Ask Anyone

by Sherryl Woods

  “Then why was Anna-Louise acting all smug after church today?” King asked. “What does she know that I don’t?”

  Daisy and Walker exchanged a mystified look. Tucker sat back and grinned. Jenna’s gaze met Bobby’s.

  “Do you want to put your father out of his misery, or shall I?” she asked.

  “I suppose I should be the one,” Bobby said. “I’m thinking of putting a new Mexican dish on the menu at the marina.”

  Jenna elbowed him in the ribs. “Stop it. Tell him.”

  “Oh, all right, but you’re spoiling all my fun. I don’t often get a chance to torment my father the way he’s always tormenting us.”

  Daisy regarded him intently, glanced over at Jenna, then grinned. “You’re getting married,” she said, stealing his thunder right out from under him.

  “Hey, that was my big announcement,” he protested.

  “Then you should have gotten right to it,” his sister countered.

  “You should have known,” Tucker told him without sympathy. “Daisy was always quick to run to Daddy and tattle on us.”

  “Oh, I was not,” she protested.

  “Hey,” Bobby shouted over them. “Jenna and I are getting married. Could we focus on that?”

  He turned to find a smug smile on his father’s face.

  “About time,” King said succinctly, and winked at Jenna. “I can’t imagine what you see in my son, but I’m delighted you’re willing to take him on. I knew it was a good match the first time I laid eyes on you. Before that, if the truth be known.”

  Bobby’s gaze narrowed. “What does that mean?”

  “Nothing,” King denied. “I’m real happy for you, son. When’s the wedding?”

  No sooner had the words left his mouth than three kids skidded to a halt in the doorway. Darcy’s mouth gaped. J.C. looked equally stunned.

  “Mom?” Darcy said. “Is King talking about your wedding? You and Bobby?”

  Jenna flushed guiltily. Now it was Bobby’s turn to stare. “You hadn’t told her?”

  “I thought we’d tell her together tonight. We only just decided,” she said defensively.

  Bobby regarded Darcy cautiously. “You okay with this?”

  “You’re not going to be my dad, though, right? I already have a dad.”

  The color drained out of Jenna’s face. Bobby felt a knot form in his stomach. He hadn’t expected resistance on this front. Clearly, neither had Jenna.

  “Come over here,” he said to Darcy. “You, too, J.C.”

  She came toward him reluctantly. Bobby took her hands in his. “I know you have a dad. And, no, I am not going to take his place. But I would like to be your step-father and your friend.” He glanced at his son. “It’s going to be a little bit of an adjustment for all of us, kind of like the one J.C. and I are making.”

  “Because you’re his biological dad and he already had another dad,” Darcy said.

  “Yes,” Bobby told her. “In a way that means you’re both very lucky. You’re going to have two fathers, and in J.C.’s case, he’s going to have a second mom as well. That’s a lot of people to hit up for cash when you want something.”

  “And a lot of people telling us what to do,” J.C. said sullenly. “How are we supposed to know who’s in charge?”

  “That’s something for the adults to work out,” Bobby told him. “And we’ll make sure you understand all the rules. Whenever you don’t, you can ask.” He met Darcy’s gaze. “How about it? You okay with this?”

  “We won’t ever go back to Baltimore?” she asked her mother.

  “Just to visit,” Jenna said.

  “But I can go see my dad and Grandpa whenever I want?” Darcy asked, evidently needing to clarify everything.

  “Whenever we all agree,” Jenna corrected.

  “And I can spend all the time I want in the kitchen with Bobby learning to cook, because now I’ll be his kid and not just someone who’s too young to work?”

  Bobby laughed. “Absolutely.”

  “It’ll be so cool,” Tommy enthused, piping up now that the details seemed to be ironed out to everyone’s satisfaction. “Now we’ll all be cousins or something, right, Grandpa King?”

  Bobby caught his father’s eye and thought he detected the sheen of tears, but King quickly blinked them away. “You’ve got that right, son. We’ll all be family.”

  “And a damned fine family at that,” Tucker said, lifting his glass. “Welcome Jenna and Darcy. You’re brave souls.”

