  Keira shrugged. “Maybe that means he won’t try anything. Against my family, you, or the resort.”

  “If he does, we’ll handle it,” Robbie said. “Hey, Kitty Kat, no candy till after brunch, okay?”

  “No fair.” In a move that could only be described as jellyfishy, Anabelle flopped backward and rolled in a half circle.

  “She may have gotten into her stocking before you got here,” Robbie said.

  “That explains a lot.”

  “Knock, knock.” Ryann let herself into Robbie’s cabin. She was balancing three presents in front of her face. “Merry Christmas!”

  “Merry Christmas, Ry. Oh, were you expecting a present from us?” Robbie scratched his head.

  Kneeling, she placed the stack of presents beneath the tree. “You better have gotten me a present. I’m the best sister you’ve got. Plus, I’ve let Keira share my cabin every time she visits your ugly mug.”

  “Actually, Ry, I did get you a present. It’s a mail-order husband from the East. He’ll be here on the next wagon train.”

  “Hardy-har-har. You know how I love the old Ryann-needs-a-new-husband bit.”

  “New husband? Nah, I got you a used husband. It was way cheaper. But don’t worry. His prison guards say he’s well trained.”

  “Aren’t you hilarious? I see my actual present right there. We’ll open them later. Right now, Annie and I have to go help Dad with brunch.”

  Keira started to stand. “We can help—”

  “No, we aren’t quite done yet.” With a tug, Robbie pulled her down onto his lap.

  Her body melted against his. She breathed him in. A touch of pine, huckleberry, and all-American male.

  “That’s our cue. Let’s go, Annie. I’ll get your coat and boots.” Ryann and Anabelle dashed to the foyer.

  In the minute it took Anabelle to dress for the Montana winter, Robbie’s eyes had roved all across Keira’s face and down her neck. Every inch of her grew hot under his adoration.

  How had they dated for five years during high school and college and kept within the boundaries they’d set? Sometimes, when she lay in her bed at her grandparents’ house, thoughts of him drove her mad. Alas, none of the presents remaining beneath the tree were shaped like a ring box. What was he waiting for anyway?

  Dora had encouraged Keira to ask Robbie to marry her. After all, running down a dream was the EndeavHerMore—and Tom Petty—way. Keira had considered it. But deep down, she was still traditional at heart.

  “I forgot to tell you,” she said. “I got a Christmas card from Margot. Apparently, she took off her wig during the Galápagos episode. She got real, right in front of the camera. I cannot wait to watch it when the episode airs.”

  The blast of cold marked the opening and closing of the front door. Quiet drifted over the cabin. Robbie’s lips found the hollow of her neck.

  “And get this? She and Phil are dating. Margot blames me. Says I’ve ruined her life. Next thing you know, she’ll be going to church. Are you even listening to me?”

  “Yes. It’s my lips that are preoccupied, not my ears.”

  A rumbling noise sounded from outside. “What’s that?” she asked.

  “I didn’t hear anything.” He took to her lips.

  For several minutes, she allowed herself to relish his kisses, so deep they seemed to touch her soul.

  Maybe traditional was overrated. “Um, I was thinking.” Breath eluded her, and she gasped between each word. “These past couple of months in Twin Falls have been nice. But my mom’s settled now. Maybe it’s time I come back here.”

  Robbie stilled. “And stay at Ryann’s?”

  “Yes. Actually, no. It’s been a while since we’ve talked about what’s ahead for us. Robbie, I want you. And Anabelle. I want us to be—”

  “Hold that thought.” He jumped up, bucki
ng her onto the couch like a rag doll. On the mantel behind the tree, there was a present wrapped in red that she hadn’t noticed until now. He took it and stared at it for the longest time. Finally, he brought it to her.

  To Kat Wanderfull, From MRCustom, the tag read.

  Willing her hands not to shake, she pulled the wrapping paper off the box.

  It wasn’t a ring box. No, this box was larger. Like a garment box from a department store.

