“Sophie?”
Her sister sniffled, loosened her hold, but still didn’t let go. “I told Dad I didn’t want him to walk me down the aisle, Izzy, because I told him that I wanted you to be the one to do it.”
Isabelle’s jaw dropped. “Me?”
Tears sparkling, Sophie nodded. “You’ve always been my rock, my protector, the person who loves me to pure selflessness. Who better to give me to Cole than you, Izzy? Please walk me down the aisle to my happy-ever-after.”
*
“Have you talkedto him yet?”
At Morgan’s question, Isabelle pulled her gaze off where her father and Sophie shared a father-daughter dance. “There’s no need. Sophie wanted him at her wedding and he’s here. As soon as the reception is over, he can go back to Louisiana.”
“I meant Zach,” Morgan clarified.
Sophie laughed at something their father said as they slowly moved back and forth in the center of the reception hall, causing Isabelle’s shoulders to tense.
“You mean my dad’s BFF?”
Her cousin placed her hand on Isabelle’s arm. “It only makes sense that Zach would stay close to Cliff, since he’s the one who insisted he return to Pine Hill. He feels responsible for how uncomfortable your dad is. Honestly, I feel for him, too.” At Isabelle’s intake of breath, Morgan rushed on. “Over the years I’ve been a nurse, I’ve worked with several men and women with PTSD. Your dad had a really bad case, Isabelle. From what Sophie says, he blocked out everything the first few years after he left Pine Hill and when reality started hitting him, he was still such a mess that he didn’t know how to reclaim his former life.”
Isabelle’s heart squeezed, hating how lost her father must have been, but hating how much he’d hurt them more. “He didn’t even try.”
“No, he didn’t,” Morgan agreed softly. “Now, there are a lot of programs to help our military deal with the things they’ve experienced. Yet many still struggle and the suicide rate is heart-wrenching. Being back here, confronted with all these memories and his own failures, can’t be easy on your dad. The nurse in me wants to hug him and tell him that it’s going to be okay, that he’s going to be okay.”
Pulse pounding in her throat, Isabelle stared at her cousin. “Do you think today should be easy on him?”
Morgan shrugged. “I know he hurt you, but you need to talk with him, tell him how you feel, and let him tell you how he feels. Otherwise, you’ll never be able to forgive him.”
Morgan sounded just like Zach.Ugh.
“I don’t want to forgive him.”
Morgan’s brow lifted.
Isabelle took a deep breath. “I never wanted him here other than that Sophie wanted him here. There’s no need for him to stay after the reception.”
“Sarah and Bodie have offered to let him stay at Hamilton House in their Beds for Vets suite if he wants to spend time in Pine Hill.”
Which meant Zach wouldn’t be occupying the suite. Isabelle swallowed the lump in her throat. She’d known he was leaving all along. Why did her chest hurt as if his pending departure was a new revelation?
“Of course they offered.” The dance ended and Isabelle took a deep breath. “I don’t want to talk about Dad anymore, Morgan, or Zach. Tell me about your life in California or about Andrew being a smokejumper or about Greyson’s school or anything.”
“For the record, you really do need to talk to your dad and to Zach, but okay, I’ll tell you something.” Morgan’s eyes took on a happy glow and she slid her hand low on her belly. “A secret, actually.”
“Are you really?” Happiness filled Isabelle at the smile on Morgan’s face as she nodded.
“You’re the first person I’ve told. Other than Andrew, of course. I took the test this morning and am busting to tell everyone, but we didn’t want to take away from Cole and Sophie’s day.”
“Sophie wouldn’t have minded. This is wonderful news. Aunt Claudia is going to be ecstatic to have another great. And Ruby”—Isabelle smiled—“Ruby is going to be over the moon about this baby. Andrew is her pride and joy.”
The music changed to an upbeat tune as Cole, surrounded by four Butterflies, took center stage. Isabelle shook her head at what was about to take place.
“Speaking of our Butterflies, if anyone ever needed proof of how much Cole loves my sister, we’re about to witness it. Where did they find those red, white, and blue boas?”
Morgan laughed. “I didn’t know they were having a groom-Butterflies dance. Poor Cole. At least he’s smiling.”
“I’m not sure anything could wipe the smile off his face today.”
