Will shrugged good-naturedly. “Never mind. I always did think the windblown look suited you just fine.”
Grant held up his hand, listening. Someone was playing the piano downstairs. “They brought in a piano player?”
Will nodded. “And some lady’s going to sing, too, from what I hear.”
Grant groaned. “This is like a real wedding.”
His friend clapped him on the shoulder. “That’s the point, big boy. You get the picture. This is a real wedding.”
But Grant was looking right through him, his mind in turmoil. Somehow this made everything different. How could this be a mere business deal when you added piano players and orange blossoms? How had everything careened so quickly out of control? Callie had been right the night before. This was all a bit too much. But it was obviously too late to change things now.
Coming down the stairs a few minutes later, Grant saw Tina arriving. He’d sent a car for her and was glad to see she’d made it. And then he saw her little girl coming in behind her-the little girl who looked so much like his Lisa that he looked twice to make sure it wasn’t her. He had to reach out and take hold of the banister for a moment.
Why was she here? Why would someone bring a little girl like that to a wedding?
He knew it was irrational, but he couldn’t help his reaction. When he saw the child, he reacted in an emotional way he couldn’t seem to control. The pain swept over him again, intense and almost unendurable. He couldn’t have a little girl who looked like Lisa watching as he married Callie. He was usually a logical, unemotional guy, but something about that just struck him as wrong.
He searched for Rosa and pointed out Tina’s child. “Could someone watch her during the wedding?” he asked. “Maybe take her up to the old playroom?”
“Of course,” Rosa said with a smile. “Such a pretty little girl.”
Gena had come up behind him. “What are you doing?” she asked as Rosa hurried off.
Grant avoided her gaze with a guilty maneuver. “Uh, that’s Tina’s little girl. I thought she would be happier playing away from the wedding.”
Gena frowned. “Did Tina ask you to do that?”
“No, but…” He swallowed hard and turned to look his sister in the face. “Look at her. She looks exactly like Lisa. Don’t you see? I can’t have her here during the wedding. I just can’t.”
Frowning, Gena stared at the little girl then turned back. “Grant, I don’t see…” But he was already heading back up the stairs and he ignored her comment.
There was no way he could explain. Every time he looked at Molly, he saw Lisa and he felt his own little girl looking at him with a sad reproach he just couldn’t face. That was all there was to it. And there wasn’t much he could do to change that.
Finally it was time. The backyard had been set up with chairs leaving an aisle down the middle. He walked down that aisle behind Will and they took their positions. The place was packed and he had another qualm, hoping Callie didn’t feel intimidated.
“What did you do, take an ad out in the local paper?” Will muttered to him out of the corner of his mouth, looking around at the crowd.
“Not me,” Grant murmured back. “You can’t pin this one on me.”
He looked at his grandfather, sitting in the front seat. The old man gave him a smile that helped make up for a lot of this. At least Grant Carver IV was happy.
The pianist struck up “Here Comes the Bride” and Tina came out, looking pleased as punch, and then Callie, looking so beautiful, he could hardly breathe for a moment.
A wave of relief swept over him. She was smiling at him, looking joyful. It was going to be all right. They would get through this and then, tonight, they were going to begin the task of making a beautiful baby together. He was looking forward to that a lot more than he’d expected to. In fact, almost too much.
He settled down and greeted his bride as she reached him.
“Hi,” she whispered.
“Hi, gorgeous,” he whispered back.
“Let’s get married,” she said, and he grinned.
“Let’s do it.”
Magic. That was the only word she could think of for today. Pure, shimmering, golden magic. She’d thought she’d feel awkward with a room full of people she’d never met before. The only people who were really there for her were Tina and Molly and Grant and his sister. But that seemed to be enough, because everyone else acted as though they’d known her since she’d toddled out into the world. She was the center of attention and praise and questions-she’d never felt so in demand before in her life.
Everyone was so happy for her and for Grant, thinking they were on their way to a lifetime of blissful happiness. At first she felt a little strange about pretending this was a normal marriage and not a business deal. She had to admit they’d put on the trappings of a real love match, so why would anyone think any different? But there was no way to explain. No one would understand.
And anyway, she wasn’t much different from the others-even she was beginning to feel like this was a love match. Whenever she looked at Grant she couldn’t help but react to how handsome he looked in a tuxedo. She felt a quiver inside. Was this the way love began?
That’s not love, you ninny! That is just pure anticipation of your wedding night, that’s what that is.
Maybe. There was no denying her heart skipped a beat every time she thought of it. So what? It was exciting and it was wonderful and she could hardly wait to be alone with him. She was on pins and needles, but in a good way. A very good way.
And then, Tina had caught the bouquet and the champagne punch bowl had been drained and the finger sandwiches had all been devoured and cake had been smashed into faces and icing licked off fingers and it was time for them to go.
They joined hands and thanked everyone for coming. People were laughing and calling out good wishes. She’d heard someone had tied things to the back of Grant’s car. She saw someone passing out little bags of rice.
This was crazy. It was a real wedding. She’d never thought it would happen to her. She turned to look up into Grant’s handsome face.
“One kiss,” he whispered. “And we’re out of here.”
She nodded happily. He bent and touched his lips to hers. She sighed. Magic.
And then it all fell to pieces, like a glass vase smashed by a rock.
Someone shouted. A buzz went through the assembly. Callie turned, confused. What was going on?
“Call 911,” someone shouted. “Quick. It’s Tina.”
“Tina?”
Callie was pushing her way through the crowd, her heart in her throat. By the time she got to her friend, Tina was sitting up, supported by someone who was holding a cup of water to her lips.
“I’m okay,” she said, trying to smile at Callie. “I’m just…” Her voice faded and she slumped forward.
She wasn’t okay at all. That much was obvious. Callie was frantic until the paramedics arrived to take her to the hospital.
“I have to go with her,” she told Grant. “I’m so sorry, I…”
He nodded. “Of course. Go.”
“I’ll call you from the hospital.”
“Fine.”
He watched her climb into the back of the ambulance in her wedding gown and he knew his wedding night was a lost cause. But that didn’t matter. Tina’s welfare was all important now. That, and…
“Where’s the little girl?” he asked Gena. “I hope she didn’t see any of that.”
“No. She’s asleep on my bed.”
Grant nodded and took in a deep breath. “I guess we’d better look into some sort of child care for her.”
“Later,” Gena said, putting a hand on his arm. “She can stay with me for now.”
“Are you sure?”
“Oh, yes. She’s adorable. I’ll take care of her until we hear more about Tina.”
He nodded, looking broodingly at the road that led away from the ranch, the road Callie had disappeared down,
