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“I want to go before a justice of the peace.”
“No way.” J.D. set his glass on the table and skewered his bride-to-be with determined eyes. “This is my first and last marriage, and I want it done right.”
“I know, I know. Then…then I suppose that Stephen will give me away.”
“Fine.” J.D. seemed satisfied. “Now that I’ve exerted my testosterone-filled rights, I think I’d better make a quick exit.” He walked to Tiffany and brushed a kiss across her ebony crown. “Besides, I’ve got some paperwork to finish, then I’ve got to call Dad. I’ll be down in a couple of hours.” He hoisted his glass in Katie’s direction. “Ms. Kinkaid,” he said with a lift of one corner of his mouth. “It’s been a pleasure. As always.”
“You, too, J.D.”
Carrying his glass, he walked briskly out of the room, and Tiffany’s gaze followed longingly after him.
“Boy, have you got it bad,” Katie observed.
“That obvious, huh?”
“You could hang a flashing neon sign that reads ‘I Love J.D. Santini’ around your neck, and it would be more subtle.”
“Oh, well, I guess I should be more discreet.”
“Not at all! Love’s great.” Katie believed it with all her heart; it just didn’t seem to work for her. “Which brings us back to Bliss’s wedding this weekend. How’re you gonna handle the John situation?”
“I don’t know,” Tiffany admitted. Rubbing one temple, she leaned back in her chair. “What do you want me to do? Make up with the man? Let bygones be bygones and pretend that he didn’t ignore me for over thirty years?” She shook her head and swirled her glass. Ice cubes and slices of lemon danced in the amber liquid. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound bitter, and in all fairness, John…he’s been good to the kids and to me lately, ever since his damned heart attack. But I can’t just erase the past.”
“No one’s asking you to.”
“Just to sweep it under the carpet for a while?”
“No way, but maybe…well, if you want to, just give him a chance. That’s what I’ve decided to do.”
“You don’t have a mother who uses his picture for a dartboard.” Tiffany’s lips pulled into a tight little knot.
“Nope. My mom married him. Imagine that.” Katie let out a low, disbelieving whistle. The conversation had turned too heavy. Way too heavy. “So what about you and J.D.? When’re you going to tie the knot?”
“Later in the fall, we think, though…well, I don’t think I’m ready for all the fuss of a big wedding.”
“But you have to!”
“I’ve been married before.”
“So were Brynnie and John.”
“I know. My point exactly.” Tiffany studied her glass and frowned. “We’ll see. I think we should give it a couple of months.”
“Why wait?” Katie knew she was impetuous to a fault, but when two people were so obviously in love with each other it seemed silly to put off the inevitable. Though she tried to ignore it, she was a romantic at heart.
“Actually,” Tiffany admitted, “there’s something I was going to discuss with you, something that has to do with me getting married.”
“What?” Katie asked, unable to contain her enthusiasm.
“Well, J.D.’s dad has finally convinced him that he and I and the kids should move out to the new farm that Santini Brothers is converting into a vineyard and winery.”
“The old Zalinski place.” Katie had already heard the news.
“Right. Even though J.D. argued with him and told him there was no way he was going to be involved with the company business again, Carlo can be very persuasive when he wants to be, so…as the old saying goes, he made J.D. an offer he couldn’t refuse. Not only did Carlo give me the deed to this house free and clear, but he is offering us the farmhouse if we’ll agree to live on the grounds. J.D. will still practice law for other people, but he’ll be a consultant of sorts for Santini Brothers.” Glancing around the kitchen, Tiffany added, “It’s probably time I started fresh anyway. I moved here when Philip died, and both of the kids hated it. Stephen openly rebelled, and Christina suffered from nightmares. All that seems to have gone away, but J.D. and I and the kids need a new start. A place of our own.”
“Sounds great. Too good to be true.”
“Almost. But the problem is I’ll need someone to run this place—you know, manage the apartments and live on the premises. I thought it would be perfect for you and Josh. You could stay here rent free, collect a salary and still work for the Review.”