  She lifted the lid and placed it next to her on the sofa. As if turning a page in a book, she unfolded a sheet of white tissue paper, then another. “My atlas? When did you get this?”

  “I had Ryann sneak it from your satchel last night while we were watching It’s a Wonderful Life. She brought it over after you were asleep.”

  “You two are so mischievous. How did your mother ever handle you?” Her fingertip skimmed the top spine to a bookmark protruding an inch. She cracked the book, careful not to disrupt the pages and their memories. “Arizona?”

  Pinned between Arizona’s two pages, the bookmark wasn’t a bookmark at all, but a ticket for the train she, Robbie, and Anabelle had taken near the Grand Canyon on their way back from California.

  “I added some memories from our trips,” Robbie said.

  She flipped to California. Her eyes landed on the braided leather cord with a silver infinity charm. “My Yosemite bracelet.”

  Robbie shrugged his shoulders. “I may or may not have broken into the school over the summer to get that back.”

  “I’m glad you did. Thank you.” She slipped her hand through the bracelet. Beneath that, she found a yellow feather and a Royal Village unicorn tea packet. “Okay, I get the tea. What’s the feather about?”

  “Remember when I destroyed Prince Devin in the push-up contest? The feather on his hat fell on the ground. It was still lying there when we passed by the spot on the way out, so I grabbed it. Now you can always remember who’s the best.”

  “I don’t need a feather to remember that, silly.” Keira stole a kiss before returning her attention to the gift.

  “Go to Montana’s page next.”

  Of all the states, Montana had received more than its fair share of attention. Its stacks of Post-it notes in a variety of colors and shapes created a gap in the fore edge of the book. She flipped to it easily.

  She noticed an arrow-shaped marker pointing to West Yellowstone on the map. Along the Madison River, a blue star had been drawn. A blue star. Joy flooded Keira’s veins, and her cheeks blazed. She focused on the note pinned to the opposite page. After slipping the paper clip off carefully, she handed the paper to him. “Read it to me?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He settled back against the couch cushion and lifted his arm.

  Happily, she lay against him, her hand on his chest so she could feel the vibrations of the words he spoke.

  My dearest Kat, this is not a love letter. I won’t tell you how much joy you bring me, or how often I think about you, or how many prayers I’ve prayed for you. I won’t tell you how I wish I could kiss you every day. I won’t tell you how I long for the day when I can call you my wife. And I certainly won’t tell you how I cannot wait to wake up next to you, fall asleep with you in my arms, and everything that will happen in between.

  He quirked his brow, and heat rose in her cheeks.

  I will tell you that I’m proud of all you’ve accomplished. You set a goal, and you achieved it. Although I understand why you aren’t willing to chase your dreams to the ends of the earth, I still see that glimmer in your eye when you see an airplane, a train, or a simple road map. What kind of man would I be if I didn’t at least try to bring your dreams to you? Your final present from me is waiting outside.

  Keira bolted upright on the sofa. “Really?”

  At his nod, she climbed up and over the couch.

  She flung open the front door to see a recreational vehicle the size of a semi. She turned to Robbie, but he was on the floor holding her boot out to her. She peppered him with questions as she slipped her boots on and waited for him to do the same.

  “I’ll answer those questions inside.” He led her across the crusted snow and held the door as she climbed inside. “Right after the hearing, I was thinking out loud to Teddy Woodward. You know how he has more money and power than, like, all the people in Hollywood combined? He had an idea.”

  Inside the RV, everything was smooth, shiny, or soft. This was luxury, from the kitchen’s countertops to the leather seats in the cab.

  “You said you miss your days as Kat Wanderfull, right?”

  She nodded.

  “I have a proposal for you.”

  “What’s that?”

  “This beast goes into storage for a few months, then in April, on the weekends, when Anabelle is with Vivian, you and I will travel around this region.” He tapped a small camera above the television. “Our adventures will be captured by cameras like these and a small crew of cameramen. Have you ever heard of Seek?”

