Come Home with Me

by Susan Fox

  “Could you pass some of that luck along to me?” Iris said, in a joking tone that was belied by the seriousness in her eyes.

  Impulsively Miranda gave her a quick hug. “There you go. Consider it passed.”

  Iris looked startled, which made Miranda realize that the other woman tended not to be physically demonstrative, but then she smiled and said, “You’re sweet, Miranda.”

  “No, honestly, I’m not. But since you’re feeling charitably disposed toward me, may I venture a bit of none-of-my-business advice?”

  “Um, I suppose so.”

  “Iris, you have so much going for you. If you were just a little more confident and outgoing, then men would see that.”

  “Easier to say than do. Besides, my shyness is a part of me, just as it is with my father and aunt. It has its pros as well as its cons. When I meet my own Prince Charming, he’ll recognize that and love all of me, as happened with my mom and dad.”

  “Maybe so.” She reflected. “After all, Luke seems to like, or at least accept, all of me, even though I’m far from perfect. Yes, I was so, so lucky to meet him.”

  Iris frowned slightly. “Well, I suppose it wasn’t solely luck,” she said almost reluctantly. “You were brave enough to put yourself out there, to take risks. I don’t think I’d have the guts to do that.”

  “No guts, no glory?” Miranda suggested gently. Thinking about how her own relationship with Luke had developed, she went on. “Maybe it takes the right man to bring out that side of you. I’m different with Luke than I’ve ever been with anyone else. He brings out the best in me.”

  And so did Destiny Island, this second time around. When she’d come here as a teen, she’d hoped that her dreams of finding a home and love would finally be realized—but her grandparents had promptly shattered that illusion. Last summer, when she’d hit bottom and dragged her pathetic self back here, all she’d wanted was to get her life together and return to Vancouver. But the island and its people had wormed their way into her heart. For the first time in her life, when she hadn’t even been looking, hadn’t dared hope, had she found a home? And maybe even love? Had she really, as the locals liked to say, found her destiny here on Destiny Island?

  A strong hand touched her elbow and Luke’s body brushed hers as he returned to her side. “My ears are burning. Thank you for that, Miranda. And in return, I can honestly say that you brought me back to life. After Candace’s death, I never imagined that I—” He broke off with a cough. To Iris, he said apologetically, “Sorry. I guess weddings bring out my mushy side.”

  So she wasn’t the only one. Miranda leaned into him.

  “It’s charming that you have a mushy side,” Iris said quietly. “Now I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone.”

  But then shy Iris, who seemed to be feeling unsettled today, would be alone. Miranda reached out and caught her arm just as Luke said, “Don’t go. Miranda’s going to desert me any moment. Keep me company while she does wedding stuff.”

  Iris gave him a bashful smile. “I’d like that.”

  “Luke’s right,” Miranda said with a glance at her watch, “I’ve been away too long. We’re almost due to start.”

  After stretching up to plant a kiss on Luke’s cheek, she hurried back to Di and Seal’s big house. There, everyone seemed organized and calm. Aaron, Eden, and her family stood chatting with Lionel Williams and Jonathan Barnes. Lionel, Aaron’s old friend and mentor, was his best man. Jonathan, a marriage commissioner, would officiate and then serve double duty because he was a member of B-B-Zee.

  Aaron and Eden had shunned the superstition about not seeing each other before the wedding, and stood hand in hand looking gorgeous. Aaron wore black pants and a smoky blue shirt, perfectly complementing his dark hair, brown skin, and grayish-blue eyes. Eden was a dream in cream-colored lace, her walnut-brown hair pulled up in an artfully casual style and dotted with white blossoms. Her amber eyes glowed golden, like the woven chain around her neck, a gift her father had given her mom on their wedding day. Dangling from her ears were stunning earrings made of gold threads and sparkly topaz stones. They were a gift from Aaron, custom-made by the same local jeweler who’d crafted Eden’s engagement ring and their wedding rings.

  “You two take my breath away,” Miranda told them, happy tears hazing her eyes. Blinking them away with mascaraed lashes, she checked out the others.

