Wrapped Up in Christmas Love (Wrapped Up in Christmas #4)

Chapter Thirteen

F eeling much as Santa must on Christmas Eve, Isabelle checked her various Sophie’s wedding checklists, making sure each item was marked off or soon would be. What to do leading up to wedding. What to do on day of rehearsal. What to do on wedding day.

Flipping through her pages, she stopped at Rehearsal , then glanced around at the red, white, and blue Christmas-themed décor and quilts adding splashes of color to the church auditorium. The best Isabelle could tell, she’d created what Sophie wanted. Almost.

Her stomach clenched at the memory of her video call with her father. It was better that he’d said no. Even her mother had said so when Isabelle had told her about the call. Afterward, Isabelle had cried, long hard tears that left her gutted and in a fetal position for a while, but she was glad he’d said no. Zach had thought she needed peace. Fine, now she had it. Good riddance.

“Places, everyone.” Maybelle dinged a spoon against a glass, calling the wedding rehearsal to order. “Places.”

At Maybelle’s bidding, Cole, Andrew, Ben, and Bodie joined Pastor Smith at the front of the church that had also been decorated with a blend of patriotic quilts and Christmas. Isabelle, Sophie, Sarah, and Annabelle moved to the back of the auditorium. A couple of the other firefighters served as ushers, and one escorted Darlene to the front. As Cole hadn’t known anyone in Pine Hill other than the uncle who’d passed while Cole was serving in the Middle East, leaving him his farm, they had foregone bride-groom sides, and everyone was to sit wherever they wanted.

Pastor Smith gave a short spiel, welcoming the nonexistent guests. Then the music began, a blend of patriotic and holiday songs. Pretending to carry her bouquet, Annabelle walked toward the men, followed by Sarah. Isabelle and then Sophie did the same. They ran through the entire ceremony and when they were done, Isabelle pulled out her notebook, read through her notes, and made a few suggestions based on things Sophie had told her.

“Okay, with those tweaks, let’s start from the top one more time just to be sure everyone knows when to do what,” Maybelle insisted, clapping her hands.

When they were in the back of the church, Sophie gave her a big hug.

“In case I haven’t told you enough, thank you.” Sophie squeezed a little tighter. “I won the lottery when I got you for a sister, Izzy. I hope you know how much I love and appreciate you.”

Isabelle sniffled. “I’m the lucky one having you for a sister. Can you imagine what a grump I’d be if I didn’t have your constant positive attitude setting me straight?”

“Well, now you have Zach to keep you smiling. I love how happy you are when you’re with him.” Sophie’s forehead scrunched. “I hope he makes it back from wherever he had to go in time for the rehearsal dinner.”

So did Isabelle. She needed to apologize to him for her harshness when they’d talked on the phone and for not answering his later calls. After her boohoo fest, she’d shut off her ringer and had a girl’s night with Sophie and her mom, getting their hair and nails done at her mom’s salon. They’d laughed and had a wonderful time. Yeah, it was better that Cliff Davis wasn’t coming back to Pine Hill.

But Zach should already be back. Where was he? He’d texted her that he’d meet her at the rehearsal. Had his flight been delayed? Then again, what did it matter at this point? Their relationship had been based upon finding her father.

“Let’s not talk about Zach.” She’d tell Sophie the truth about him, but not right before her wedding. “This weekend is about you and your dream wedding. Unless you’ve decided you don’t want to go through with this tomorrow?” She gave her sister a teasing look. “In which case, my car is parked outside. We could take off to some quiet beach until all this blows over.”

“Even if I got a case of nerves, you’d convince me to stay because you know this is where I’m supposed to be.” Sophie’s gaze met hers. “You wouldn’t really let me run away from the most wonderful man in the world, would you?”

Isabelle shook her head. “No, but only because Cole recognizes that you are the most wonderful woman in the world and loves you with all his heart.”

“He does, doesn’t he?” Sophie smiled, then mouth circling into an O, she gave a little push. “Go, they’re waiting on you.”

