Clover Park Bride Read online

  “Speaking of trees, how about I knock you up tonight?”

  She laughed, the sound so welcome after all his worry over her. “We agreed to wait for the honeymoon.” She nipped his bottom lip. “But we can practice a lot with your tree.”

  He grinned and then bent her back over his arm and kissed her, a move he saw in a movie once that splayed her every time. It was a reminder of the first time he’d kissed her back when he’d mixed her up with another redhead. It all turned out fantastic. When he finally let her up for air, she was panting and flushed, his favorite look on her.

  “I’m so happy, Nic!” she exclaimed.

  He pulled her into his arms, holding her tight, his chest aching, eyes stinging because her happiness was everything.

  Now if he could just get Missy to stick around, he could finally relax, knowing he’d done his job—doing right by Lily.

  Chapter Four

  Six nights of increasingly worse nightmares had Nico on edge. Today was their wedding day, and Lily was at his parents’ house getting ready. The job for Missy wasn’t a sure thing. Vince and Sophia were finishing up a big project and hadn’t had a chance to look at the numbers to see if they could afford an office manager. They already had a receptionist on staff, who did some filing and stuff. No one else in his family knew anyone who was hiring. His own staff was full. Timing was everything. He hoped Vince and Sophia would come through at the wedding reception, but he didn’t know. Without that, he couldn’t move forward with finding Missy an apartment. He’d wanted to have the total package, an irresistible offer that would change her mind. As it was, Missy was sticking to her decision to go back to Seattle.

  He stared out into their backyard, not really seeing anything. He still had three hours before he had to show up at the park. Someone knocked on the door. Huh. Kind of early for his brothers but whatever. The rented tuxes were here, and they planned on getting ready and driving over together.

  He answered the door, surprised to find Missy on his front porch wearing her regular clothes, not her maid-of-honor dress. Her expression was tight.

  His stomach dropped, his heart thudding in his ears. “What’s wrong?”

  “Lily’s fine,” she said. “I just forgot the something old I wanted to give her.”

  Something old? He stepped back and she walked in, heading upstairs. He waited on the living room sofa, planning to ask Missy how Lily was doing. Lily had decided it was best if they didn’t talk or see each other before the wedding for good luck. He didn’t see what luck had to do with it. They either fit or they didn’t.

  Long minutes passed and then it got noisy upstairs, Missy talking to herself and banging around up there.

  “You need help?” he called upstairs.

  No answer. Just more banging and muttering.

  He walked upstairs and stopped in the hallway outside Missy’s bedroom. She was standing, her back to him, hands on her hips, facing a pile of crap strewn all over the bed. And then she did the strangest thing, she grabbed some clothes, threw them to the floor, and then sat on the edge of the bed, her face buried in her hands.

  He hesitated. Was she crying? Should he call Lily? No, he didn’t want to add to Lily’s stress. He’d find out the problem and solve it if he could. “Missy?”

  She straightened and quickly wiped under her eyes. “What?” she asked in a choked voice.

  “Do you need some help?”

  She glanced back at all the stuff on the bed and gestured to it. “I can’t find them. I’m so mad. I saved up to get her these antique pearl earrings. They were going to be something old.” She turned to him, her eyes watery, her lips, so like Lily’s, pressed together just like Lily did when she was trying not to cry. Sisters separated their whole lives until now. “She won’t have the good luck thing I was supposed to give her. It’s supposed to be something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. I have everything but the old.”

  “Can’t you just give her something else old? Maybe an old penny or something?”

  She gripped her hands tightly together, staring at them. “I just wanted today to be perfect.” Her lower lip wobbled and she bit down on it. She lifted her head. “I won’t see her after this, and I just wanted to be the best maid of honor, the best big s-sister.” Her voice cracked.

  “You’re a great sister. Don’t worry about the good luck thing, just you being here is enough. Invitation’s still open to stay with us.”

  Missy shook her head, a small smile curving her lips. “You really are one of the good guys. I don’t know, Nico, I can’t see giving up my job, my apartment, my independence. I’ve pretty much been on my own since I was fifteen.”

