The Secret Daughter

by Roz Denny Fox

  “Don’t be ridiculous. And don’t think you’ll get a sneak preview before the ceremony, either. We’ve already established that this family doesn’t need to go hunting for bad luck.”

  The men retreated in a hail of raucous, good-natured commentary. But their jovial banter was short-lived.

  The women, having taken off their finery, trooped after them still chattering happily. Jackson’s cell phone rang just as Adam was fitting a jacket over Noelani’s bulky bandage. Jackson’s sudden hiss of dismay had all the friends halting in their tracks to gaze at him with troubled curiosity.

  Casey reacted first to Jackson’s remote expression after he clicked off and seemed to stand there looking dazed. “Jackson? Who was on the phone? Don’t tell me. What now?”

  He wouldn’t meet his sister’s eyes, and looked as if he might bolt at any minute. Noelani planted herself in his path.

  Casey shook his shoulder. “Give, Jackson. If something’s happened with the cane, I need to know. If it’s another mill accident, that’s Noelani’s domain.”

  “Oh, no!” Noelani clapped a hand to her mouth. “I heard you mention Denise’s name. Was that Remy? The cops haven’t turned her loose, have they?”

  “No.” Jackson sucked in a deep breath. “That, ah, was the spokesman for the NTSB. He phoned regarding Duke and Maman’s accident. He said their investigators strongly suspect the plane’s fuel line was tampered with. He’s…ah…already spoken with Remy. They’ve questioned both Broderick and Denise. Broderick was in jail when the plane crashed, and Denise never missed a day’s work. So they’re not suspects.”

  “Have they questioned Chuck Riley?” Nick and Adam exclaimed almost in one voice.

  “Remy told the guy who phoned me that he planned to bring Chuck in for questioning. So far, they haven’t been able to locate him. Beats me why Duke trusted that SOB. Remy’s trying to get his hands on Duke’s logbook. It may implicate Riley.”

  Noelani stirred. “Adam, this is awful! We’ll just have to postpone our wedding.”

  Casey and Jackson both jerked to attention. It was Jackson who declared, “You’ll do no such thing. This is a problem for the law. It has nothing to do with you or Adam.”

  “It does.” Noelani’s chin began to tremble. “I’ve spent twenty-eight years denying I had any connection to Duke Fontaine. But you know what, Jackson? He was my father. You and Casey aren’t alone in this mess.”

  Aunt Esme, who’d been gripping the newel post with one arm and poor Toodles with the other, spoke up. “Noelani’s right. You all share Duke’s blood. And from what I’ve seen these last few months, you all do him proud. No matter what, I’d remind you that Fontaines keep a stiff upper lip. I say the wedding goes on as scheduled. If we have other enemies lurking about, they need to see we’re made of sterner stuff.”

  Although the accidental siblings were obviously shaken by the news coming out of Italy, they all agreed to follow Esme’s dictate.

  Casey rallied first, hugging Noelani, then Adam. “Go on to your appointment. Guys, my wedding went past in a blur. I intend to enjoy every moment of yours.”

  THANKSGIVING DAY DAWNED crisp, cold and without a single cloud in the sky. Bellefontaine had been a beehive of activity for weeks. Betty bustled around the newly restored kitchen. For nearly a month she’d fashioned and frozen white chocolate candies and trays of canapés. That morning they were whisked out, placed on the family silver and set strategically around the dining room for the guests to enjoy.

  Esme, never more in her element, flitted around the house making certain every candle and sprig of greenery looked just so.

  “Auntie E, relax. No couple could ask for a more beautiful setting to be married in,” Noelani chided, lovingly pressing a kiss to the woman’s soft cheek. “It’s time for the wedding party to dress. Will you help me with my gown?”

  The Fontaine matriarch failed to hide watery eyes, but did manage a nod. With a rustle of her ecru crepe dress, she scooped up Toodles, who’d also been groomed for the occasion with a satin bow and diamond collar. In her usual sweeping manner, Esme kept pace with Noelani up the winding stairs.