  “Brave, nothing,” Bobby retorted. “Jenna’s marrying me. I call that smart.”

  Tucker clinked his glass to Bobby’s. “A matter of opinion, bro.”

  “Just wait,” Bobby told him. “One of these days Walker and I are going to get even with you for being so smug while we bit the matrimonial dust.”

  “Don’t hold your breath,” Tucker replied. “There’s not a woman born who can convince me to give up my peace and quiet.”

  “Peace and quiet?” Daisy repeated incredulously. “You carry a gun, for heaven’s sakes.”

  He frowned at her. “Not around the house. I walk through that door and my troubles are over for the day. I intend to keep it that way.”

  Bobby grinned. “Famous last words.”

  25

  Jenna could never in a million years have predicted her father’s reaction to the news that she was getting married. She waited until Christmas morning to tell him. It was the one day she could be absolutely certain he wouldn’t be racing off to the office five seconds after downing his first cup of coffee.

  He heard her out, then nodded once as a look of satisfaction spread across his face. “I thought that was the way the wind was blowing when I came down there a few months ago. I talked it over with King Spencer and decided to let well enough alone. He seemed to have things under control.”

  Jenna stared at him. “Under control? You and King Spencer conspired?”

  Her father flushed guiltily. “Conspiracy is a harsh assessment. We just didn’t want to leave anything to chance.”

  “What exactly did King do?”

  “Nothing to get so worked up over. You’re happy, aren’t you?”

  Jenna couldn’t deny that, but she still didn’t have to like being manipulated. “That’s not the point.”

  “Well, of course it is. I left things to chance with you once before, and look how that turned out. I did a little checking before I came down there, and saw right off that Bobby Spencer was an honorable man from a good family.”

  “And then what? You scheduled a meeting with his father to make a deal? How very archaic of you. What did you offer him, a couple of prize bulls?”

  “Don’t speak to me like that, young lady. I’m still your father. I did what needed to be done, put a few wheels into motion. Bobby did the proposing all on his own. Nobody dragged the words out of his mouth.”

  “But from your perspective it was a foregone conclusion,” she guessed.

  “King Spencer does have a way of getting what he wants,” he agreed.

  Jenna thought of Frances, who was still barely speaking to the man. She could sympathize with her at the moment.

  “You’re lucky I don’t walk out of here and never speak to you again,” Jenna said. “But since Bobby and I are in love with each other, I don’t suppose your meddling matters one way or the other.”

  She recalled her suspicions. “What exactly did King do, by the way?”

  Her father grinned. “I’m afraid I’m sworn to secrecy on that score.”

  “I’ll find out,” she told him.

  His grin spread. “Only if and when he wants you to,” he said. “The man’s sneaky.”

  “Which makes you two of a kind,” she muttered. “Heaven help us all.”

  Bobby wasn’t especially surprised by Jenna’s revelation about the conspiracy. All he cared about was getting her to walk down the aisle and say “I do.” So far, though, she was holding out for a spring wedding.

  “I cannot
possibly plan a wedding and finish this project on time,” she told him. “Your choice.”

  “Let Daisy and Anna-Louise plan the wedding.” The suggestion was met with stony silence. He concluded she hated the idea.

  But a week later, she greeted him at the door with a legal pad and a determined expression. “Here’s the deal,” she said grimly.

  She ran through a list of dates and details that had his head spinning.

  “Whatever you want,” he said eventually.

  She grinned. “Good answer. Now let’s talk color scheme for the boardwalk.”

  “Right after this,” he said, pulling her into his arms and covering her mouth. When he finally released her, she looked a little dazed. “Good. Women who can multitask so efficiently make me nervous. It’s nice to see I can still ruin your concentration.”

  “Thank goodness this is a school day. Darcy won’t be home for hours. You’ve pretty much ruined me for getting any work done today at all,” she said, giving him a smoldering look and hauling him straight down the hall to her bedroom. “Don’t blame me if the wedding and the boardwalk project don’t come in on time.”

