by Abby Brooks
“Gee, Isabelle. I didn’t know that.” Jude crossed his arms and set his jaw. “But you keep telling me, so I guess I’ll figure it out someday.” He reached for the door and yanked it open, then paused, turning over his shoulder to meet my gaze. “You ready for this? Darling.”
“No.” I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, nodding. “But let’s do it anyway. Sweet Cheeks.”
He offered me his hand and painted on an over-the-top, madly-in-love smile. “Well come on, Sugar Pie. We’ve got an engagement that needs to look real.”
Before I could say anything, he practically dragged me out of the office. As soon as we were in sight of the bar, he embraced me, dipping me back and kissing me deeply as applause and catcalls caught the room on fire. After a few moments, he set me back on my feet, one arm around my shoulder. “The future Mrs. Malone, ladies and gentlemen!”
I leaned into him, smiling like I wasn’t dying inside.
I was going to have to work even harder to keep myself from falling more in love with my fiancé…
…when I wasn’t ready to murder him with my own two hands.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Izzy
A few days after Jude’s proposal, I pulled to a stop in front of my parents’ house, put the car in park, then killed the engine. The Prescott Thanksgiving dinner was our first stop of the day, and I was so not prepared. Usually, it was just the four of us, though I’d spent the last several years thinking Mom and Dad wouldn’t notice if I didn’t bother to show. Each year, Alex had more and more exciting news to make them proud, while my life pretty much stayed the same.
But this year, I was bringing one of my brother’s best friends.
As a date.
To announce our engagement.
Should be fine.
I stared through the windshield at the house I grew up in. Had it always looked so foreboding? When I was a kid, I’d loved the proud white columns lining the porch, but today they seemed almost threatening. Sure, the sun was shining and the air was crisp, but the whole vibe was more ‘serial killer’ and less ‘happy family.’
Jude unhooked his seatbelt and shifted to face me. “Everything okay? You look like you’re going to throw up.”
I shook my head. “Put your seatbelt back on. We’re leaving.”
“We can’t leave. This is a very important step in our plan. The unveiling of our engagement to our families.” He waved his hand through the air in an arc.
“I’m sure my parents already know we’re engaged. I mean come on, your proposal has made its way around town at least seven times by now. Right?”
Jude grinned, running a hand along the back of his neck, looking downright proud of himself. “I mean, Greta Macmillan has been calling it magical. I’m pretty good at things, once I put my mind to it.”
“Then put your mind to fastening your seatbelt because I’d hate to endanger your life.” I reached to start the engine, but he captured my hand in his.
“It’s Thanksgiving, Iz. Your parents want to see you.”
The touch surprised me. As did the gentleness in his voice. As much as I wanted to stop fighting so hard and lean into him, I’d promised I wouldn’t fall for his charm after his proposal last weekend. I had a heart to protect. One that was getting more involved by the day.
I slipped my hand from his. “They won’t even notice if I’m missing.”
“I’ve known your parents for a long time…”
“And I’ve known them even longer. You think I’m overreacting, but I promise you, they never miss a chance to compare me to Alex, which means they never miss a chance to make me feel like I’m not doing as well as I should. I just…I don’t feel like I can take it today.”
Especially since the ‘exciting news’ I’d be announcing was completely and utterly fake. Talk about feeling like a failure.
Alex’s Range Rover pulled to a stop behind me, blocking me in. I sighed and stared balefully out the window as Mom stepped onto the front porch and waved. Her dark hair looked like she’d just come from a salon and even though she’d been cooking for hours, her kitten heels and slacks were pristine.
“See?” Jude gestured her way. “Look how excited she is to see you guys.”
Pointing out the fact that Mom didn’t come outside until Alex arrived would make me sound petty, so I sighed in defeat and unbuckled my seatbelt.
“Atta girl, Snow!” Jude grinned as he opened his door. “If things get too hard, just give me a signal and I’ll make up an excuse to leave early.”