Isabelle leaned in, kissed Sophie’s cheek, then moved toward where the guys stood. Halfway there, the sound of Sophie’s gasped cry had Isabelle spinning around.

“ Oof .” She let out a strangled cry of her own.

Zach stood in the foyer. So did her father.

*

Fearing Isabelle might pass out when all the color drained from her face, Zach rushed to her, placing his hand at her waist, ready to catch her if needed.

“Take a deep breath, Blondie.”

Her gaze not leaving the man standing at the back of the auditorium, she whispered, “He said he wasn’t coming. I told Mom he wasn’t coming.”

“He changed his mind.” Zach hadn’t given the man a choice.

One way or the other, her father had been coming to Pine Hill. The pain in Isabelle’s voice, on her face, during that video call, had assured that. Only now, he wondered if he should have left the man in Louisiana.

Abandoning his position at the front of the church, Cole was now at Sophie’s side, his expression tense and threatening as he eyed the older man Sophie stared at, wide-eyed.

“Cliff Davis, is that you?” Rosie screeched from where she’d twisted around to see what the commotion was about.

At her question, Maybelle, Ruby, and Claudia beelined to where Isabelle’s mother sat, looking pale.

Cliff didn’t say anything, just lifted his head in acknowledgement, then eyed Sophie, uncertainty on his face. Over the past two days, Zach had wavered between feeling sorry for the guy, empathy and understanding of his emotional state, and wanting to punch him for hurting his family. For hurting Isabelle.

“Daddy?” Sophie blinked, clutching Cole’s arm for support. “I… you… you’re here. How?”

“He brought me.” He gestured toward Zach, who was grateful the man left off the details of how he’d decided it was in his best interest to go with Zach.

That he was there half-under duress wouldn’t win the guy any points, and Cliff was going to need all the points he could get in Pine Hill.

Sophie’s gaze went to Zach. “You brought my daddy home for my wedding? I told you I looked for him and you—Oh, Zach! Thank you.”

“Thank Isabelle, not me. Your sister wanted your wedding to be all you dreamed.”

Sophie’s eyes widened further as they touched on Isabelle. “But… really? Oh, Izzy, I can’t believe you did this.” Her gaze cut back to Zach. “Or that you found him. I tried so many times…” Tears streamed down her cheeks as she turned toward the man who all eyes were now focused on. “I feel as if I’m dreaming because I have dreamed of this moment so many times. Welcome home, Daddy.”

With that, Sophie threw her arms around her father.

*

“How can she just accept him as if he never left?” Isabelle’s hands turned palm up as she paced back and forth in the church’s nursery, where she’d pulled Zach aside the moment the actual rehearsal finished. “How? It’s not right that he shows up and she’s treating him like the guest of honor. And poor Mom. His showing up after I’d told her he’d said no…” Isabelle’s voice trailed off.

“He’s doing what you wanted,” Zach reminded from where he leaned against the closed door. Sophie had been all smiles since he’d arrived with Cliff, but Isabelle had been a bundle of nerves as Maybelle had quickly gotten the group back on track to run through the rehearsal. “Were you hoping that once he got here, Sophie and the others would reject him?”

As he asked it, he couldn’t help thinking there was some truth to that, that deep down, Isabelle had needed validation for her own feelings. Validation she wasn’t getting, not even from her own mother, who thus far had ignored Cliff’s presence once her initial shock had passed. Zach suspected she’d have a lot to say to her husband once they were away from curious eyes. He’d caught Cliff looking her way with a pained expression more than once. Hopefully, he would be honest and tell her the things he’d told Zach. He wasn’t sure the man’s family could ever forgive him or put his absence behind them, but it was long past time for the truth.

“No, of course not. I just…” Isabelle spun toward him. “What did he say? You sat next to him the entire flight and drive home. He had to have said something about what he’s been doing all these years and why he left in the first place.”

“You’ll have to ask him those things.” Zach wished he could say more.