  “Any delay will be well worth it,” he swore as he stripped off her clothes.

  “I’ll remind you of that,” she said, right before she tumbled both of them onto the bed.

  After that, Bobby made absolutely certain that there was only one thing on her mind for the rest of the day.

  Jenna’s May wedding day dawned with clear skies and a brilliant sun. But an hour before the ceremony, she was still on the boardwalk with a punch list in one hand and a building inspector on her heels. He seemed to be finding dozens of petty details that had to be fixed before he’d approve the buildings for occupancy. With only two weeks to go, time was getting critical. The tenants were chomping at the bit to get in and set up before the official Memorial Day opening.

  “Jenna, you’re going to be late to your own wedding,” Daisy complained when she found them inside the building designated for a small Victorian-style bed and breakfast. “Can’t this wait till Monday?”

  “We’re almost finished,” she insisted. “If Donald would stop nitpicking everything, we’d be out of here.”

  “Rules are rules,” he said, his expression rigid.

  Daisy planted herself in front of him. “Donnie Turner, you stop messing around right this second. I know the mayor put you up to this just to spoil Bobby’s wedding. Well, I’m here to tell you to give it a rest. These buildings are the safest in Trinity Harbor, and you know it. They exceed the fire code requirements, the Disability Act requirements and every petty regulation on the books here in town. Now go home.”

  “I’m not finished,” he protested.

  “You are for today,” Daisy countered, snagging Jenna’s hand. “Come on. I do not intend to let you walk down the aisle in a pair of jeans and a hard hat.”

  Jenna couldn’t hide the laughter that bubbled up. “Anxious to get Bobby married off, are you? Why? So you can move on to Tucker? You’re as bad as your father.”

  Daisy rolled her eyes. “Please. I don’t even come close. I just want today to be special for both of you. If you’re distracted, you won’t even remember the vows you wrote.”

  Jenna stared at her. “I was supposed to write my own vows?”

  Daisy frowned. “Don’t mess with me. I know it’s on one of those infernal lists of yours. Did you or did you not write them?”

  “Did Bobby write his?” Jenna asked curiously as Daisy shot through the streets of Trinity Harbor with her husband’s siren blasting on top of the car. Jenna was pretty sure it was an illegal use of county property, but she doubted Tucker would complain. Walker wouldn’t dare.

  “How should I know?” Daisy grumbled as she screeched to a stop in the church parking lot. “Tucker’s in charge of Bobby. I’m having enough trouble keeping up with you.”

  Inside the choir room, Anna-Louise was waiting with hot curlers, Jenna’s wedding gown and the same kind of militant expression that Daisy wore.

  “Let’s get this show on the road,” the pastor declared. “The groom’s been pacing around my office for an hour now, looking more nervous by the second. I don’t know how long Tucker, Richard and Walker can keep him away from here. He seemed to have some crazy idea you might not show up.”

  “Oh, for goodness’ sakes,” Jenna protested. “I’m here, aren’t I?”

  “Only because I went looking for you,” Daisy reminded her. “Sit. Let me see your nails.”

  “No time,” Anna-Louise shot back. “Hair and makeup, that’s it, or I will not be responsible for what happens when Bobby walks into the church and Jenna’s not walking down the aisle five seconds later.”

  “He’s waited all these years for the right woman, he can wait a few more minutes so that everything’s perfect,” Daisy argued.

  Just then there was a pounding on the door. “Hey, what’s the holdup in there?” King demanded.

  “We have twenty minutes, Daddy. Settle down,” Daisy commanded.

  Anna-Louise was rolling Jenna’s hair onto giant curlers when the door burst open. Bobby peered in. “Good. You’re here,” he said. “All I wanted to know.” He backed out and shut the door.

  Jenna yelped. “He saw me. That can’t be good. Where’s Darcy? Has anyone checked to be sure she’s ready?”

  “Darcy looks like an angel,” Daisy assured her. “Tommy and J.C. are complaining about being forced to wear a tux. They’re not going to be happy if this wedding doesn’t go off on time, either. They’ve already been in the church hall, eyeing the cake.”

