The Manning Sisters

by Debbie Macomber

  Deciding it was a waste of time, Christy started for her front door when Taylor’s voice, hesitant and unsure, came over the tinny speaker. “Christy, call me as soon as you get home. Something’s come up that we need to discuss.”

  There was an uncharacteristic note in her sister’s voice, an uncertainty that suggested something was terribly amiss.

  Puzzled, Christy returned to the phone and placed a long-distance call to Cougar Point. Mandy answered, sounding as cheerful as ever.

  “Taylor’s not here,” Russ’s sister explained. “She drove into Miles City for Eric’s first appointment with the pediatrician. Do you want me to have her call you once she gets back? I don’t think it’ll be too much longer. I know she was anxious to talk to you.”

  “No. I’m headed to my parents’ house now. I’ll phone again later.” Hopefully by that time everything would be settled. She could contact Taylor and Russ and then talk to Cody. The mere thought of him made her go weak. Seemingly by accident they’d found each other and unexpectedly discovered what it meant to fall in love. Neither of them had been looking for this, neither of them fully understood why it had happened, but it was right. Right for Cody. Right for Christy.

  After two long days on the road, she was physically exhausted and mentally depleted. She’d considered delaying this confrontation until she was well-rested and relaxed, but she knew she couldn’t do that. The engagement to James hung over her head and she wouldn’t find peace until all the obstacles were cleared out out of the road that would lead her back to her sheriff.

  Her parents’ luxury vehicle was in the driveway when Christy drove up. Jason’s car was in the street, and Christy parked her own behind his. Even before she’d turned off the engine, her father had opened the front door and was walking toward her, arms outstretched.

  Eric Manning embraced his daughter, hugging her tight. From the time she was little Christy had always felt a special closeness to her parents. Most of her friends had rebelled in one way or another against their families, but never Christy. She’d never felt the need.

  “When did you get back?” her father asked.

  “Not even half an hour ago.” She slipped her arm around his thickening waist and they walked toward the sprawling brick house. The lawn was a soft, lush green. Many a happy hour had been spent racing across this very same grass. Echoes of her childhood laughter seemed to mock her now.

  Elizabeth Manning stood in the entryway, her left leg encased from her foot to just below her knee in a hot pink cast. She broke into a broad smile as Christy approached the front door.

  “Sweetheart, it’s so good to have you home.”

  “It’s good to be home, and before you ask, yes, I brought tons of pictures of Eric.”

  “Oh, that’s wonderful, I can’t tell you how excited we are that Russ and Taylor named him after your father.”

  Christy stepped into the house. It was a large home built into a hill overlooking the freeway that cut a wide path through the heart of Seattle. The basement opened onto an enormous, landscaped yard with a profusion of flower beds and space for a vegetable garden, whose bounty spilled over to friends and neighbors every summer.

  “How’s the leg?”

  “Better,” Elizabeth said, dismissing her daughter’s concern with a quick shake of her head. She was walking with a cane now, leaning heavily upon it. Christy knew her mother well enough to realize Elizabeth Manning would never want to burden her children with the fact that she was in pain. But her mother did look much healthier, Christy mused. The sparkle was back in her eyes, and a flush of excitement glowed from her cheeks. Christy couldn’t remember how long it’d been since she’d seen her mother so happy. No doubt the birth of their third grandson was responsible.

  “You’re looking terrific,” Christy said, kissing her mother’s cheek.

  “Actually, sweetie, we have you to thank for that,” her father murmured, sharing an enigmatic smile with wife.

  “Me?” Apparently they were playing the same game as Jason.

  “Eric, let’s not discuss this in the entryway.”

  Her father chuckled, and Christy noted that his eyes seemed brighter, too. He certainly was in one of his better moods. Christy would like to think it was all due to her arrival and the fact that she’d brought pictures of their grandson. But somehow she doubted it, especially after having spoken to Jason.