His suggestion was sweet, and I could’ve hugged him for it. I smiled as I reached into the backseat to grab the sweet potato casserole I’d made. It was one of my favorites, but Mom refused to cook it because she had a thing against sugar. Evie approached, juggling a basket smelling of fresh bread, because—you guessed it—Mom also had a thing against gluten.
“Are you ready for this?” Evie asked me while Alex pulled his messenger bag out of the backseat. “I’m not sure I’m ready for this and I’m not the one who has an announcement to make.”
“Maybe it won’t be all that bad,” Alex said as he threw an arm around his wife’s shoulders. “Izzy’s announcing her engagement. I know Mom and Dad can be a little hard to please, but I’m sure they’re gonna be thrilled.”
“Even better, she’s announcing her engagement to me.” Jude nodded as he adjusted his grip on a bouquet of flowers for Mom and a bottle of vintage port for Dad. “This is gonna be great.”
“I’m not sure ‘great’ is the word I’d use. Your parents are…intense.” Evie’s expression shifted as she glanced over my shoulder. “Mrs. Prescott! Hi! Happy Thanksgiving.”
“I waited on the porch as long as I could for you all to come to me. I’m impatient, so I’m coming to you. And please, I’ve told you to call me Camille.” Mom pecked her on the cheek, then wrapped Alex in a warm embrace before turning to Jude. “Are these for me? Oh, goodness. They’re beautiful. You shouldn’t have.”
“Of course I should have.” He handed the flowers over with a knowing look my way. The last time someone had come to one of my parents’ rare get-togethers empty-handed, Mom had gone on about it for weeks.
“We were just so…surprised…when Isabelle asked if she could invite you to our little celebration.” She turned her gaze my way for the briefest of seconds. “But we always loved having you around when you boys were little, so of course we’re excited to have you here. Especially when you know exactly what kind of gifts to bring.”
“Happy Thanksgiving, Mom.” I smiled, jostling the casserole dish to give her a hug.
“And to you, Isabelle.” Her smile showed too many teeth and she gave me a brief pat on the back. “Well come inside,” she said, waving us on. “I just opened a fresh bottle of merlot and want to hear all about the book world. We can say hi to Dad on the way to the kitchen, and you can fill me in on your newest story while I finish up dinner.”
I hit Jude with a look that said, see?
His brows knit together. “Maybe she’s just preoccupied,” he whispered.
“Yeah. Maybe.” I wasn’t going to fight him on the issue, especially when my parents were sure to prove my point at least ten times over in the next couple hours.
We climbed the steps and Mom pushed into the house. Scented candles flickered on the table near the door and sounds of the game came from the living room. More candles lined the mantle and a fire snapped and popped in the fireplace. Dad stood, his eyes on the TV as he brushed at the front of his slacks, then shook hands with all of us, before sitting back down to cheer on his team.
Mom ushered us into the kitchen where she peppered Alex with questions about his latest book deal, then turned to Evie to talk about hers. “I always knew my son was destined for greatness, and with someone as talented as you challenging his sales and ranks on the bestsellers lists, he’s sure to surpass my wildest dreams.” She smiled warmly as she took another sip of wine.
“Alex and I don’t really com
pete.” Evie spun her glass on the counter. “We’re just glad to see the other one happy. We’re more of a team, you know?”
“Of course you are.” Mom patted her hand. “That’s what I meant, of course.”
Conversation circled around us while she cooked, without ever landing on why I was the one to invite Jude to our holiday dinner instead of Alex. I did nothing to hide the massive diamond on my left hand, but nary a question was asked.
Mom finished cooking. Dad carved the turkey. We filled our plates and, as we made our way to the table, yet another ode to the wonders of Alex started.
Jude met my eyes, shaking his head.
He looked a little sad, a lot let down, and righteously pissed off.
“Izzy and I have an announcement to make,” he said, his hand resting on the back of his chair while everyone took their seats.