It wasn’t his place to share the things Cliff had told him. Zach wasn’t sure Isabelle would understand, anyway. She’d not had the life experiences to understand the nightmares Cliff dealt with. That Zach did understand had him torn.

“I shouldn’t have asked you to find him.” She ran her fingers through her hair, then blew out a big breath. “Look at what a mess he’s already made of things. I caused this chaos, hurt Mom, and I just should have left well enough alone. I didn’t think this part through.”

He shook his head. “I’m not buying that. You always think things through. You knew there would be chaos when he got here. So, my question is, why did you want me to find him?”

Grimacing, she covered her stomach with her hands and shook her head, as if trying to block out his question.

“Were you hoping that seeing him would remind Sophie how much it hurt to love a military man?” He hoped that wasn’t it. “Maybe you were hoping she’d see your father and decide she didn’t want to marry Cole?”

“No.” She gasped, her eyes huge. “She loves Cole. I would never do anything to stop their wedding. Sophie would be devastated.”

Zach arched a brow. “You haven’t tried to change her mind?”

Her wince answered prior to her defensive, “Only in teasing.”

“Sometimes we reveal a lot about our inner thoughts via humor.”

Not that he believed Isabelle wanted to bust up Sophie’s wedding. Far from it. But he wasn’t sure she recognized that truth. Maybe deep down, she still thought she wanted Sophie to not be in love with a military man.

Her hands went to her hips. “Quit trying to make me the bad guy. I’m not the one who abandoned my family. I love Sophie and want what’s best for her. That’s being married to Cole.”

Good. Zach agreed. “There is no bad guy here, Isabelle. Until you acknowledge that, you’re not going to find peace.”

Her gaze narrowed. “My father left his family. That makes him the bad guy.”

“He wasn’t mentally or emotionally well.” Zach kept his gaze locked with hers, despite the daggers she shot his way.

Oh, how he understood how one’s mind could convince you those you love were better off without you around.

“And he is now?”

Zach shrugged. “He’s working full time in a shipping yard under his current alias and has been on that job for almost five years. He volunteers at a homeless shelter and regularly attends a veterans’ support group. From the outside, he seems to have pieced a life together, but I’m not qualified to answer your question. You wanted him here, so I brought him.”

Her eyes lit with realization. “He didn’t change his mind, did he? You forced him.”

Still warring with his opinions on Cliff, Zach shrugged. “Coming back to the place where you fell apart and destroyed the best parts of your life isn’t an easy thing. Give your father credit that he’s here.”

“I’ll give him nothing.” Her fingers curled at her sides. “All I need is for him to walk Sophie down the aisle tomorrow and then to crawl back under whatever rock he’s been living beneath.”

Despite her claim, her chest flared, and pain coated each word. “You don’t mean that.”

“Don’t tell me what I mean, Zach.” She poked his chest. “You don’t know me.”

He captured her hand. “I know you better than you know yourself. At least, regarding this, I do.” Her pain was as palpable as her hand within his.

Pulling her hand free, she snorted. “You think you’re so smart, but you’re wrong. I don’t want him in my life, just as I don’t want you in my life. Our deal is done. I gave you your lessons. You found my father. We’re finished. There’s no need for pretense anymore.”

She was hurting and lashing out. He knew that, but her words stung.

“Our relationship isn’t pretend.” Was he trying to convince her or himself?

“Is that what you think?” she taunted. “Then you’re wrong on that, too. All we are, all we could ever be, is pretend. You aren’t someone I’d choose to have in my life. You’re just like him. I don’t want to see you again. Not ever.”

Wondering if words had the power to leave one bleeding, Zach winced. “You’re understandably upset, Blondie, but taking out your pain on me isn’t going to make things better.”

“Don’t call me that. I’ve told you and told you. Do. Not. Call. Me. Blondie.” With her last word, she flung her hands into the air, shook her head, and, pushing him aside, ran out of the church nursery.

*

Through tear-swollen eyes, Isabelle stared into her bathroom mirror. A cold, black glob trickled onto her forehead, and she swatted at it with her plastic-covered fingers. What had she done?