  Whoa. That must’ve been rough. “Well, you don’t have to be anymore. Think of it this way, your staying would be a great wedding present for us.”

  She took a deep breath. “I’ll think about it.” She shot off the bed. “I know where they are!” She dashed past him, down the hall to the bathroom, and emerged triumphant a few moments later. “I put them in the inside zippered pocket of my toiletry bag. Thanks, Nico!”

  She raced downstairs and ran out the door.

  He sank against the wall, hoping he’d gotten through to her.

  ~ ~ ~

  Lily’s soon-to-be husband narrowed his bedroom eyes at her as he stood looking movie-star gorgeous in a tux under a trellis of white roses in Baldwin Park. He spoke in a hushed voice. “Tell me again why the whole town is invited to our wedding?”

  Their wedding was packed, every chair filled, plus tons of people standing nearby. She hadn’t wanted a fancy-schmancy country-club wedding, even though her dad wanted to go all out on his dime, and Nico had already done the church wedding and expensive reception with his first disastrous marriage. This marriage, they both knew, was for keeps.

  “Because weddings are supposed to be fun,” she whispered with a big smile for the benefit of the judge, who stood nearby, about to begin the vows. Also, for his huge family’s benefit, her small family (her sister, dad, and Bunny with baby brother on board), and what appeared to be hundreds of new friends from town. There were so many kids squirming and making noise as they waited for the party after the ceremony. She hoped all those good fertility vibes rubbed off on her. They wanted kids as soon as possible.

  Huge white tents were set up on one side of the park with a dance floor and small stage, tables, a buffet, and a cash bar, all proceeds donated to the Earth Defense Group. That was where she worked as an environmental lawyer—a fabulous cause. The park itself was gorgeous, as it was early October and the fall leaves were full of glorious color. She’d hired Shane’s Scoops to set up an ice-cream cart for the kids, and Garner’s Sports Bar & Grill catered. Lily wanted to keep all of the small businesses in town in the black. They were all so darling, especially Barry Furnukle from The Dancing Cow. What a hoot that guy was! He’d made a frozen yogurt wedding cake for them, supplied the karaoke machine, and even brought wacky glasses with spinning eyes for the kids.

  She turned and nodded at Judge Fleming, an elderly woman with dyed black hair, to begin.

  “Friends and family and…our community, we are gathered here today to witness the marriage of Lily Spencer and Nico Marino.”

  Nico took both her hands in his warm grip and gazed into her eyes. Her heart thumped hard. Because this was the man who had sworn never to marry again. And now he swore never to let her go. He showed her love every day in every way, and her heart was so full.

  Judge Fleming went on. “On this beautiful October day, we are privileged to witness the love of two people close to our hearts.” She cleared her throat. “Or soon to be as we get to know the newest members of our community.”

  Lily grinned at what she knew was to come next. Nico smiled.

  “Is there anyone who objects to the marriage?” Judge Fleming asked.

  Lily turned to the crowd and gestured. “Now,” she whispered.

  Everyone shook salt and pepper shakers full of rice. She planned
on donating them to the second largest salt and pepper museum back in Iowa. She and Nico had seen all the best sights on their road trip of America back when they’d first met. Nico shook his head with a smile.

  “That’s a no!” their elderly neighbor, Maggie O’Hare, hollered from the second row.

  Everyone laughed. Judge Fleming gestured for them to put the shakers away. A couple of kids gave them a few more shakes.

  Judge Fleming waited until she had everyone’s attention before continuing. “Nico, do you take Lily to be your wife? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect her, forsaking all others and holding only unto her?”

  “I do,” he said with a solemn promise.

  Lily blinked back tears.

  Judge Fleming continued. “Lily, do you take Nico to be your husband? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and protect him, forsaking all others and holding only onto him?”

  “I do,” she said, her throat tight.

  The judge gestured to the best man, Nico’s stepbrother Luke, for the rings. Nico took the rings and held them.

