Chirp(89)

“Yes. But why wouldn’t you?”

“They’re messy.”

He leaned back on the bed and made room for her. “You’ll be a great mom. By the time we’re ready to start a family, I’m willing to bet you’ll want children.”

“But what if I don’t?”

His answer came without hesitation. “Then we won’t have any.”



By ten o’clock the rain had passed, and the sun shone from a watercolor sky. She’d been at the church for hours visiting with Uncle Bill, Aunt Virginia, and Helga. But now her nerves were getting the best of her. She smoothed her veil and fidgeted with her bouquet.

“Stop picking at everything,” Hanna said.

“I can’t help it. I think the hands on the clock are stuck.”

“Good Lord. It’s a good thing you changed the time. You would have never made it until two.”

Tiffany rushed into the room. “Okay, Helga and your aunt have joined everyone else in the sanctuary, and your uncle is waiting in the hallway. So let’s get this show on the road.”

“The church is beautiful,” Wren said. She reached for Hanna’s hand, then Tiffany’s. “Thank you.”

“No big deal. As the minister’s daughter, I had access to the arch and candelabrum. Mother Nature provided the fall leaves, and I threw in a few pots of mums, tied ribbon on the pews, and voilà! Oh, and since you moved the time, your uncle Bill arranged a catered lunch following the ceremony. It’s all set up in the fellowship hall.”

“Did I hear my name mentioned?” Uncle Bill stepped through the doorway and wrapped his arms around Wren. “While I waited, I spent time with your groom. Seems like a good man.”

She broke his hold and smiled up at him. “He is. Did you bring the ring?”

He reached into his jacket pocket and slid a wedding band into Wren’s palm. “Your mother would be happy that you’re using the ring she gave your dad.”

“I hope it fits.”

“Pretty sure it will. Rance and Grant are about the same size.”

“I’ll tell the piano player we’re ready to start,” Tiffany said.

Uncle Bill offered his arm. “That’s our cue. You ready?”

Wren slipped the gold band on her thumb, swallowed hard, and nodded. With a deep breath, she curled her arm through his and started the long walk down the hallway to her future.





40


Marla


Marla couldn’t hold back a smile. For the past month, one question had tormented her. Would Tom Fraser be another disappointment? So she’d gotten downright giddy when the text came. The girl is in Bluebird, Texas.

The timing couldn’t have been better. She was down to under a half million dollars. A lot for some, but if she continued to keep pace with her rich friends, skiing in Aspen, vacationing in the Hamptons, and attending Fashion Week in Paris, she’d need more. A lot more.

Tired of having to please a man to get what she wanted, she’d planned for Grant to be the last one. He’d been attentive until his diagnosis of cancer. And then, when she’d suggested enrolling Wren in a private school that dealt with problem children, he’d held that against her.

God, how she hated the kid and her childhood tantrums over the most ridiculous things. If a book wasn’t in alphabetical order or if a blue stuffed animal got put in with the pink group, and later, after Grant got sick, how she had to spend almost every waking moment at her father’s bedside. And he’d encouraged it. That’s what she despised most. Wren always came first.

Today Marla would start the process of getting what was rightfully hers. She’d spent the last four years of her marriage stuck in that house. She’d had no choice. If she wanted to gain sympathy as the devoted wife and stepmother, she couldn’t jet-set all over the world with him fighting for his life.

Thank God she’d found comfort with some of the hired help. If not, she would have dried up like an old maid. She eyed Tony and Frank in the front seat. Big. Strong. Young. Just her type. But she didn’t have time for any extracurricular activity. Not now. Not with so much riding on getting control of the company.

The car came to a stop, and Marla scoped out the place. The dreary country scene was a long way from what the little princess grew up with. And the report she’d gotten from Mr. Fraser stated the weird heiress was living with an ex-con, to boot! That was the best part. God, how she wished Grant were alive to see his little darling shacked up with a thug.

There didn’t seem to be anyone at home. No cars in the drive or the carport. No sound came from inside. Good. It would give her time to pull herself together because her nerves were on edge.

She whispered a laugh. After all this time, the wait had been worth it. Other than money, appearance was paramount. Marla needed to come across as only wanting the best for her stepdaughter. Wren involved with a felon proved she wasn’t capable or stable enough to run the company. A damaged girl making bad decisions. Everyone would applaud Marla for taking measures to protect her from ambitious losers.

But as happy as that made her, it created another problem. If this Rance-what’s-his-name knew who his lover was and how much she was worth, he might put up a fight. Clearly a man like him only got involved with someone like Wren for one of two reasons. Sex or money. But then again, he was probably a dumb lug with more brawn than brain and he’d jump at the chance for some cash. She could pay him off. If not she’d have to put him down.