“Oh, you mean about the engagement?” Mom turned her perpetual smile my way. “We read about that. We’re very excited for you both. Congratulations.” She cocked her head, then turned to Dad. “Do you feel like saying anything before we eat, Edwin?”
Jude’s jaw pulsed and his grip tightened on the chair. “I’m not done yet.” His voice was clipped. His smile forced. “I wanted to say that I’m very grateful to have your daughter in my life. She’s a wonderful woman and she makes me incredibly happy.”
Evie and Alex raised their glasses.
“You guys are gonna be great together,” my brother said as my parents nodded with their stupid fake grins.
“Edwin?” Mom prodded. “Would you like to add something?
“I just want to say how thankful I am for us all to be here today, safe, sound, and successful.” His eyes locked on Alex as he lifted his glass.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Jude
Anger simmered in my stomach, turning a delicious meal into sawdust. I had never been as disappointed in someone as I was with Edwin and Camille Prescott. I’d known these people almost my entire life and had thought they were great parents. Involved. Encouraging. Supportive. A little pushy, sure, but they were both perfectionists and only wanted what was best for their kids.
But I’d only ever seen them as Alex’s friend.
Today, I saw them as Izzy’s fiancé, and damn, what a difference a change in perspective made.
She had every right to be upset about the way they treated her. If I’d known, I would have cheered her on as she backed out of the driveway instead of pushing her to stay. If this was what she’d put up with her whole life, she was the strongest person I knew for not being totally and completely messed up in the head.
Appalled, I folded my hands in my lap and met Alex’s eyes as Mr. and Mrs. Prescott reached for their forks and knives. His lips pressed together, forming a line as dark as my mood before he gave me a quick dip of his chin. The message was clear:
Say what needs to be said.
I cleared my throat, but underneath the table, Izzy squeezed my knee. When I turned to her, she shook her head.
“It’s okay,” she mouthed.
“It’s not, though,” I whispered.
“I’ll be fine.” With a gentle shrug, she picked up her silverware and cut into her turkey.
“I had absolutely no idea it was that bad,” I said as we stepped off the porch an hour later. I’d promised myself I wouldn’t say anything until we got in the car, but the words pushed their way up my throat after being swallowed down so many times during dinner. I wanted to shout. To scream. To shake my fist at the gray skies and then wrap Izzy up tight and whisper every amazing thing about her for the rest of the day.
She sighed, shaking her head as she stared at her feet. “I guess Alex is just a tough act to follow.”
“Why? Because he writes books?” I threw my hands into the air. “You run one of the most successful businesses in Wildrose Landing.”
“Anyone can sell candy, especially with the whole world addicted to sugar,” she intoned, in a decent impression of her dad. “I hate it, but I’m used to it. I don’t know why I hoped today would be any different.”
“It should have been different.” I paused in front of the passenger door. “You were announcing your engagement. That’s a really big deal.”
“An engagement we purposefully made very public. They already knew thanks to Greta and her impressive social network.” Her eyes flickered to her brother’s car, still blocking us in. “Shit. I’m gonna have to get Alex to move. I’ll just text him so I don’t have to go back inside.”
As she pulled her phone out of her purse, I shook my head. Why was she making excuses for her parents? How could she just accept that Alex’s life was worth more than hers? It obviously bothered her; she’d been antsy as hell from the moment she picked me up this morning. Why wasn’t she as pissed off as I was?
Alex bounded down the steps and I expected him to apologize, but he just wiggled his keys as he half-jogged to his car and climbed in. As Izzy and I fastened our seatbelts and waited for him to move, I flared my hands. “I don’t know how you’re so cool about this.”
“I’m not cool about it, but this is the way it always is. It’s why I hate coming to these things. But what am I supposed to do? It’s my family. It’s not like I can do anything to change it.”
“I promise you. My parents will make up for whatever that just was. Just you wait.”
