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

Chapter Fourteen

T he closer it got to two o’clock, the more Isabelle’s insides jittered with anxiety. She’d mentally ticked off every item of what needed to be done prior to Sophie’s walk down the aisle. She’d gone over every list, marked off every item, and committed all the couldn’t-be-done-until-the-final-moments ones to memory. The only thing that wasn’t as it should be was her dark hair, and that she’d have to live with. Maybe the photographer could photoshop the color. She made a mental note to ask after the ceremony.

Music played as family and close friends arrived, smiling and chatting about the various patriotic quilts draped over pew backs. After the small gathering of guests was seated, Pastor Smith, Cole, Andrew, Ben, and Bodie exited one of the side rooms at the front of the auditorium and stood near the altar. Each man wore his uniform proudly—Bodie in his army, Cole in his Marine, Andrew and Ben in their firefighter, and Pastor Smith in a navy suit.

Perfect. Perfect. Perfect. Isabelle made another mental check mark.

Well, almost perfect. The man standing by himself near the foyer water fountain kept distracting her. Did he know they could see him from their vantage point on the stairs? Where Sophie had dug up their father’s uniform was beyond Isabelle, but he’d agreed to her request for him to wear it. Based upon his pallor and the way he clenched and unclenched his fingers, he might be regretting that decision. Isabelle knew enough about trauma to have momentary concern over his being in his uniform for the first time in over twenty years but refused to feel empathy for someone who had caused her family so much pain. She didn’t want to think about him.

Or the man who stood by the doors leading into the church. Was Zach standing guard to make sure her father didn’t run away?

Ugh. Isabelle moved to where she couldn’t see into the foyer, turning back toward her smiling sister. That, she thought… that was why all this was worth every icky feeling inside her. Sophie was happy. Truly happy. And this day was as her sister wanted. That was all that mattered.

The music changed and they entered the foyer. Greyson, dressed in the cutest little suit, joined them. When it was time, he’d pull the wooden wagon with its gorgeous quilt and sleeping Jeannie to stand with the wedding party. One by one, Bodie and Ben escorted the Butterflies to their respective seats with John, Lou, Charlie, and Uncle George. Then, winking as he passed by his pretty redheaded wedding date, Ben came back to the foyer to collect Darlene.

Looking watery-eyed, their mom kissed Sophie’s cheek. “I love you, honey. Be this happy always.”

Tears prickling her own eyes, Isabelle sniffled.

“Always.” Sophie gave their mom a quick hug, then smiled as Ben linked arms with Darlene to escort her down the aisle to her reserved seat in the first pew.

When her father followed Ben and her mother, Isabelle’s stomach dropped. What was he doing? She reached to stop him. Did he think he was supposed to already be in the church? How could he walk Sophie down the aisle if he was already up front?

“No, don’t.” Sophie grabbed Isabelle’s arm. “Let him go with Mom.”

Panic clutched Isabelle’s insides. This was not how she had things listed out on her ceremony checklist. “I don’t understand.”

“You went to so much trouble to get Dad here, Izzy.” Sophie’s eyes were soft and without a single trace of anything but joy and love. “Please don’t be mad that, earlier today, I realized I didn’t want him to walk me down the aisle, after all.”

The floor shifted beneath Isabelle’s heels. “You don’t?”

Sophie shook her head. “I’m glad Dad’s here but having him walk me down the aisle to give me to Cole didn’t feel right. I talked with Dad about it, Mom and Cole, too, explaining how I felt, and they all agreed.”

The music changed to the song that Greyson and Jeannie were to make their appearance to. Pulling the sleeping flower girl in her wagon, Greyson made his way into the auditorium.

“Aw.” “How adorable.” “So cute.” Whispers could be heard.

With a big smile on her face and a little wave of the fingers holding her bouquet, Annabelle stepped into the auditorium, leaving Sarah, Isabelle, and Sophie in the hallway.

“I don’t know what to say,” Isabelle admitted, her stomach in a tight knot. “I’m not mad, just shocked that you changed your mind. But it doesn’t matter, Sophie. You marrying Cole is what matters.” At her words, Sophie’s eyes shined, and Isabelle’s tension eased. “All I’ve ever wanted is for today to be everything you’ve dreamed.”

“It is,” Sophie assured. “Thanks to Cole, to you, and to our friends and family sharing this with us.”

“Love you,” Sarah whispered from where she’d been standing next to them, watching the exchange all shiny-eyed. Then, smiling, she entered the auditorium.

Knowing she was seconds away from making her entrance, Isabelle leaned over and, careful not to wrinkle Sophie’s dress, hugged her sister. “No worries, Soph. Not about anything. I agree with Mom. Be happy, always.”

