of coffee, their dad asked, “Did I hear you say engagement ring?”
“Stan was just pointing out the obvious.” He couldn’t believe how thick he was. How the hell did he plan to hustle her in front of a preacher without begging with the appropriate bling?
Yep. He was that stupid.
Depositing the boxes and coffee on the table, his dad turned, and asked, “Do you have one? An engagement ring. If you don’t, you can have your mom’s.”
Arnie blinked and stared at his father’s face. Just like the picture of his mom as a baby, it came as a huge shock to learn his father had kept her ring for all these years.
“Mom’s ring?” He gulped. “Do you have it with you?”
“Well, no, but it’s nearby. It’s in my dad’s safe in Montecito.”
There wasn’t a second of hesitation or deliberation on his part. “Looks like we’re going on a road trip. I’d planned on making the trek anyway to introduce Granddad to Ari.”
The discussion abruptly ended when Summer dashed across the living room wearing a lavender sweater, black pants, and a pair of low-heeled ankle boots. He only saw her for a few seconds as she hurried into the bedroom, but what he did manage to see was cute as hell.
“Do you think she’ll marry me?” he asked in a worried tone. “I’m not sure I would in her position.”
“You haven’t brought much to the table except drama,” Stan reminded him.
“He’s right. You gotta do better, son.”
“Meaning?”
“It’s time to sweep your little lady off her feet with an outlandishly romantic display of your resources and a no-holds-barred look at your life.” His dad laughed. “The multiple-choice identities puts you in enough trouble as it is. Remember who you are and then show her.”
The simple statement staggered Arnie. Dr. Hadley said those same words and so had King. Two men he admired and respected and now the most important voice of all—his father’s. Wow.
“Don’t hide the real you. Don’t try to varnish the truth. You don’t have the luxury of courting this girl slowly. Rip the bandage off quickly.” His father’s face was transformed by a mocking grin. He continued in a comical drawl, “I believe you have a Connecticut estate, yes? Perfect for raising a family.”
“Holy shit,” Stan laughed and doubled over. “How fucking cool, right? And the timing? Wow!”
Arnie had spent a lot of time and energy as the anti-Wanamaker. Eschewing the name and privilege was his way of life. Everything changed once he had a family. Arianne was an heiress ten times over, and if she married him, Summer would be a Wanamaker wife with every imaginable luxury at her fingertips.
It suddenly made perfect sense why he’d never truly made a home for himself. Setting up housekeeping was nothing more than a lame attempt to get by. A home implied family and an eye on the future.
33
“My goodness, you really are a princess,” Summer giggled to Ari as she finished adjusting the adorable stretchy headband with its small cloth flower.
Bending to kiss her daughter’s cheeks, she smiled and explained what awaited them once they left the privacy of her bedroom.
“So here’s the deal, sweetie. Daddy has backup. A lot of backup. It seems you’ve got a grandfather and another uncle. They’re here and want to meet you.”
Ari cooed and smiled.
“I love you so much, Arianne, and I want the world for you.” She swallowed a lump of emotion in her throat, and for the first time, she addressed the elephant in the room.
“And your daddy loves you very much too. He came for us, just like I said he would.”
The baby grew serious and gazed intently into Summer’s eyes.
“Mommy and Daddy love each other very much too, but Mommy needs some time, okay?”
She wasn’t sure why she was explaining to a three-month-old, but it didn’t matter. Her daughter deserved the truth.
“Maybe you’ll understand when you’re older and fall in love. The heart knows what it wants.” She grimaced. “And sometimes what it wants makes a person forget reason.”
The baby smirked and blew some bubbles.
“Did you just diss your mom?”
Ari giggled. Picking her up, Summer cradled her in one arm, arranging the pink and white baby dress for maximum effect.
“No turning back,” she announced as her shoulders straightened and she put her hand on the doorknob.
“Here we go.”
They walked into the living room. Open bakery boxes and coffee cups littered the table under the window where the Wanamaker men gathered.
Arnie jumped to his feet first followed by Ned, who turned expectantly.