  “If one little rosette on that cake is missing, I will personally strangle the pair of them,” Anna-Louise chimed in. “Do you know how long it took me to get it looking just right? Why I thought I could bake a wedding cake is beyond me. I should have let you order it from a bakery.”

  Jenna stood up and held up her hands. “Okay, that’s it. Will you two settle down before I wind up coming completely unglued? The cake is going to be perfect whether the decorations are snatched or not. I’m going to look…” She glanced at the mirror and suffered a few qualms. “I’m going to look okay. Everyone’s going to wait till I show up. They can’t very well do the ceremony without me. Besides, Anna-Louise, you’re in here. Nobody starts without the two of us. Now, both of you, take a deep breath.”

  The two women exchanged a look, then laughed.

  “Why am I the only one in this room who’s not having bridal jitters?” Jenna demanded.

  “Good question,” Anna-Louise said. “Maybe I’ll bring it up when you actually make it to the front of the church.”

  A few minutes later—only ten minutes late, Jenna noted with satisfaction—she was standing at the back of the church with her father. The jitters Anna-Louise had forecast were starting. She was getting married—for the second time. What was she thinking? She was lousy at marriage. She would screw it up, just the way she had last time.

  Then she looked down the long aisle and met Bobby’s gaze. Her nerves steadied at once. She wasn’t a screwup anymore. She was worthy of this incredible man’s love. He’d told her that time and again, in a thousand different ways. And even if she made an occasional mistake, so what? He was promising to give her a lifetime to get it right.

  Bobby had had a few bad moments when he’d realized that Jenna wasn’t at the church. When he’d finally seen her for himself—hair up in curlers, makeup incomplete, wearing a ratty old robe that belonged to his sister if he wasn’t mistaken—his relief had been overwhelming. He would have married her right then and there, if he hadn’t had to contend with his sister and Anna-Louise. They’d been determined to make this day special, and they were already appalled that he’d seen the bride before the ceremony.

  But now, at last, Jenna was at the back of the church, taking her first step in his direction. In mere moments, she would be by his side, where she’d stay forever.

  He glanced at his brother-in-law, whose gaze was locked wit
h Daisy’s. His misty-eyed sister wore a dreamy expression as she watched Jenna coming down the aisle to the strains of the wedding march. Then he turned to Tucker, who was running a finger inside the tight collar of his shirt and looking thoroughly uncomfortable. Finally he looked out at his father in the first pew. King looked smugly content. And why shouldn’t he? He’d gotten his way.

  But so had Bobby. Manipulated or not, he’d wound up with a woman who would spend the rest of their lives surprising him. What man could complain about a thing like that? A few years down the road, he’d probably be doing whatever it took to see that his own kids were happy, too.

  At last he turned his attention back to Jenna. She reached his side and slipped her hand into his. From that moment on, he had everything in life he’d ever wanted.

  The boardwalk was scheduled to open on Memorial Day weekend, two weeks after Jenna and Bobby’s wedding. They were postponing their honeymoon until after the opening.

  Now it was barely dawn on the day after the wedding and they were standing on the brand-new boardwalk admiring the sunrise. Bobby turned his attention to the development behind them. It was perfect, everything he’d ever imagined. Only one thing was missing.

  “We really have to decide on that carousel,” he said. “If we’re going to bring it in, we need to get it here for the opening whether we have the missing horse or not.”

  “I have it covered,” Jenna said. “Stop worrying. It’ll be here soon.”

  “And the missing horse? I suppose you know something about that, too?”

  A grin spread across her face. “I’m almost a hundred percent certain it will be here.”

  Bobby frowned. “What do you know that I don’t? Did Tucker finally track down the thief?”

  “Wait and see. I could be wrong.”

  Two hours later, the magnificent antique carousel was in its place of honor as the centerpiece of the boardwalk. It was even more beautiful than Jenna had described. It was bound to draw people from miles around just to admire it.

  There was just one problem. There was a gaping hole where a proud horse had once stood. Bobby shook his head, regretting that he hadn’t insisted on a massive search to find a replacement horse weeks ago.