  A scant hour later, stunning in emerald-green silk, Casey Devlin stepped back to view her handiwork in an ornate, free-standing mirror. Her last act was to arrange a fragrant lei around Noelani’s shoulders. One they’d all had a hand in crafting. “As usual, Viv, you were absolutely right. The lei and matching crown of magnolia blossoms and tiny yellow rosebuds sets off Noelani’s dark eyes and black hair to perfection. Oh, isn’t she beautiful?”

  Blinking back tears, Casey once again flapped her hands in front of her eyes in a manner that had become familiar to Noelani. And yet the last time—in the kitchen after the cochon de lait—seemed ages ago. When things hadn’t been so perfect…

  “Blast! I knew it. There goes my mascara. Noelani, honey, you’re going to knock Adam’s socks off.”

  Impulsively, Noelani leaned close and brushed cheeks with Casey. “No tears today, please. You’ve all made me happier than I ever dreamed possible. I have a family. And soon I’ll have a husband and a real home of my own. And these were all things I tried so hard to turn my back on.”

  Jackson tapped on the door casing and stuck his head in the room. Megan skipped inside, a little princess in her floor-length dress. Jackson looked as if his black tux had been tailored for his lean, runner’s body.

  “Are all the men in the wedding party on the landing? Except for Adam, of course. I assume he’s downstairs with the JP?” Noelani murmured anxiously.

  Jackson smiled. “Bruce Shiller, Nick and Luc are in place. The background music’s just stopped, and Murray is walking Aunt Esme and Toodles to their seats. I can’t believe you bought that dog a satin pillow, Noelani.”

  Her answer was to lower her lashes and adjust his already perfect tie. It’d long been decided that Jackson would escort Megan downstairs first, followed by Casey, matron of honor, with Nick serving as Adam’s best man. Viv, the bride’s second attendant, was set to go after them on the arm of Luc, another of Adam’s groomsmen. While Tanya played the piano, a good friend of Luc’s would sing a love song.

  The leaders started their trek down the polished stairs. Bruce took hold of Noelani’s icy arm. “You’re the spitting image of your mother today. Ah! Thank you, hon. That huge smile tells me your life couldn’t be better.”

  “I’m ready,” she said. “No matter what happens from this day forward, Bruce, nothing will change the love I have for Adam, or his love for me.”

  “That’s my girl.” The man acting in her father’s stead made a sweeping gesture toward the beautifully decorated hall below. They heard the faint change in the strains of the antique piano.

  Noelani took a deep breath as she watched Jackson, Casey, Nick, Viv and Luc assemble in a row. Megan floated two feet off the floor. She didn’t have to pretend that all was well in the Fontaine family. That was one happy child.

  Leaning heavily on Bruce, Noelani prayed her knees wouldn’t give out. She arrived safely at the curve of the stairs, her train a satin waterfall behind her. For the first time, she glanced down on the dearest friends of a family she’d joined by choice. Her eyes skidded across their heads to Adam’s upturned face. Joy, awe and love reached across the distance separating them. Her world stopped spinning out of control and steadied on its axis when Adam stepped forward and raised both of his arms toward her. Whatever else life had to throw at the Fontaines, her place here and Adam’s love for her were secure.

  A fresh tune rippled from beneath Tanya’s nimble fingers. The cultured baritone voice of Luc’s friend galvanized every guest in the room as he began to sing “The Hawaiian Wedding Song.”

  “This is the moment I’ve waited for…”

  Noelani’s heart echoed the words to the haunting love ballad; she alone knew it had been Anela Hana and Duke Fontaine’s special song. This small thing she would do to honor the man and woman who’d given her life.

  Reaching Adam, Noela
ni let go of Bruce and moved into the warm circle of her soon-to-be husband and lover’s arms.

  “I will love you longer than forever…”

  With all her heart, Noelani sensed those words would bind her and Adam for all eternity. Truly, for this moment, the family’s problems ceased to exist.

  ISBN: 978-1-4592-3638-7

  THE SECRET DAUGHTER

  Copyright © 2003 by Rosaline Fox.

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