  “I got this,” Nico told the judge quietly. Then in a strong, clear voice, he said, “I promise to take you, Lily, as my wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, and I promise my undying love to you.” He took her left hand and slid the gold band onto her finger as he said, “With this ring, I thee wed.”

  It suddenly felt so real. And so right. She repeated the vow, which they’d both agreed to ahead of time, the simple but elegant words saying all they wanted. She slid the ring onto his finger. Then they stood there, grinning like fools, as the judge went on.

  “Nico and Lily, by the power vested in me by the state of Connecticut, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”

  The crowd cheered. Nico bent her over his arm and kissed her just like in the movies, which always took her breath away.

  They ran down the aisle hand in hand to cheers and lots of confetti.

  Then it was party time. Her new sister-in-law Zoe and her band started them off with a jumping swing song, “Swing Me Up, Baby,” that had all the older folks on the dance floor, along with some of the enthusiastic younger kids. Lily joined them and pulled Nico along with her. Through her neighbor Maggie, she’d gotten to know Maggie’s grandsons, their wives, and her great-grandkids, so she moved to dance where the kids were. Ryan and Liz O’Hare’s twins, four-year-old Alice and May, were holding hands and bouncing in time to the music. The first time she’d met them at Maggie’s place, May had informed her, “My real name is Margaret after my great-grandmom.”

  “She’s not really great,” Alice put in matter-of-factly, “they just call her that.”

  “She’s just regular,” May added with a nod.

  To which Maggie replied, “A regular cool dudette.” Which sent the girls into gales of laughter.

  “Lily!” the girls cried now in unison.

  “Your dress is so pretty!” Alice exclaimed, grabbing the scalloped end and swinging it back and forth. Her gown, made especially to flatter tall women, was a simple silk and satin bias-cut with a low cowl in front and back. It accentuated her curves while also draping in a flattering way. The end of the gown was scalloped with lace detailing. She’d absolutely fallen in love with it and planned to wear it on her tenth anniversary just for kicks.

  “Thank you!” Lily said. “Your dresses are pretty too!”

  The girls wore matching yellow polka-dotted dresses with yellow ribbons in their pigtails.

  Alice grabbed Lily’s hand, so May grabbed Nico’s hand, and they danced in a little circle. Suddenly a blond-haired dynamo burst through their joined hands. Six-year-old Bryce, another of Maggie’s great-grandkids, Trav and Daisy O’Hare’s son. He threw himself on the floor and did some complicated kicking and twisty move. Not to be outdone, his younger brother, three-year-old Cole, threw himself down and started doing push-ups where only his head went up and down.

  “You got the moves,” Nico said to the boys.

  “I take hip-hop class at the Clover Park Dance Studio,” Bryce exclaimed proudly with a smile that revealed two missing front teeth. He spun like a turtle on his back.

  “He teaches me too!” Cole exclaimed, leaping up to take credit for his part.

  They all danced several more songs before the band took a break, and Barry Furnukle set up a karaoke machine on stage for guests who wanted to give it a go.

  “Would the bride and groom like to go first?” Barry asked.

  Nico made a slashing motion across his throat. Lily grinned and headed over to Barry. “You got any Red Hot Chili Peppers?” she asked.

  “I’ve got it all,” Barry said proudly.

  Lily found the song she wanted, “Road Trippin’,” and asked him to play it. “It’s kind of our theme song,” she told him.

  “You got it,” Barry said, setting it up.

  “Nic!” she called to where her husband stood staring at her from the dance floor. His expression was hard to read. Somewhere between dismay and amusement. “It’s our song!”

  “I didn’t know we had a song!” he called back.

  “Listen up!” She grinned. Barry started the song, and Lily followed along with the lyrics. It was a ballad, and she belted out the lyrics about taking off on a road trip to see America.

  Nico cringed. Okay, so she wasn’t the best singer. She gestured to Nico to join her, but he shook her off. She gestured desperately to Barry standing nearby, who joined her with a second mike, his voice blending with hers in a much more pleasing way. Now it was fun. A crowd gathered around to listen.

