A Family Kind of Wedding Read Free

“You’re still having trouble dealing with dear old Dad.”
    Small lines of concern appeared between Tiffany’s eyebrows. “Let’s just call him John.”
    â€œOkay, so the fact that John Cawthorne is going to be there is bothering you.”
    â€œNot only that he’s there, but that he’s giving the bride away.” Tiffany sighed and, resting her chin on her open palm, stared through the window. “It…it brings it all out in the open again.”
    Katie knew what her half sister was talking about. The situation had been painful for everyone involved. John Cawthorne had sired one daughter out of wedlock and hadn’t bothered to marry the girl—Tiffany’s mother. According to Tiffany, there was no love lost between Rose Nesbitt and John Cawthorne. But he hadn’t finished fathering daughters. He’d married a woman named Margaret from San Francisco, and she’d borne him a second daughter—the legitimate one—Bliss.
    Not one to ever be satisfied, John had started living a dual life—part of the year in Seattle with Margaret and Bliss, the other down here in Bittersweet where he met and fell in love with Brynnie Anderson, who, in between several husbands, carried on an affair with Cawthorne. As luck would have it, Brynnie, who already had three sons, got pregnant with John’s third daughter. However, Katie had always assumed her father was Hal Kinkaid, her mother’s third husband, whose name she was given. No doubt about it, the family situation was one tangled mess of relationships and emotions. “So, what’re you going to do when you and J.D. get married?” Katie asked.
    â€œI want to go before a justice of the peace.”
    â€œNo 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.”
    â€œI know, I know. Then…then I suppose that Stephen will give me away.”
    â€œFine.” 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.”
    â€œYou, too, J.D.”
    Carrying his glass, he walked briskly out of the room, and Tiffany’s gaze followed longingly after him.
    â€œBoy, have you got it bad,” Katie observed.
    â€œThat obvious, huh?”
    â€œYou could hang a flashing neon sign that reads ‘I Love J.D. Santini’ around your neck, and it would be more subtle.”
    â€œOh, well, I guess I should be more discreet.”
    â€œNot 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?”
    â€œI 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.”
    â€œNo one’s asking you to.”
    â€œJust to sweep it under the carpet for a while?”
    â€œNo way, but maybe…well, if you want to, just give him a chance. That’s what I’ve decided to