  Kelsey looked like a younger, short-haired version of herself, and Helen and Di were lovely in short-sleeved tops and long, patterned skirts in gentle shades of silver and gold that flattered their sixty-something beauty. Di had created a few narrow braids in her long hair, weaving them with gold and silver ribbons, and Helen had a couple of jeweled pins in her short silver hair.

  Seal and Jonathan were both dressed in good jeans and shirts of unbleached cotton. Seal’s long hair was ponytailed while Jonathan was bald, with a neat gray beard. Jim Blaine and Lionel both wore black pants and crisp white shirts, Lionel’s making his dark chocolate skin look almost black.

  “I think everyone’s arrived,” Miranda told the group. “They’re just milling about, chatting.”

  “I’ll round them up,” Seal said. “Give me five minutes, and everyone will be in their seats.”

  Aaron let go of Eden’s hand and stepped toward Miranda. With his hand on her shoulder, he steered her slightly away from the Blaine family. “Well, Little Sister, who’d have ever thought this day would come?”

  She beamed at him. “Not me. Never. Thank God for Eden.”

  “You can say that again.” He ducked his head to stare straight into her eyes. “It’s all good, Miranda. You know that, right?”

  Thankful that she could give him a wholehearted answer, she said, “I do, and it is. I’m so happy for all of us.”

  When he leaned down to drop a kiss on her forehead, she didn’t even try to stop herself from grabbing him in a tight hug. She clung for one long moment and then gently shoved him away. “Let’s get you married, Big Brother. You have your vows?”

  He patted his shirt pocket. The bride and groom had decided to write their own vows, and he’d begged Miranda’s help in finding the right words to express his emotions. Though he’d memorized the vows, he was carrying a paper copy for the sake of his peace of mind.

  When he went back to Eden, Miranda walked over to Kelsey and took her hand.

  “If everyone’s ready,” Jonathan said, “let’s get this show on the road.”

  And then they were in motion. Jonathan, Lionel, and Aaron went first and a minute later Di, followed by Miranda and Kelsey. As they neared the assembled group, with everyone turned to watch them, the only sound was the strains of Pachelbel’s Canon in D on the harp. Aaron stood under the trellised arch, with Lionel and Jonathan off to the side. Smiling at her brother, Miranda walked with Kelsey down the aisle.

  When they reached the front, the harpist stopped playing. They stepped to the side and turned, and the harpist struck the first notes of “Ode to Joy.”

  And there was Eden, flanked by her parents, taking the first steps onto the petal-strewn aisle. She walked faster than at the rehearsal, as if she couldn’t wait any longer to join her life with Aaron’s. Miranda glanced at Luke, catching the moment when Eden passed the aisle where he and Iris sat side by side. When he turned to face forward, his gaze shifted from the bride to Miranda, and they exchanged smiles.

  Was it just wedding-day emotion, or was it possible that one day the two of them would be doing this? If so, there would definitely be kids present, because their children would be part of the union.

  Gazing at her handsome lover, she remembered how, when she’d come to Destiny, she had resolved to avoid relationships and figured she wouldn’t be tempted because the single guys were too boring. How wrong she’d been. But honestly, she’d never have believed that an amazing man like Luke might care for her. A man who was as impressive in his own way as Chef Emile or Ariana’s actor father, but such a better person.

  She’d never have i
magined any of this. Being part of a family and part of a community. Coming to be accepted by Luke’s kids and his parents and in-laws.

  It was all so normal, really. Which was the last thing that, until now, her life had ever been.

  As Aaron and Eden gripped each other’s hands, stared lovingly into each other’s eyes, and recited their vows—Aaron not needing to pull the paper from his pocket—she wondered if she was totally crazy to think, One day, this could be me.

  * * *

  The reception was hopping. Miranda was with Luke, talking to Glory and Brent, and Jillian and Michael. Jillian, a pilot who flew for Aaron’s Blue Moon Air, had recently wed Michael. An architect, he had now moved from Toronto and set up business in Blue Moon Harbor.

  “Cole’s not here today,” Miranda commented. Jillian and Michael’s son—who really was their son, due to a birth control misfire back in university—was eight. A regular customer at Blowing Bubbles, he was a smart, well-behaved boy.

