He smiled. “Then let that be a lesson to you,” he advised. “Stop prying.”
She stood and wrapped her arms around him. “Never. You’re my brother and I love you. It’s my job to worry about you and pester you and make sure you’re happy.”
“I’m happy enough,” he assured her. “Stop worrying.”
As he drove away, he spotted his brother-in-law pulling into the parking spot he’d just vacated and gave Zack a wave. Lucky son of a gun, he thought. He wondered if Zack knew what a blessing that family of his was and how much Wade envied him.
But despite this attraction he’d felt toward Gabriella Castle, he wondered if he’d ever have the courage to risk the kind of pain he’d been through with his first marriage. Could a man even survive that kind of loss more than once in his life?
* * *
Since it was midday when Gabi arrived on the coast, she drove straight to Castle’s by the Sea. She knew that’s where she’d find her grandmother and, more than likely, Emily, who bit by bit was transforming the restaurant’s decor. Her efforts were progressing at a snail’s pace because their grandmother was resistant to change and because Emily was spending more and more time back in Los Angeles on a project near and dear to her heart.
It was close to two when Gabi arrived. Since Castle’s served only breakfast and lunch, the crowd had already thinned out, and the door had been locked to keep new customers from entering after closing. Gabi walked around to the side deck, then slipped into the kitchen.
As she’d expected, her sister was tucked in the tiny office with fabric samples. Gabi poked her head in. “Any luck on selling the idea of new upholstery for the booths?” she asked.
A frustrated look spread across Emily’s face for just an instant, but then she was on her feet, enveloping Gabi in a hug. “A baby? How exciting!”
Gabi blinked. “You know already?”
“Samantha filled us in when she called last night. She thought it might be easier if you didn’t have to break the news yourself.”
“Really?” Gabi said doubtfully. “Or was she trying to line up you and Cora Jane to be on her side?”
“I didn’t know there were sides,” Emily said, her expression a pitiful attempt at innocence. Samantha the actress could have pulled it off, but Emily failed miserably.
“I’m considering putting the baby up for adoption. Samantha disapproves. Does that ring any bells?”
“She might have mentioned it,” Emily said. “But let’s not get into that now. I’m just so glad you’re here. Boone and I have news.”
“You’ve finally set a wedding date,” Gabi guessed, knowing that had been the hot topic since before Christmas.
Emily nodded happily. “June 2. Surprisingly, I suddenly realized that I want a traditional June wedding.” She shrugged. “Or maybe that’s what Grandmother really wants. Anyway, that’s the date. I think you and Samantha will look stunning in pastel dresses. I took that into consideration, too.”
“You do realize I’ll be very, very pregnant by then. Are you sure the aisle will be wide enough for me?”
“We’ll take out the pews on one side if it’s not. I’ll talk to Wade about it.”
Gabi’s gaze narrowed at the second deliberate mention of his name in two days. “Wade?”
“He is a master carpenter, after all,” Emily said blithely. “He pops in from time to time, looking for you, I think. Grandmother thinks so, too.”
Gabi shook her head as she rested a hand on her very visible baby bump. “It’s an odd time to be matchmaking, don’t you think?”
“Not matchmaking,” Emily insisted. “I’m just saying he’s around, eager to make himself useful. Actually, it could be he’s courting Grandmother. He does seem to be excessively fond of her pies.”
“Whatever,” Gabi said. “I’d better go into the dining room and face the music. Just how upset is Grandmother about all this?”
“Her eyes lit up when she heard the news,” Emily said. “If you were expecting shock and disapproval, I think you’ll be disappointed. She’s always been on our side no matter what mistakes we’ve made.” She covered her mouth, her expression immediately filled with regret. “Not that the baby is a mistake, Gabi. I didn’t mean that. You know I didn’t.”
Gabriella hugged her sister. “I know you didn’t. And amazingly, all things considered, I never once thought of it that way, either. Even if I do decide to give the baby up for adoption, it will be a blessing for a family who desperately wants a child.”
Even as she said the words, though, there was another of those little fluttery sensations in her stomach that made her heart catch in her throat. It had been one thing to make the whole adoption decision early on. She’d been furious with Paul, even more furious with herself. The baby hadn’t been real to her. Now it was.
And that, she suspected, was going to seriously complicate her determination to do the right thing.
ISBN: 9781460313121
Copyright © 2013 by Sherryl Woods
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