The urge to protect Izzy churned through my body but had nowhere to go. There was no action to take. Not now. If I was going to do anything, it would have been at the table, but she’d looked so desperate when she squeezed my knee. I couldn’t cause a scene. Not with her looking like that.
At least that was what I told myself as we drove from her parents’ to mine. My heart wasn’t quite convinced.
“Oh, my goodness gracious!” Mom burst through the front door and wrapped Izzy in a hug as we came up the steps. “Let me see it!” She stepped back, squealing as my fiancée held out her hand, proudly displaying the ring. “It’s gorgeous! Jude Preston Malone! How did you even afford that? Though that question is rude and obviously the bar is doing just fine.” She slapped my arm, then pulled me in for a hug. “I knew you’d do this right when you finally decided it was time. And wouldn’t you know the lucky woman is little Izzy Prescott. Somehow I always knew you two would end up together.” Her gaze raked over Izzy’s face. “Though you’re not so little now, are you? You’ve gotten so pretty!”
Without so much as pausing for a breath, Mom took our hands and pulled us into the house. “Tim! They’re here!”
Izzy met my gaze, unable to hide her grin.
“I told you she’d make up for it,” I said with a wink. My parents could be a lot, but in the right way.
My stepdad met us in the foyer, with a back thumping hug for me, and a warm smile for Izzy. “I am so happy for you two. Virginia and I just about fell over when Greta put out the alert that you two were engaged, but then, as we thought about it, the signs had been there all along.”
“I can’t believe it didn’t occur to you to at least mention you were dating, though.” Mom shook her head and clicked her tongue. “I swear we raised you better than that.”
“Things moved a little faster than we intended, but I will tell you guys something we haven’t told anyone else.” I hadn’t cleared this with Izzy, but was sure she’d be cool with it, so leaned forward to conspiratorially whisper, “We’re already trying to get pregnant.”
“Grandchildren?” Mom covered her mouth with her hands and ran in place. “Oh, this is just the best Thanksgiving ever. Tim, put away the champagne and run out and get us all some sparkling apple cider.”
“That’s not necessary, Mrs. Malone.” Izzy shook her head. “You guys have the champagne and I’ll just drink water.”
“For one, we are Ginny and Tim. Or even better, Mom and Dad, though that’s all about what you’re comfortable with.”
“And for two,” Tim said, dropping a gentle hand on Izzy’s shoulder, “we’re the kind of family who does th
ings together. If you’re not drinking, neither are we.”
We stayed at my parents’ house longer than we intended and left with bags of leftovers looped over our arms, including a container of food specifically for Brennen. After I told Mom I planned to visit him tomorrow because his mom really didn’t do Thanksgiving, she insisted on making something up for him.
“How did I go all these years and not know your parents were so awesome?” Izzy asked as she pulled her car onto the street.
“That’s a good question, especially considering you know how awesome I am. Obviously it runs in the family.”
She rolled her eyes and shook her head. “How long have your mom and Tim been married?”
“They started dating when I was two or three.” I shrugged. “He’s the only dad I’ve ever known.”
My biological father had popped into my life to visit every now and then, but that had never gone well. Thankfully, his paternal instinct only seemed to work once a year or so and I didn’t have to deal with him that much. Thinking about him planted a rock in my stomach, dimming the jubilance of the day.
Izzy bobbed her head, as she flicked on her turn signal. “You know, it’s strange. I just realized we’ve been friends for what? Twenty years? And I don’t even know if your mom ever married your biological father. Or what he looks like. Or anything really. I don’t know any of that important stuff.”
Important? How could anything about my dad be more important than who I was and how I interacted with the world? He had nothing to do with me. Never had. Never would.
“Mom left him when she was still pregnant with me.” I stared out the passenger window at the setting sun. Talking about this kind of stuff made me feel itchy. As she opened her mouth to ask another question, I changed the subject. “You wanna come with me to meet Brennen tomorrow?”