  “We offered him the choice,” Michael said. His attractive brown-skinned face crinkled in a smile. “His reaction was, to quote, ‘Eeewww.’ He’d rather hang out with his best friend.”

  A male server in jeans and a blue tee offered them a tray of drinks. Glory and Brent both chose prosecco. Miranda, who’d reached her one-drink limit with the champagne used for the toasts, took the sparkling passionfruit punch. Luke, perennially on call, did the same. Michael took a glass of prosecco, but Jillian also chose the punch.

  Miranda, thirsty after half an hour on the dance floor, drank a good portion of the delicious concoction. “I guess you didn’t even get to drink the champagne, did you?” she asked Jillian. The young, blond-haired woman would shortly be flying Aaron and Eden to their honeymoon destination in Tofino, a town by the ocean on the west coast of Vancouver Island. A pilot couldn’t have even one drink before a flight.

  “No, no alcohol for me,” Jillian confirmed. She glanced up at her husband with a smile. “But I can live with it.”

  “Good thing,” he said in a soft, loving tone that had Miranda’s eyes widening.

  As the couple exchanged warm glances, Miranda skimmed her gaze down Jillian’s body, slim and toned in a coral sundress. “You’re not . . .” She gestured toward her tummy.

  Jillian’s pink cheeks turned a deeper color and her sky-blue eyes sparkled. “Shh. We only found out yesterday. And yes, this time we intended to get pregnant.”

  “Oh my God, that’s fantastic.”

  After everyone else offered congratulations, Miranda asked, “Does Cole know yet?”

  “Yes,” Jillian said. “He’s thrilled at the idea of being a big brother. But don’t tell anyone else, okay? We’ve only told him and our parents. Not even Aaron, because I don’t want anything to distract from his and Eden’s celebration.”

  “Of course,” Miranda said, and the others agreed.

  Luke touched her shoulder. “How about another dance?”

  “Thought you’d never ask.” She drained her drink and they excused themselves and headed for the dance floor where several couples were two-stepping to a country song.

  After a couple of dances, all the liquid she’d been drinking necessitated a trip to the ladies’ room. A couple of deluxe porta-potties had been set up, but as a resident of SkySong she instead darted across the lawn to her own cabin. There, she took the opportunity to call Glory’s parents and make sure the girls were fine, and to tidy her hair and refresh her light makeup.

  Humming under her breath from sheer happiness, she made her way back across the lawn. She was crossing behind the tents where a smorgasbord of snacks was laid out, when a sandal strap came loose. As she bent to refasten it, a woman’s voice drifted out from inside the tent. “I can’t believe Luke is actually dating her. He deserves so much better than that.”

  Miranda froze, her breath catching. The voice sounded like that of the brunette in the tight pink dress, though the tone was waspish now.

  Another female voice replied, “I’ve shopped at Blowing Bubbles and she seems okay.”

  Thanks for that, whoever you are. She couldn’t identify that voice, so she doubted the woman was a regular customer.

  “So she can be a semi-efficient salesclerk,” Wasp Voice said. “That doesn’t prove anything. Remember what she was like back in school? All weird and Gothy, totally not interested in being friends with any of us.”

  Who’d want to be friends with a bitch like you? Miranda hadn’t recognized the woman as a former classmate; in fact, she’d taken her to be several years older.

  “No doubt high all the time,” Bitch-Woman went on. “Just like her mother. You know her mom OD’d, right?”

  “Yeah, I heard.” A pause, then Voice Two said, “Aaron turned out really well, though.”

  “And superhot, right? Too bad someone finally snagged him. But, obviously, the brother and sister were never anything alike. Did you see that dress she’s wearing today? All young and flirty. It looks great on Eden’s sister, but on Miranda . . . she’s just old and trying too hard.”

  Talk about the pot insulting the kettle. Miranda smoothed her hands down the blue sundress. When she and Kelsey had picked them out, they’d both thought they were adorable. If the style was too young for Miranda, surely Eden, Helen, or Di would have told her so.