  Her second-oldest brother was sitting in the family room in front of the television when Christy walked in. He was wearing a Seattle Mariners baseball cap, which he had on much of the time.

  “Welcome home, little sister,” he greeted her. He stood and hugged her, then stepped back, wiggling his eyebrows.

  “All right, you guys,” Christy said, claiming the easy chair next to Jason. “What’s going on around here?”

  Her father’s mouth started to quiver, as though he was having difficulty holding back his excitement. He shared another look with his wife of thirty-five years.

  “If you’ll recall, your mother’s spirits were low after she fell and broke her leg. Missing out on this special time with Taylor and Russ depressed her.”

  “I didn’t even realize how melancholy I’d become until Eric mentioned it,” Elizabeth said. “Sometimes I swear he knows me better than I know myself.”

  Christy felt herself nod.

  “Your father’s the one who came up with the idea for an engagement party.”

  “An…engagement party,” Christy echoed, coming halfway out of her chair, appalled and dismayed.

  Her mother pressed her fingers to her lips, almost giddy with delight. “We knew you’d be pleased.”

  “I…I…” Christy was at a complete loss for words. Somehow she managed a smile and slumped back into the cushions of the overstuffed chair.

  “You can’t imagine what fun we’ve had,” Elizabeth continued, her voice animated. “I’m afraid your father got carried away. He insisted we order the best of everything. We’ve rented the Eagles Hall, got the invitations mailed—engraved ones. Oh, sweetie, I can hardly wait for you to see them. We spent hour after hour with the caterers. I can’t even begin to tell you what a fabulous time I—we—had planning every detail of this party. I can’t help feeling proud of everything we accomplished in such a short time.”

  “It was just what your mother needed,” Christy’s father inserted smoothly, looking equally delighted. “Elizabeth’s been like a kid again from the moment we decided to go through with this.”

  “I see.” Christy went completely numb. It seemed impossible that no one was aware of it.

  “I suppose we’re a pair of old fools, but when Taylor married Russ in Reno, your father and I felt cheated out of a large family wedding. We’ve been looking forward to throwing one for years.”

  “When?” It was torture getting the word past the tightness that all but blocked her throat.

  “That’s the crazy part,” Jason told her. “Mom and Dad put this entire thing together in two weeks.”

  Christy still didn’t understand; not much of the conversation made sense. Her look must have conveyed her confusion.

  “The party’s tomorrow night,” Elizabeth said, her face radiating her excitement.

  “Tomorrow night?”

  “I know it sounds crazy, and we took a chance booking it so close to the end of your vacation, but there were only a few dates available at the Eagles Hall, and it was either tomorrow night or three months from now.”

  “In fact, the only reason we were able to get the hall is because of a last-minute cancellation,” Eric said. “I had no idea we’d need to book this sort of thing so far in advance.”

  “James?” No one seemed to notice she was having trouble speaking, which Christy supposed was a blessing of sorts.

  “He knows, of course, but we decided to keep it a secret for you. A welcome-home surprise.”

  Christy nodded, hating the way she continued to sit in her parents’ home, saying nothing when it felt as if the foundation
s of her world were crumbling at her feet. Her mother and father and Jason were all looking at her, waiting for some response, but for the life of her, Christy couldn’t give them one.

  Her eyes met with her brother’s.

  He winked broadly. “Mom and Dad are sparing no expense. If the wedding’s half as elaborate as the engagement party, then your big day’s going to be spectacular.”

  Eric Manning chuckled. “It isn’t every father who has a daughter as special as Christy.”

  Christy forced a smile although she longed to stand up and beg them to put an end to this craziness. She didn’t love James. She loved Cody. She couldn’t possibly go through with an engagement to a man she didn’t intend to marry.

  She glanced from her mother to her father, both of them staring at her with bright, eager smiles, as though waiting for her to burst into a song of praise for their efforts.

  “I…I…” The words froze on her lips.