Noise sounded from the front of the house, indicating either her mom, Sophie, or both had gotten home from the rehearsal. She prayed whoever it was would just go to bed. She’d known better, though.

“Izzy?” Sophie called through the door. “You okay in there?”

“I’m fine.” Not really. “Go to bed, Soph.” Please. “You have a big day tomorrow and need your rest.” True. “I… I don’t feel like talking, anyway.” Very true.

“If I went to bed, I couldn’t sleep. I’ll wait until you’re finished.”

Eyeing the wet mess on her head, Isabelle grimaced at her reflection. “That’s going to be a while.”

Silence. Then, “Let me in, Izzy.”

Taking a deep breath and hacking as chemicals burned her throat, Isabelle twisted the lock.

Hearing the click, Sophie opened the door. Upon seeing Isabelle, her jaw dropped. “Your hair!”

Seeing Sophie’s reaction unleashed the light hold Isabelle had on her tears, and a dam of them burst free. She shrugged. Sophie’s arms wrapped around her.

“Be careful or you’ll get dye on you,” Isabelle warned between sobs, not wanting her hair to stain her sister.

“Shh.” Sophie held her tighter as if she thought Isabelle might fall apart. “After you left the church, I had a lot of questions for Zach. He told me I had to ask you.”

Fighting her tears, Isabelle took another deep breath, then coughed again. “Zach and I were only pretending to be a couple to make searching for Dad easier for him. I hadn’t meant to tell you until after your honeymoon, because I didn’t want you to worry.”

Sophie pulled back, staring into Isabelle’s eyes. “I am worried. You left my rehearsal dinner and wouldn’t answer my phone calls.”

Yeah, she had done that. Shame hit. “I’m sorry. I—my phone is in my purse. I turned my ringer off.” For the second night in a row. “I-I needed some time to think.”

Sophie’s brow arched. “And to change your hair color?”

“Apparently so.” Isabelle half snorted, half laughed. “How’s Mom? Is she with Aunt Claudia?”

Not quite meeting Isabelle’s gaze, Sophie shook her head. “She’s with Dad. I’m not sure where they went, but they had a lot to say to each other. Mom was upset.”

Isabelle’s heart spasmed. Of course, her mom was upset. Her husband had shown up after a twenty-year hiatus after Isabelle had said he’d refused to come home.

“What have I done, Sophie? What was I thinking to have Zach bring him here right before your wedding?” She’d not meant for it to come down to the final moments. Sophie should have had time to process Cliff’s return. Everyone should have had time. “I’ve ruined everything.”

“The only thing you’ve ruined is your hair, but Mom can fix that.” Sophie gave Isabelle’s head a skeptical look. “Probably not before the wedding tomorrow, but she can fix it back to your beautiful natural color. As far as the other, Izzy, don’t you realize you’ve given me the most precious gift?”

“Dad coming home?”

Sophie shook her head. “I’m glad he’s home, that he’s going to walk me down the aisle, but that’s not what I meant. That you set aside your feelings and went to such extraordinary measures to get him home for my wedding—I can’t imagine anything you could have done that would have meant more.” Sophie smiled. “Thank you for loving me so much.”

Isabelle swallowed back the emotion choking her. “You’d do the same for me.”

Sophie nodded. “Present moment excluded, you’re always so together, and I’m the one who’s always into trouble to where you never need me to do anything.”

“There is something I need you to do.”

“Anything,” Sophie promised.

“Help me rinse my hair before Mom gets home and sees that I used discount store hair color, and her hairdresser sensibilities are offended. She’s dealt with enough tonight.”

*

“You can’t not go to Sophie and Cole’s wedding.”

Eyeing the plate of cookies Sarah put on the bar, Zach ran his fingers through his hair. “Isabelle doesn’t want me there.”

“Isabelle is why you have to go.” Sarah gestured for him to take a cookie, but Zach shook his head.

He’d not eaten at the rehearsal dinner but wasn’t hungry.

