Isabelle’s stomach plummeted. Was something wrong? Had Cole said or done something that was making her sister have second thoughts? She struggled to believe it, but something sure had Sophie upset.
“Just?” Maybelle prompted.
“All of this is wonderful,” Sophie began, a trembly forced smile marring her lovely face. “A dream come true. I’ve so much to be thankful for, and feel guilty for wanting more, only—” She hesitantly looked Isabelle’s way. “As wonderful as everything is, the day won’t be complete without Daddy to walk me down the aisle.”
A strangled cry clawed its way free from Isabelle’s throat. Of all the things she might have guessed Sophie would say, wanting the father they hadn’t seen in over twenty years to walk her down the aisle hadn’t been one of them.
“You can’t let that man ruin your wedding day,” Isabelle urged.
Their father had already ruined enough of their days when they’d been children and unable to do anything about it. Long ago, Isabelle had determined to take that power away from him and had never looked back. If only tenderhearted Sophie could do the same.
The others in the room averted their gazes, even Maybelle, who usually had no qualms at tackling awkward situations. Isabelle couldn’t imagine a more awkward situation than one involving Cliff Davis. The man was a menace to all things good. No wonder the usually chatty women were silent.
“It’s just… I wish Daddy could be there.” Sophie swiped at a tear that ran down her cheek before it could drip onto her dress. “I know you think I’m silly, but what little girl doesn’t dream of having her father escort her down the aisle to her Prince Charming?”
“Little girls whose father walked away from his wife and two young daughters.” Isabelle battled the urge to wrap her arms around her sister to hold her the way she had when Sophie cried when they’d been small. She also fought walking out of the shop to scream so loudly it shook the garland wreaths right off the courthouse windows. She and Sophie had very different takes on their father. For all Isabelle cared, he could stay gone.
“Don’t you ever wonder where he is and what he’s doing?” Sophie’s brown eyes glistened.
“No.” Isabelle rarely thought about their father and when she did, it was never in any way good. Her thoughts ran more along the lines of what she’d like to do to him for how he’d abandoned their family and caused so much pain to her sister and mother.
“I’d do anything if he could be at my wedding. I’ve always prayed he’d come home and believed he someday would. Wouldn’t that just be the perfect Christmas miracle?” Sophie gave a wobbly smile. “For Daddy to be at my wedding to walk me down the aisle to Cole? Oh, Isabelle, can you imagine how wonderful that would be?”
Wonderful? It would be a nightmare. Isabelle fought making a gagging sound similar to the one Rosie had made earlier.
“He’s been gone over twenty years, Sophie. Twenty. Years.” She stressed the words, because Sophie was acting as if their father had just left last month and might pop back into town at any moment. “His showing up for your wedding isn’t something Santa can just stuff in his bag and deliver to you.”
Sophie’s lower lip went out, more in quivery disappointment than a pout. Guilt hit, but before Isabelle could say anything, Maybelle did what she did best and took charge.
“That’s a nice thought, Sophie. Now, let’s get you out of this dress before it gets stained. Plus, much to my disappointment about not getting to smooch on my Jeannie May this evening, Sarah needs to get home. She’s got to get ready for the special tree decorating at Hamilton House in honor of our little darling this Friday evening.”
“Come on, Sophie,” Rosie jumped in. “Claudia, Ruby, and I will help you get out of your wedding gown. Maybelle, you come, too, in case we need to make note of any last minute needed tweaks.”
Hands shaking, Isabelle fiddled with a bin of on-sale button packets, straightening the display. Were the Butterflies rushing Sophie off because they thought she had been too harsh? She normally indulged Sophie’s every whim, just not when it came to their father or the military. It was why Isabelle had little to do with the local Quilts of Valor Foundation group that Sophie headed. The less Isabelle had to do with anything military, the better.
When the Butterflies and her sister disappeared to the back room, Isabelle met Sarah’s empathetic gaze and winced. “You think I’m terrible?”
Cradling Jeannie, Sarah shook her head. “No, I think you love Sophie with all your heart and truly believe what you said.”
Sarah’s comment eased the guilt at how deflated Sophie had looked when the Butterflies led her to the back. Sophie would realize Isabelle was right, that Cliff Davis had no place at her wedding, much less deserved the honor of walking her down the aisle.Surely.
Sarah propped Jeannie onto her shoulder. “I also know that you’re going to do it.”
Isabelle frowned. “Do what?”
“Give Sophie her Christmas miracle.” Sarah’s gaze didn’t waver. “You saw how much it means to her, just as the rest of us did. You have to find your father.”
No, Isabelle really didn’t have to do that.
But rather than point that out, she exhaled the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. Heaviness weighed on her shoulders. “How would you propose I do that? Call the North Pole and tell Santa my sister has been extra good this year and needs Daddy home for her wedding?”
“Or you could talk to Bodie.”
“You think the sheriff’s department will track down a man who willingly left his family over twenty years ago?” Isabelle shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
Sarah kissed the baby’s temple. “I doubt it, too, but if you wanted to find your father, Bodie may be able to help. When he first came to Pine Hill, he never intended to stay, but had planned to work for his friend Lukas’s company, iSecure. They specialize in everything to do with security and all kinds of secretive stuff. If anyone can track down what happened to your father, it’s them. Plus, Bodie has a friend who—”
“Our father has known where we are all along.” Isabelle was not going to hunt for her father, not even for Sophie. “He hasn’t come back. He doesn’t want to be found. He forgot us a long time ago.”