  “Honey, look,” Elizabeth murmured devotedly to her husband. “Christy’s speechless. Oh, sweetie, you don’t need to say anything. Your father and I understand. If anyone should be giving thanks, it’s me. I was so miserable after my fall. Planning this party was the best thing in the world for me. I’ve loved every minute of it. Keeping it a surprise has been so much fun.”

  There had to be a plausible excuse she could use to avoid this farce of an engagement party. “I don’t have a dress.” The words escaped her lips almost as quickly as they formed in her mind.

  “Not to worry,” Elizabeth said, her eyes glowing even brighter. “I thought of everything, if I do say so myself. I went shopping the other day and picked out a dress for you. If you don’t like it, or it doesn’t fit, we can exchange it first thing in the morning.”

  First thing in the morning. The words echoed in her ears. “I…I’m supposed to go back to work.” That sounded reasonable to her. After two weeks away from the law firm, Christy was expected back. They needed her. They were short-staffed without her. She couldn’t demand additional time off to exchange a party dress.

  “No need to worry about that, either,” Eric said. “James has that covered. He talked it over with the office manager, and she’s given you two extra days off with pay.”

  “Tomorrow, of course, will be filled with all the last-minute details for the party,” Elizabeth rattled on, rubbing her palms together.

  “You didn’t tell Taylor?” Her older sister would’ve said something to her; Christy was sure of it.

  “Well, not right away. I mailed her a long letter and an invitation so it would arrive the day you were scheduled to leave Montana. I’m guessing she has it by now. I couldn’t take the chance of mailing it any sooner for fear you’d find it, and I didn’t want to say anything when we phoned in case she inadvertently let the cat out of the bag. I wanted to keep this a surprise.”

  “I see,” Christy murmured.

  “Your father and I don’t expect Taylor to fly home for the party, not so soon after having the baby. She and Russ will come out for the wedding. Which is something else we need to discuss. Talk to James, sweetie—the sooner we have a date, the better. There’s so much to do, and I so want this wedding to be carefully planned. I can’t tell you how much I’ve learned in the past two weeks. Right after the party tomorrow night, we’re going to sit down and discuss the wedding.”

  Christy nodded, simply because she lacked the courage to explain there would never be a wedding, at least not one in which James was the bridegroom.

  “You are surprised, aren’t you?” Jason demanded, looking exceptionally cocky, as though he was the person responsible for pulling this whole affair together.

  Surprise was too mild a word for what Christy was experiencing. Even shock and dismay were too mild.

  Horror and panic more aptly described her feelings.

  James! She needed to talk to James. He’d help her. He’d understand, and then together they’d clear up this mess. Together they could confront her parents and make them understand.

  She stood before she realized what she was doing. Everyone in the room seemed to be staring holes straight through her. Glancing around, she offered them each a weak smile.

  Always dutiful. Always obedient. Never causing a concern or a problem. Christy was about to destroy her good-girl image.

  But first she had to talk to James.

  Two messages were waiting for Christy on her answering machine when she returned late that afternoon. The first was from Cody and the second from Taylor.

  Christy didn’t answer either.

  Instead she sat in her living room, staring into space, weighed down by guilt, pressured beyond anything she’d ever experienced and entangled in circumstances beyond her control.

  How long she stayed there Christy didn’t know. Here she was safe. Here she was protected. Here she could hide.

  That small sense of security, however, quickly disintegrated. Knowing there was nothing else she could do to stop the progression of events, she stood and walked into the kitchen. She paused in front of the phone, then abruptly picked it up before she had a change of heart.

  Cody wasn’t home, and she left an all-too-brief message. Her next call was to Taylor.

  “Christy, what’s going on?” Taylor burst out the instant she recognized her younger sister. “I got this crazy letter from Mom about a surprise engagement party for you. What’s happening?”

  “You mean about the party?” Christy asked. Her voice lacked any level of emotion. She had none left.