  “I guess. And you’re right, Luke deserves someone superspecial.”

  “If anyone could ever compete with the memory of Candace,” Bitchy said. “He was so head over heels crazy for her, it’s not funny. Seems to me, it would take someone, like, just incredible to take her place in his heart.”

  Hard to argue with that.

  “Yeah, she was pretty much perfect, wasn’t she?”

  Bitchy huffed. “No one’s perfect. Though Luke seemed to think she was.”

  “Men. They can be so blind. Give them great sex and they don’t notice a girl’s faults.”

  “Which is obviously why Luke’s with Miranda. I bet she’s a total slut, just like her mom.” The last words were muffled, as if she was talking with her mouth full, but Miranda still heard them. “But Luke’ll figure it out before long, and dump her.”

  “I saw him sitting beside Iris at the wedding. She’d be a better match for him.”

  “Oh, please, she’s boring. And now, for heaven’s sake, tear me away from these incredible snacks. I swear, I’m going to split the seams of this dress if I keep eating this stuff.”

  Miranda darted farther behind the tent and waited, holding her breath. Cautiously she edged forward again, until she could see the pink-dressed bitch walking away, arm in arm with a skinny, brown-haired woman in a green dress.

  How dare they say those things?

  And how dare they be right?

  She gazed across the lawn, looking for Luke. There he was, chatting with Iris. Something he said made her laugh, and hearing Iris laugh was a rare occurrence. Iris wasn’t at all boring, not when you got to know her. She was smart and insightful, gentle and kind, and she loved children. She really would be ideal for Luke. Just look how elegant she was in that simple, classy dress. It wasn’t too young for her; it wasn’t “flirty.” No one would ever accuse Iris of trying too hard and she was the polar opposite of slutty.

  What had Miranda been thinking, that a woman with her background and her flaws could be a good match for Luke? That he might fall in love with her. That she might finally, after all the years of hoping, achieve the dream of love and a happy home. In the end, surely he would reject her, just like her mom, her grandparents, every man she’d fallen for in the past.

  She was thinking of ducking back to her cabin again, but Iris saw her and beckoned her over. Reluctantly she joined them, but didn’t take Luke’s hand or touch his arm.

  “Look,” Iris said, gesturing across the lawn. “The bride and groom are heading off.”

  Miranda gazed in that direction. Aaron wore the same clothes, but Eden had changed into a fabulous blue-and-gold patterned top, worn over honey-colored linen pants. Mira
nda wondered if Aaron would even give his bride a chance to don the white lace negligée she’d purchased for her wedding night.

  White lace. Classy and beautiful. Whereas Miranda had chosen black for her lingerie, and only rejected red because it wasn’t the most flattering color on her. Red was slutty. Probably so was black.

  “Want to go say good-bye?” Luke asked her.

  She shook her head. Her brother and Eden were surrounded by family and friends. No one would notice her absence, and she was no longer in a celebratory mood.

  * * *

  Maybe Luke wasn’t the most sensitive guy when it came to understanding women, but it seemed to him that something had changed. He’d been having a great time, happy for his old classmate Aaron and his new wife, and delighted to be spending the afternoon with a vibrant, glowing Miranda.

  But now Miranda’s mood had altered. And Iris, who’d been laughing only minutes earlier, was saying in a subdued tone, “It’s time I headed home. Thanks for keeping me company.”

  “My pleasure,” Luke said with complete honesty.

  “Bye,” Miranda said.

  She gazed after Iris as she walked away. “She’s gorgeous, isn’t she? And smart and really nice.” There was an odd tone to her voice, almost as if she was issuing a challenge.

  Did she think he’d say that her friend was an ice queen? He’d heard a couple of guys use that term, but he didn’t believe it. “True. But she’s shy, right? At least unless you talk about books. Though today she loosened up a little.”

  “I saw her laughing at something you said.”

  “I was telling her how the boys have been acting out stories from books she recommended.”

  “She’d love to have kids. And she’ll make some guy a great wife.”

  “Yeah, I’m sure.”

  “Right.” His words of praise for her friend didn’t seem to have improved her mood.