“She never wants to see me again.”

Sarah gave an empathetic look. “She was upset about her father. You know that. Tomorrow is going to be difficult for her on several levels. She needs you there, Zach.”

“She has you, her family, her friends.”

Sarah put a glass of milk in front of him. “None of us are you.”

“Don’t tell me you got caught up in believing our relationship was real. You’ve known from the beginning it wasn’t.”

Sarah slid onto the barstool next to him. “The only people who didn’t believe what was happening between you and Isabelle was real were the two of you.”

Not true. Zach had known. But that didn’t change that Isabelle would never let herself trust him. Why should she? He didn’t even trust himself. How could he when he didn’t know what was locked inside his head? What if memories of the explosion returned, of what had really happened that day, and knocked him back into that dark place he’d worked so hard to climb out of? What if she trusted him and then he pulled a disappearing act the way her father had?

Sighing, he picked up a cookie and stared at it. “You’ve been hanging out with your Butterfly friends too much.”

“Nice try.” Sarah laughed. “But there’s no such thing as hanging out with those ladies too much. They’re wonderful, and you know it.”

Taking a bite of his cookie, Zach nodded. “They are, but that doesn’t mean they don’t meddle.”

Sarah’s smile lit up her eyes as bright as the twinkling lights she had strung around the house. “It’s one of their most endearing qualities.”

“Poor Jeannie doesn’t stand a chance with them around.”

Sarah laughed. “My matchmaking Butterflies won’t stand a chance against her father. He swears he’s not letting Jeannie date until after her thirtieth birthday. I think he means it.”

Sarah’s comment shouldn’t have triggered anything but a smile. Instead, Zach couldn’t help thinking of how Isabelle and Sophie had missed out on their father’s protectiveness. Yes, they’d had the town who loved them, but they’d not had their father. He understood Isabelle’s pain, wanted to make it go away, wanted to not empathize with Cliff, but Zach couldn’t help doing so. In many ways, Isabelle had been right. He was a lot like her father.

Sensing where his thoughts had gone, Sarah touched his arm. “You did a good thing bringing Cliff here.”

“You think?” Zach scoffed. “Because I’m not so sure that I shouldn’t have just walked away when he said he wasn’t coming back to Pine Hill.”

Sarah patted his arm the way she did when she was comforting Jeannie. “There were a lot of unresolved emotions in Isabelle’s family. Now they have a chance to heal.”

“By ripping off the bandage?” Zach shook his head. “I did what Isabelle said she wanted, but I always knew she was lying to herself. Her mother didn’t look too happy, either.”

“Darlene is stronger than her girls give her credit for. She did what she had to do to get by. Things weren’t ideal, but they never did without love or anything they needed. My dad talked to her a long time. Tonight wasn’t easy, but she’s going to be just fine.”

“The only way Cliff would agree to come without my using bodily force”—he’d been willing and Cliff had known it—“was if no one was told ahead of time, including Isabelle.” He dropped his forehead into his palm. “I should have told her, anyway.”

Maybe he would have had she answered his calls.

“Not when you gave him your word you wouldn’t,” Sarah reminded.

Zach sighed. “Isabelle is more important.”

“Than keeping your word?”

Zach thought about it a moment, didn’t like how conflicted he was over his answer to her question, then shrugged. “None of it matters now. Cliff is here. Sophie is ecstatic. Isabelle will grit her teeth and bear it for Sophie’s sake.”

“And you?”

“I’ll stay long enough to make sure Cliff shows up when he’s supposed to tomorrow.”

“He’s sleeping in your room?”

“It is the Beds for Vets suite.” Zach laughed, but without real humor. “I’m going to take the chair and keep an eye on him.”

“There’s a cot you can use.” Sarah gave him a soft smile. “You could put it across the door. That way you can get some rest. You look as if you haven’t slept much in the past few days.”

He hadn’t. He’d needed to ensure Cliff hadn’t run. Not that the man had said or done anything to give that impression, but Zach hadn’t been willing to chance it.

