“Cheers.”Ian unscrewed the cap, took a long pull on his beer.“I’m working my way through these albums.I’m guessing you had a hand in getting these couples together?”
“Not all of them, but some.”Her laughter swirled about him, made him join in.“I only provided theopportunityto what was already there.Attraction happens whether we want it to or not.”She raised her glass, saluted him.“And love?We can try to deny it, but doing so only makes us sad and miserable.”One more sip, and then she pointed at the album he’d been perusing.“See how many couples you recognize while I check on a few things in the kitchen.”
Ian flipped through the first album as he drank his beer, picked up the second, and was halfway through when the front door opened, and Jack Finnegan’s gruff voice filled the air.“Whew!It’s nasty out there.”
“Oh, Jack.You’ve seen worse.”Ian pictured Dolly’s raised eyebrow and tilted head as she spoke to her husband of several decades.That was one of the things he really liked about Dolly; she didn’t back down from a situation or a problem, no matter how challenging.And Ian would bet his next car that the most challenging situation was the man she’d married.
“Yeah, yeah, but dang it all, I’m not a young buck anymore.I prefer staying inside with my slippers and my remote control when it’s snowing like we’re in one of them snow globes.”
Tsk tsk.“You’re just being ornery because you stayed up too late last night watching that ridiculous fishing show.”
“Fly-rod fishing ain’t ridiculous.”
“Hmmph.I’ll bet if Nate had called and needed your help, you would have run to that truck and never thought about a little snow.”
“Don’t matter because Nate didn’t call.”Big sigh and a gruff, “I had to get dressed up, too.I just hope this weather ain’t a sign of things to come.”
“Hush, Jack Finnegan.Besides, I do think it’s a sign.”Dolly lowered her voice, but not low enough to keep Ian from hearing the rest.“Meant-to-be.Destiny.Just like our Pete.If that boy could find his slice of heaven, anybody can.”
“You always were one to look for the sun after the rain.”The old man’s voice held a gentle tone, one he didn’t often show.No doubt, Dolly knew how to handle her husband.Ian placed his beer on the coffee table and stood.Dolly and Jack were talking as though Katie weren’t there.Had she decided she wasn’t going to marry him, no matter what?Maybe she–
“Dolly, can you fix my hair?I think a pin slipped out.”
She came!Relief spread through him, pinged his heart.He’d take it, even if she didn’t look at him…didn’t talk to him…didn’t say anything other than “I do.”He would take it becauseshe came.He pinched the bridge of his nose, wished he’d taken the risk when he invested in her company, and told her the truth about everything, especially how he’d never gotten over her.
Ian was about to step into the hallway when Mimi appeared, tossed him a smile and a knowing look before she turned away.“Let’s all come into the sitting room and warm up a few minutes.Can I get anyone a drink?”
“I’ll take a shot.Maybe two.”This from Jack, who sounded like he needed both.
Tsk tskfrom Dolly.“Wine would be lovely.”
“I have the perfect white wine for you, Dolly.”
And thenshespoke again, the only voice he wanted to hear.“A cup of tea would be wonderful.”Pause and a hesitant, “Anything decaffeinated.”
“I have just the thing for you.”Mimi’s voice filled with emotion as she gestured to the sitting room.“Why don’t you join Ian while I get the drinks?”She disappeared into the kitchen and seconds later, Jack and Dolly Finnegan entered the room.
“Ian.”Jack shook his hand, made a face.“Did Harry put you in that?”His gaze narrowed on the suit, slid to the striped tie and shiny shoes.A shake of his head and a laugh.“That outfit’s got Harry Blacksworth’s name all over it.”
Ian fought the heat creeping from his neck to his cheeks.“Wrong on that one, Jack.This is all Nick Borado.He calls it his lucky suit.”
Another laugh, this one louder, and darn if the old man didn’t show teeth this time.“You had to borrow a suit for your own wedding?Wouldn’t your old man have a fit about that?”
Dolly edged out her husband, opened her arms, and hugged Ian.“Don’t listen to him, dear.You look very handsome, and why wouldn’t you wear something from the Borado family since they own a clothing line?”She shot a look at her husband as if to warn him he better stop with the comments or she’d toss a few at him.
“Thanks, Dolly.”
“Of course, dear.If you wore jeans and a T-shirt or something less dressed up, Jack wouldn’t be happy, and he’d have a thing or three to say about that.”
Jack didn’t deny it, but the scowl said he’d been caught.“I need a whiskey.Probably three.”
Mimi reappeared with a tray of drinks a few seconds later.She set the tray on the coffee table and placed a cup and saucer next to Ian’s beer.That must be Katie’s tea.He’d heard her voice, but where was she?Had she changed her mind at the last minute and escaped out the front door?Damn, but he hated the uncertainty that suffocated his common sense.It was annoying, and pathetic, but he couldn’t stop it.
“She’s coming, my dear.Do not worry.”Dolly only meant to reassure him, but she still hadn’t learned the art of a whisper.
“Maybe, or maybe she’s just waiting so you know who’s in charge.”Jack shot Ian a look, his lips twitching, his voice smothered with humor.“They start letting us know before we speak the vows, and they don’t let up for the next forty or fifty years.Let her be in charge.It’ll make your life a lot easier.”
This time, it was Dolly who laughed.“Very true.”She smiled at her husband, eyes twinkling.“But being in charge doesn’t mean being the boss or being a bully.And it certainly doesn’t mean holding something over another person’s head.It means helping, directing, and setting a person straight when they’re going in the wrong direction.They’ll do the same for you.Sometimes it’s an eighty-twenty split depending on who needs help.Sometimes it’s fifty-fifty…”