  Nico’s stepbrother Luke elbowed him to get up there, but he wouldn’t budge. She looked out in that crowd of smiling people and felt energy pour through her. Nico’s family had gathered around him, now Lily’s family too. She felt like her heart would burst.

  Then Missy joined her at the mike, and together their voices almost sounded good. Her sister hadn’t been into karaoke, yet here she was singing her heart out. She smiled at Missy, who smiled back, all in just for Lily. Bittersweet tears stung Lily’s eyes, sharing this beautiful moment with her sister, once lost to her, now found, soon to be lost again.

  She looked out to the crowd, trying to pull herself together. Her dad, that dignified stick-up-his ass man, granted her a small smile. That just made her want to hang onto Missy more, the most loving family member she’d ever had. But when the song ended, other people gathered on stage for their turn, and the moment was gone.

  After a brief break to eat, Nico said he had to take care of a surprise for her, which would’ve been exciting enough, but then she also had a wonderful time greeting all their guests, and when she got to her neighbor Maggie, she said the most amazing thing.

  “I’m making you an unofficial O’Hare, Lily,” the woman declared with a bob of her head. The feather in her peach knitted beret bobbed in agreement.

  “I’d love that!” Lily exclaimed. Good thing Nico hadn’t heard, he’d definitely argue she was a Marino.

  “I thought I was the unofficial O’Hare,” a gorgeous Latino man said.

  “This is Rico,” Maggie said, “my fourth grandson. Adopted in his twenties. You’ve already met Ryan, Trav, and Shane.”

  All the men greeted her from where they sat at the table with their wives and kids. Maggie kept Lily up to date on her grandsons, granddaughter-in-laws, and great-grandbabies when they gardened together on the weekends. She knew Ryan was the oldest and looked out for his family as well as the whole town as the chief of police. Liz was a third-grade teacher at Clover Park Elementary with a compulsive neat streak tempered by a loving heart. Trav, the middle grandson, was always joking around. He owned his own landscape design company. His wife, Daisy, raised their boys and taught infant massage classes. Shane, the youngest, not only owned Shane’s Scoops, but also Something’s Brewing Café and Book It along with his wife, Rachel. The great-grandkids were a rowdy bunch, but there was always family around to keep them in line.

/>   Rico flashed a smile that lit up his face. “This is my wife, Samantha, an official del Toro, and our daughter, Gracie.” He pointed to the little girl with dark brown hair and dark brown eyes on his lap. “And Jaden.” He gestured to an adorable dark-haired toddler on his wife’s lap.

  “Congratulations,” Samantha said. “I hope to see you at some of the O’Hare parties.”

  “And we have a lot of them!” Maggie exclaimed. “Party central!”

  That set Liz off on a fit of laughter. Ryan grinned.

  “You go, girl,” Daisy said, giving Maggie a fist bump.

  Shane’s wife, Rachel, was home with their one-week-old newborn, Samuel. His other kids, all red-haired girls aged four, three, and one, sat in a row at the table like little angels—Abby, Hannah, and Becca.

  “I love parties!” Lily said. “And I’d love to be an unofficial O’Hare.”

  “I recognize a kindred spirit when I see one,” Maggie said with a smugly satisfied look. “Call me after the honeymoon so we can work on our top-secret project.”

  “What’s that?” Ryan asked.

  “I would think a former private investigator of all people would know what top secret means,” Maggie huffed.

  “Gran,” Ryan warned.

  Lily couldn’t help but laugh. It was nothing dangerous. She and Maggie both believed in the importance of fresh, locally grown food and were planning the first Clover Park community garden.

  “I recognize my kindred spirit, love,” Jorge, Maggie’s husband, cooed from her side.

  Lily couldn’t believe she’d gotten so lucky in the family department. First Nico’s family took her in like their own, and now Maggie wanted to as well. Plus she had a big sister and a soon-to-be little brother. It was like the universe was rewarding her for her lonely childhood by bringing her more family than she knew what to do with.

  “Don’t look so happy,” Trav said, his hazel eyes sparkling with mischief. “She’s just looking for someone to coerce into more dangerous adventures.”