A New Hope - Robyn Carr Page 0,50
I know you’re honest. And up front. You’ve told me a lot more about your issues than I’ve told you about mine.”
“I noticed that. So, you’re here because...?”
“You might want someone to talk to,” he said with a shrug. “How was it?”
“It was perfect,” she said, smiling. “Very informal and perfect. It was almost like a bunch of people were having a party on the beach and two broke away from the gathering to get married. People were standing around, visiting, having a drink. Then the judge—the same judge who married Iris and Seth, I take it—stood by the arch, cleared his throat and it began. Troy and Grace stepped up in front of him, the traditional vows were repeated, they said a few sweet things to each other and that was it. A kiss—extralong, I think. Then it was back to mingling and enjoying the day.” She looked up and around. “Perfect day for it.”
“It does seem perfect. Want to go for a ride?”
“Where?”
“Up the coast a little bit. Or maybe down the coast. Just to a lookout to watch the sunset.”
“Sure. You came a long way on a bet. I might’ve been busy.”
“I know. In fact I thought you might be. I thought maybe it would go on for hours. Or maybe you’d be out with friends from the wedding or something. It was just a spur-of-the-moment thing.”
“And if I was busy? You’d turn right around and go back?”
“I could. Or I could call Peyton and see if she’d put up with me for the night. She has mysteriously stopped lecturing me. I suspect Scott.”
With a hand at the small of her back, he directed her to the passenger side of the truck and helped her up and in. Then he got in the driver’s side and buckled up. “Do you care where we go?”
“You decide. We could just go to Cooper’s.”
“I thought after a day full of people you wouldn’t mind a little quiet.”
“Good idea,” she said. “I’m tired, that’s for sure. It was a packed week of work, sewing, trying to keep track of wedding-day details to help Grace, lots of flowers. Iris and I decorated the arch they used—it was so beautiful. And it’s such a funny place—Thunder Point. They invited a few people and everyone else heard about it or saw it and just came. Grace was ready for that,” she said with a laugh. “She and Troy ordered up enough food and drink to accommodate a huge crowd.”
“In my family, if one person has an event, there is no possible way to keep it small. If you’re invited and don’t go, you better be prepared to bring your X-rays to prove you had a broken bone. And if you’re not invited, you’re obligated to start a riot within the family. Nothing like a good feud.”
“Does that really happen?” she asked.
“You must have a very small family, if you have to ask.”
“It’s just us, mostly. The extended family is shrinking. All of Ray Anne’s immediate family have been gone a long time and she never had children. My grandparents are gone. My folks are in their sixties, my brothers almost forty...”
“All it takes is one renegade who decides to have a bunch of kids and suddenly you’re a country,” he said.
She laughed. “In the Basque culture, that’s not really a renegade, now is it?”
“My generation hasn’t been as prolific as some. Most of my brothers and sisters want a reasonable couple of kids. Except Ellie—she already has five and wants more. She started real young. Peyton wasn’t going to have any—then she met Scott and got knocked up before the wedding. But she doesn’t have time for too many. Plus, she loves that little clinic. She’s not going to trade off her medical profession for the mommy track.”
“What about you?” she asked. “Do you want children?”
“I certainly did,” he said. “But I’m a little old-fashioned. First I’m going to have to find a happy marriage. And just like you, that’s not going to happen soon. We’re stung, Ginger. We’re both still in recovery. Bad time to try to partner up with happily ever after in mind.”
“I suppose it is,” she said.
“This looks like a good spot,” he said, pulling into a wide lookout. He maneuvered the truck around and backed in.
“It’s going to be kind of hard to see like this,” she said.
“Wait, you’re going to love this.” He jumped out of the truck and ran around to her side, helping her out. He