“I’ll take you up on the cot. I’ll rig the window to where it’ll wake me if he attempts to open it. A few hours of sleep would be good.”

He doubted he’d manage to, though. He might forever be haunted by Isabelle telling him she never wanted to see him again. She’d said it before, but tonight her gaze had held a tortured look that warned she’d never let him close again, pretend or otherwise.

“Things won’t seem so bleak once you’ve rested,” Sarah assured. “Isabelle needs you more than she realizes. Just as you need her more than you’re ready to admit.”

To keep from having to respond, Zach downed his milk. “Thank you for your kindness, Sarah. To me and to Bodie. He’s a lucky man to have found you.”

“I’m the lucky one that he found me.” Sarah smiled. “Just as you’re lucky to have found Isabelle.”

Zach couldn’t argue with her on that count. Having met Isabelle did make him feel lucky. It also made him feel guilty for what he’d done to his own family. Nothing like what Cliff had done, but he’d abandoned them and shut them out of his life. Isabelle’s words rang through his head again, flaying into his resolve.

Sarah studied him a moment. “You’re really leaving, aren’t you? Are you headed home?”

Home? Zach scoffed at the thought, knowing he had to readjust his attitude prior to going to Georgia or nothing would change. Maybe it wouldn’t, anyway. His parents’ mansion had never felt like home. Not the way Pine Hill did.

Not the way Isabelle did.

Not long after, a few cookies in hand, Zach made his way to his upstairs suite. Freshly showered and shaven, Cliff sat in a wingback chair opposite of the bed, eyes closed.

“You planning to tie my wrists to the bed?”

“I didn’t do that last night.” Although he’d considered it.

“You also didn’t sleep. I figured you’d need some shut-eye tonight.”

Zach shrugged. “I’ve gone without longer.”

“We both have. That’s why we’re here now.” Cliff sighed, then stared at him with eyes that strongly resembled Isabelle’s. “You’re leaving after the wedding?”

“There’s no reason for me to stay in Pine Hill.”

“Other than my daughter?”

Zach snorted. “Isabelle can’t stand me.”

Cliff shook his head. “You can deny the way she feels if it makes leaving easier, but you know the truth.”

“The truth is that regardless of how Isabelle feels, she’ll never allow herself to trust me. Honestly, she shouldn’t.”

Cliff’s blue gaze didn’t waver. “Because you’re like me?”

Zach wanted to deny his question, to say he was nothing like the man, but the reality was, from the beginning he’d empathized with Cliff, had understood how the man could walk away when he believed he’d had no choice and that he was doing his family a favor.

“What’s your story?”

At Cliff’s question, Zach’s gaze lifted. “What do you mean?”

“We’ve done a whole lot of talking about me the past couple of days, but don’t think I don’t recognize the same heaviness within you that plagues me and so many others like us. What happened to put that there?”

Zach opened his mouth to tell Cliff some generic response. Instead, the truth came out with all the gory details, at least all the ones Zach recalled.

When he’d finished, he swiped at his face, realized Cliff was doing the same. The older man’s gaze met his and a world of pain shined there.

“I understand why you can’t stay in Pine Hill.”

Yeah, Zach figured that if anyone understood, it was Cliff.

*

The dress the Butterflies had made Isabelle fit like a glove. One of those stretchy, clingy gloves that hugged all over. Sarah’s and Annabelle’s dresses were a similar color, but not nearly so curvy as Isabelle’s. What had the Butterflies been thinking when they’d altered it so tightly when all they’d said they were doing was reinforcing a few seams? She tugged on the top to make sure no cleavage showed, grateful the skirt hem stayed in place just above her knees.

Staring at herself in the full-length mirror that had been set up in the church’s nursery, the same room where she and Zach had argued the night before, Isabelle tugged at the dress again, trying to find some nonexistent room between her and the material. What did it matter? All eyes were going to be on the bride and if any did make it her way, well, they’d never get past her new appearance.

