Somebody to Love (Gideon's Cove #3)(120)

He nodded.

He lived in Providence. Not New York. “I thought you—”

“I didn’t take the job.”

“Oh.” She sounded like an idiot. Clearing her throat, she said, “Um, James, I’m very happy to see you. And maybe we can have a drink or something, and talk…but I have to wait for a customer. It’s his anniversary—”

James smiled, and her heart seemed to leap toward him. “Oh, right, the flowers. Actually, those are for you.” He nodded at the arrangement she’d just finished. “I’m a couple decades early, but I’m optimistic, too.”

Oh. Oh. She glanced at the card. “Are you… Is…is that a proposal?”

He tilted his head as if thinking. “Yep.”

“A marriage proposal?”

“Yes.”

“I reject it,” she said.

He closed his eyes briefly. “Great.”

“It’s just that I wanted to do the asking.” Holy halos. Where was this coming from?

Go for it, the Holy Rollers said. For a nanosecond, she pictured them, the six angels all in a line, smiling and nodding, Spike in his leather jacket, giving her the thumbs-up.

“I’m waiting,” James said. He was smiling.

“Okay.” Parker’s eyes suddenly filled with tears. “James,” she said, her voice wobbling, “I’d really like you to overlook the fact that I was a snob and ignored you and thought you were scum, and then, when we finally did hook up for real, basically jumped at the first chance to ditch you.”

“Do you have any qualities to recommend you?” he asked, laughing, and she smiled, though a couple of tears slid down her cheeks.

“Yes. I do. Um, I’m smart, and a great swimmer, as you know, and once I love someone, I tend to keep them really close, and I think I have a good sense of humor. I put out, as you also know, and I can do all the voices in Harry Potter.” She paused. “Also, I love you. A lot. What do you say?”

“I accept,” he said. “Now could you come out from behind that counter and kiss me?”

She did just that, flew across the small space and wrapped her arms around his neck and looked at him for a second, those beautiful eyes, the smile that took up his whole face.

“Thank God you finally wised up,” he said, and with that, he kissed her, and Parker had to wonder how she ever got so lucky.

EPILOGUE

Eighteen months later

JUST BEFORE IT WAS TIME to walk down the aisle, Parker peeked into the main part of St. Andrew’s. The flowers were amazing—of course, she’d done them herself last night with help from Lavinia. And the place was packed.

The great state of Maine was well represented—Maggie and Malone had come down with their little boy, Aedan, who was happily tugging on his father’s hair at the moment. Lavinia and Dewey sat together; according to Vin, they were back together, having dated sometime in the ’90s. Parker had invited Chantal and Jonah, too, but Chantal was expecting another baby any minute, so they hadn’t been able to make it.

James’s mom had come down with Mary Elizabeth—who was holding her Spike doll, Parker noted. James’s brother Pete and his wife and two daughters had come, too, which was so nice. Mr. Cahill and the other two brothers had opted not to come, but James had been okay with that.

Ellen, Parker’s agent, had come, too. In one of those ironic twists of life, Parker had sent Mickey the Fire Engine to her publisher, though they’d originally rejected it years before. This time, however, the story had been deemed a winner. And while the advance had been hefty and the royalties were flowing in, Parker had decided that being a florist and the wife of an up-and-coming lawyer would ensure a solid living. So once again, all proceeds from the book were going to Save the Children.

Lucy’s aunts and mother, who’d always treated Parker like another niece, were sitting with the elder Mirabellis, as well as with Althea, who wore a fabulous hat. Friends from town, some of Nicky’s schoolmates and their parents. A few Harvard chums, Suze from Miss Porter’s. Lucy was matron of honor, so pretty in her lavender dress. Ethan sat in the front row with their daughter, Lily, who was supposed to have been flower girl but had fallen asleep instead. Taymal, James’s Little Brother, was best man and looked utterly gorgeous in a tux. He was winking at Lucy’s aunts at the moment, causing a ripple of giggles from the two old ladies.

And in the back row, accompanied by a plainclothes guard, was Harry. The judge had granted him a furlough for today. He glanced back, caught her eye and tapped his hand over his heart, and Parker smiled. He was far from perfect, but a woman only got one father.

Well. Time to marry her man. The thought caused a rush of warmth from her toes to her scalp. “You ready?” she asked Nicky.

“Mom, I’ve been ready for nine minutes,” he answered, showing her his watch. Both his front teeth were missing—finally—and the gap gave him an adorable lisp.

Nicky wasn’t giving her away, absolutely not. But he was accompanying her down the aisle.

Parker glanced down at her dress—a simple, pale peach silk dress that stopped just above her knee. No white for her. She was thirty-seven, for heaven’s sake. But Althea had wept in a most gratifying manner when Parker had emerged from the dressing room, and with the bouquet of apricot, cream and white roses and still-green hydrangeas, as well as a few roses in her hair, she felt quite bridal indeed.