  “Yeah, it’s a small, independently owned multimedia company that focuses on travel.”

  “Teddy bought it. He wants to record our relationship and our travels and broadcast them to the world. Kind of like a reality show, but we get full say in the content. You know how you’ve been wanting to tutor students with dyslexia? You can do that during the week while I manage my home-building business. Then we’ll hit the road every Friday night. And as Anabelle gets older, or in the summer when Vivian gets her for a couple of weeks, we can take this thing cross-country.”

  “What you’re saying is I get to have my cake and eat it, too?”

  “If I’m cake in that metaphor, then yeah, I guess so.”

  Keira ran her hand over the love seat. She passed by the dinette, refrigerator, and small bathroom, then opened the door to the bedroom and peered in. “There’s only one problem with this idea.”

  “What’s that?”

  “There’s only one bed.”

  “Funny you should say that.” Robbie moved closer and ran his hands from her shoulders to her fingertips.

  Keira gathered her next words from behind her pattering heart. “Maybe our first stop should be at a place with a little white chapel.”

  “Great minds think alike. But why wait till April?” He kissed Keira, long and slow, until she desperately wished they had a pastor on the property right now. To her dismay, he pulled away from her embrace to knock on the next door. It opened to show a full bathroom, with toilet, sink, shower, and Ryann and Anabelle. After Anabelle crossed the threshold, Ryann grinned and closed the door once again, excluding herself from what might happen next.

  Anabelle blushed and shrank against Robbie’s leg.

  “Don’t be shy,” Robbie said. “Go ahead and say it.”

  Anabelle held out a fist.

  Keira kneeled down to her eye level. She uncurled each of Anabelle’s fingers to reveal a platinum ring with intricate designs surrounding the diamond. His great-grandmother’s.

  “Will you marry Daddy?”

  A joy like she’d never experienced surged within her. She clapped a hand over her mouth while her eyes filled with tears.

  Then Robbie grasped her hand and lifted her up. He bent his face down to hers. “Ever since I was seventeen, I’ve only ever had one dream. To love, honor, and cherish you for the rest of my life. Will you make that come true and take me as your husband?”

  “Yes. A million times yes!” She laughed and swiped at the tears spilling down her cheeks. Good tears. An overflow of happiness when her body couldn’t possibly hold any more.

  He slipped the ring on her left hand.

  Keira gazed into Robbie’s eyes. “Mrs. Keira Matthews. I like the sound of that, don’t you?”

  “You know you don’t have to take my name—”

  “I’d be honored to.”

  Robbi
e smirked. “It’s certainly better than Mr. Robbie Wanderfull.”

  She cringed. “That might be slightly over-the-top.”

  “Maybe a bit. But you know I’d do it. For you.” He gentled a tendril of her hair between his fingers. “I’m yours, Kat, forever and always.”

  His lips brushed hers, as soft as the flutter of a butterfly’s wings.

  A small arm circled her leg. Beneath her, Anabelle’s green eyes crinkled. One side of her lips pulled up higher than the other. It was a new smile for her. Yet familiar. And goofy. Keira lifted her chin and caught her own crooked grin in the mirror above the RV’s built-in dresser.

  “I think she has your smile.” Robbie picked up Anabelle, holding her against his side with one arm and tugging Keira close with his other.

  “Funny. I was just thinking the same thing.”

  “My girls.” He kissed Anabelle’s forehead, then Keira’s. “You sure you’re up for this happy family gig?”

  “Absolutely,” Keira said, resting her hand on Anabelle’s curls. “Life with the two of you is sure to be my greatest adventure yet.”

  About the Author

  Prone to wander, Janine Rosche finds as much comfort on the open road as she does at home. This longing to chase adventure, behold splendor, and experience redemption is woven into her Madison River Romance series. When she isn’t writing or traveling, she teaches family life education courses to college students, takes too many pictures of her sleeping dogs, and embarrasses her four children and husband with boy band serenades.

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