The Wedding Wish (Summer Grooms Series) by Ginny Baird

taking her hand, “my sweet, long-lost Izzy. Swear to me you’ll
never be lost again. We fell away from each other one time, through no fault of
our own. But now that fate has brought us back together, I can’t imagine my
life going on without you.” He took the ring and positioned it over her finger.
“Say that you’ll be mine. For as long as we both shall live.”
    He met her eyes, and Isabel’s heart rose in her throat.
    “Be my bride.”
    Isabel didn’t know if it had started to rain or whether
those were tears streaming down her cheeks. She nodded, and Robert’s face
opened up in a rainbow. He slid the ring on her finger and kissed her soundly. “I
love you, baby,” he said in a husky whisper. “I always will.”
    “I’ll always love you too,” she returned. “I probably always
have.”
    He took her in his arms then, knocking over the champagne,
but neither one cared. They just stayed locked in a tight embrace, each sensing
the rhythm of the other one’s heart. It was just like it used to be, only
better. And nothing could be better than this. Isabel was so happy, she felt
she could fly, straight up to the moon and past the third star…straight on till
morning.
    “You’ll always be my girl,” he said, holding her close. And,
in her heart, Isabel knew that she would.
    “That’s the only way I’d have it,” she said, hugging him
back.

 

 
 
 
    Epilogue

 
    Cindy sat beside Trudy at the head table. Both were dressed
in elegant attire.
    “I want to thank you for helping organize the wedding,”
Trudy told her. “It was a beautiful affair, and you were a lovely maid of
honor.”
    “Isabel was a beautiful bride,” Cindy said, motioning with
her champagne flute toward the dance floor.
    Isabel and Kip were enjoying the traditional father-daughter
dance, while Robert waited in the wings, prepared to take over.
    “She certainly is,” Trudy said with a smile. “You know,” she
said to Cindy, “I don’t believe I’ve ever seen Kip so happy.”
    “What happened to the overprotective dad?”
    “I guess he grew up.”
    “Yeah,” Cindy said with a longing look at the happy couple. “I
suppose a lot of people did.”

 
    On the dance floor, Kip gathered Isabel and her billowy gown
in his arms. It seemed an eternity he’d waited for this day. Waited for it and
dreaded it both. For the main thing he feared was that Isabel wouldn’t find
somebody good enough. Someone to love and care for her in the special way that
Kip hoped. Now that she had, Kip’s spirit had lightened. Robert was a good man.
A man who deeply loved his daughter. He would look after her, Kip was sure of
it. And nothing gave him greater peace.
    “Dad,” she said, looking up at him, her eyes a beautiful
blue. “I want to thank you for this day. For everything.”
    “I’m glad you’re happy,” he said, holding her close. Then he
swirled her around, those old memories flooding back. Cradling Isabel as a
baby… Isabel dancing on his shoes at his cousin’s wedding… Isabel beaming in
his arms in her first communion dress… Isabel in her graduation cap and gown… And
now, Isabel the beautiful bride, about to leave his arms forever.
    Robert approached, and Kip graciously stepped aside. “Take
care of my baby girl,” he said in a hoarse whisper.
    “I will, sir,” Robert assured him.
    Kip passed off Isabel as she gave them a laugh. “Come on,
guys,” she said, rolling her eyes. “ I can take care of myself.”
    “I believe that,” Robert said, taking her in his arms.
    “Then you’ve learned a lot already.” Kip studied him with
admiration, then walked away.
    “What did you two talk about on that walk?” Isabel asked
Robert beneath the sway of the music.
    “Oh, you know… Stuff.”
    “Stuff?” Isabel playfully swatted his shoulder. “Fine. Keep
your little secret.”
    Robert thoughtfully watched Kip pull Trudy onto the dance
floor. Even after all their years together, when Kip looked at Trudy, she