“You look beautiful, Izzy,” Sophie assured from where Darlene made last-minute adjustments to her hair. There had never been any question that their mother would do Sophie’s hair for her wedding day. Aunt Claudia fussed over Annabelle’s hair, while Ruby and Rosie oohed and aahed to the smiling baby in Maybelle’s arms.

“You both do.” Their mother slid a bobby pin over a hair strand to keep it in place in the elegant pulled-up style with its wisps about Sophie’s neck. She picked up a can and sprayed Sophie’s hair. “Although, the day prior to your sister’s wedding was not the time to pull a stunt like dyeing your hair.”

Giving herself another look in the mirror, Isabelle sighed. She’d always wanted hair the color of her mother and sister. Well, she had it. Her mother had adamantly argued that short of wearing a wig, Isabelle was stuck as a brunette for Sophie’s wedding. Someday, while looking back at wedding photos, they’d probably all laugh about Isabelle’s debut as a brunette. At least, that was what she kept telling herself, since she could either go with it or curl up and cry.

She pasted on a smile. “You don’t think I should leave it dark?”

Every female in the room answered, “No.” Even Jeannie had babbled something.

“Not that you aren’t gorgeous, but you just don’t look like our Isabelle.” Maybelle shifted the baby.

“If you were going to color, you should have gone for a nice blue like mine.”

“Or not,” Aunt Claudia countered, frowning at Rosie’s suggestion. “But it’ll grow out. Or if you decide you like it best, then that’s okay, too. Like your sister said, you’re beautiful.” Aunt Claudia gave one of her smiles that had always made Isabelle feel better inside. “What does Zach think of the change?”

There went her warm and fuzzies.

“He hasn’t seen it.” Isabelle’s gaze went to where Sarah checked her reflection in another mirror.

Had Zach told Sarah about their argument? Probably so, based on the empathetic look in her friend’s eyes.

Isabelle sucked in a deep breath. “What he thinks really doesn’t matter. Zach and I were only pretending. Our relationship was never more than a cover for our spending time together and his interest in Dad in hopes of his gleaning information that would help find him.” There. She’d admitted the truth. To her family and friends. “We were never real.”

She added the last for herself to assuage any lingering doubts dancing in her head.

“You sure had me fooled,” Ruby admitted.

Rosie nodded her agreement.

Annabelle looked shocked. “I can’t believe it. I loved you two together, the way he looked at you and made you laugh. You were happy when you were with him.”

She had been. Only she’d gotten caught up in the pretense.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you all the truth. I didn’t want Sophie disappointed if we weren’t able to find Dad or if we found bad news. I told Soph everything last night.”

Diamond and sapphire butterfly earrings sparkling on her earlobes, gifts from the Butterflies as her something new and blue, Sophie’s eyes held empathy. Darlene didn’t say anything, just toyed with Sophie’s hair, despite the style being perfect. If not for the slight shake to her hands, Isabelle might have bought her mother’s calm.

“So good of Zach to go to all that trouble to bring your dad here,” Ruby mused, making googly faces at Jeannie.

Sarah’s gaze connected with Isabelle’s. “Why do you think Zach went to all that trouble?”

Isabelle shrugged. “He said he wanted to learn to sew.”

“He already knew how to sew, Isabelle.” Sarah looked torn a moment, then came over to stand by Isabelle, taking her hands. “While he was still inpatient at Walter Reed, he mentioned the quilt I’d given to Bodie to his occupational therapist. Wisely, she thought learning to sew would be good therapy for Zach as he regained use of his right hand. Not that you’d notice now, but he had nerve damage due to shrapnel near his spine.”

Hearing about Zach’s injuries, Isabelle winced. “I—he never told me.”

“Maybe I shouldn’t have, but I thought you should know that wasn’t why Zach agreed.”

Isabelle’s heart thudded against her ribcage. “Why did he agree to find Dad in exchange for me teaching him something he already knew?”

Sarah gave Isabelle’s hands a gentle squeeze. “That’s something you’ll have to ask Zach.”