  “Of course I mean the party,” Taylor cried. “Do you mean to say you’re going through with it?”

  “I don’t have any choice.”

  “Christy, you can’t be serious! What about Cody? I thought you were in love with him. I may be out of line here, but I could’ve sworn you…” She inhaled deeply. “I’d better stop before I say something I shouldn’t. Just answer me one question. Do you or do you not love Cody Franklin?”

  Christy wiped the tears from her face and nodded wildly. “You know I do.”

  “Then it seems to me you’re allowing Mom and Dad to dictate your life.”

  “You don’t understand,” Christy whimpered.

  “What’s there to understand?”

  “Mom broke her leg—” She couldn’t go on, wondering if she should even try to describe this hopeless mess. Even if she did it was doubtful Taylor would understand.

  “I know about Mom’s accident,” Taylor returned impatiently.

  “She was terribly depressed afterward. I saw it, we all did, but apparently it didn’t go away like everyone expected it would. Then Dad came up with the brilliant idea of planning this engagement party.”

  “Oh, dear.”

  “Mom put everything she had into it, and now—”

  “Christy, I know it’s difficult, but you’ve got to remember Mom and Dad planned this party without consulting you.”

  That was true enough, but it didn’t change the facts. “I can’t humiliate them. I thought if I talked to James, told him about Cody, everything would work out, but then I discovered I couldn’t do that, either. I wanted us to face Mom and Dad and make some kind of decision together about the party, but that’s impossible now. Everything’s so crazy…. I can’t believe this is happening.”

  “Do you mean to say James doesn’t know about Cody yet?”

  Christy closed her eyes.

  “Christy?”

  “I…couldn’t tell him.” She stiffened, waiting for the backlash of anger that was sure to follow.

  After a short silence, Taylor said, “You couldn’t tell James about Cody?”

  The trouble she had forming the words was painfully obvious. “You heard me.”

  There was another silence. “I see.”

  “How could you possibly see?” Christy demanded, keeping her voice level, when she wanted to scream at the accusation she heard in her sister’s voice. “I went to him, fully intending to tell him everything.”

  “Then why di
dn’t you?”

  “For two months James has been preparing for the most important trial of his career.”

  “You mean to say you’re worried about James’s career? At a time like this?”

  Christy ignored her sister’s outburst. “A businessman from Kirkland…You must know Alfred Mulligan. He’s the one who does all those crazy television ads. Anyway, he’s been charged with cheating on his taxes. The whole case is extremely complicated, and you know as well as I do how messy this kind of thing can get when the federal government is involved.” She waited for Taylor to agree with her.

  “What’s that got to do with anything?”

  Christy hated the angry impatience she heard in her sister’s voice. It was all too clear that Taylor was upset with her. Christy felt Taylor’s disapproval as strongly as a slap. All her life she’d experienced love and approval, especially from her family, and it hurt more than she could bear to feel such overwhelming censure from her only sister.

  “You don’t understand,” Christy tried again. “James has been working day and night for weeks to get ready for this trial. It was scheduled for the first of next month, but he learned this afternoon they’ve called the case early. He’s making the opening statement tomorrow morning.”

  “I’m afraid I don’t understand the relevance of all this.”

  “I don’t expect you to. James has worked himself into a frenzy. I’ve never seen him like this. So much hangs in the balance for him.”

  “That’s fine, but I still don’t—”

  “He has a chance to win this case, but it’s going to be difficult,” Christy went on, cutting off her sister’s protest. “James knows that. Everyone does, but if by some miracle he can pull this off, it could mean a partnership for him.”

  “Oh, Christy,” Taylor said with a groan.

  “If I broke off the engagement now, it could ruin everything for him.”

  “That’s James’s problem, not yours.”

  “Maybe it is his problem. I don’t know anymore. I do know that I can’t do this to him. Not on the eve of the most important trial of his career. Not when James has finally been given the chance to prove himself. If anything went wrong, I’d always blame myself.”