Sophie hugged her tightly, but didn’t let go, even when the note hit that indicated Isabelle should join the others.

“Sophie?”

Her sister sniffled, loosened her hold, but still didn’t let go. “I told Dad I didn’t want him to walk me down the aisle, Izzy, because I told him that I wanted you to be the one to do it.”

Isabelle’s jaw dropped. “Me?”

Tears sparkling, Sophie nodded. “You’ve always been my rock, my protector, the person who loves me to pure selflessness. Who better to give me to Cole than you, Izzy? Please walk me down the aisle to my happy-ever-after.”

*

“Have you talked to him yet?”

At Morgan’s question, Isabelle pulled her gaze off where her father and Sophie shared a father-daughter dance. “There’s no need. Sophie wanted him at her wedding and he’s here. As soon as the reception is over, he can go back to Louisiana.”

“I meant Zach,” Morgan clarified.

Sophie laughed at something their father said as they slowly moved back and forth in the center of the reception hall, causing Isabelle’s shoulders to tense.

“You mean my dad’s BFF?”

Her cousin placed her hand on Isabelle’s arm. “It only makes sense that Zach would stay close to Cliff, since he’s the one who insisted he return to Pine Hill. He feels responsible for how uncomfortable your dad is. Honestly, I feel for him, too.” At Isabelle’s intake of breath, Morgan rushed on. “Over the years I’ve been a nurse, I’ve worked with several men and women with PTSD. Your dad had a really bad case, Isabelle. From what Sophie says, he blocked out everything the first few years after he left Pine Hill and when reality started hitting him, he was still such a mess that he didn’t know how to reclaim his former life.”

Isabelle’s heart squeezed, hating how lost her father must have been, but hating how much he’d hurt them more. “He didn’t even try.”

“No, he didn’t,” Morgan agreed softly. “Now, there are a lot of programs to help our military deal with the things they’ve experienced. Yet many still struggle and the suicide rate is heart-wrenching. Being back here, confronted with all these memories and his own failures, can’t be easy on your dad. The nurse in me wants to hug him and tell him that it’s going to be okay, that he’s going to be okay.”

Pulse pounding in her throat, Isabelle stared at her cousin. “Do you think today should be easy on him?”

Morgan shrugged. “I know he hurt you, but you need to talk with him, tell him how you feel, and let him tell you how he feels. Otherwise, you’ll never be able to forgive him.”

Morgan sounded just like Zach. Ugh .

“I don’t want to forgive him.”

Morgan’s brow lifted.

Isabelle took a deep breath. “I never wanted him here other than that Sophie wanted him here. There’s no need for him to stay after the reception.”

“Sarah and Bodie have offered to let him stay at Hamilton House in their Beds for Vets suite if he wants to spend time in Pine Hill.”

Which meant Zach wouldn’t be occupying the suite. Isabelle swallowed the lump in her throat. She’d known he was leaving all along. Why did her chest hurt as if his pending departure was a new revelation?

“Of course they offered.” The dance ended and Isabelle took a deep breath. “I don’t want to talk about Dad anymore, Morgan, or Zach. Tell me about your life in California or about Andrew being a smokejumper or about Greyson’s school or anything.”

“For the record, you really do need to talk to your dad and to Zach, but okay, I’ll tell you something.” Morgan’s eyes took on a happy glow and she slid her hand low on her belly. “A secret, actually.”

“Are you really?” Happiness filled Isabelle at the smile on Morgan’s face as she nodded.

“You’re the first person I’ve told. Other than Andrew, of course. I took the test this morning and am busting to tell everyone, but we didn’t want to take away from Cole and Sophie’s day.”

“Sophie wouldn’t have minded. This is wonderful news. Aunt Claudia is going to be ecstatic to have another great. And Ruby”—Isabelle smiled—“Ruby is going to be over the moon about this baby. Andrew is her pride and joy.”

The music changed to an upbeat tune as Cole, surrounded by four Butterflies, took center stage. Isabelle shook her head at what was about to take place.

“Speaking of our Butterflies, if anyone ever needed proof of how much Cole loves my sister, we’re about to witness it. Where did they find those red, white, and blue boas?”

Morgan laughed. “I didn’t know they were having a groom-Butterflies dance. Poor Cole. At least he’s smiling.”

“I’m not sure anything could wipe the smile off his face today.”

“My heart melted at how he looked at Sophie while they exchanged their vows.” Morgan sighed. “Every word between them was pure perfection.”

Their declarations of forever love and forsaking all others had been perfect. Isabelle’s heart had overflowed for her sister and new brother. Keeping her gaze on them should have been easy, and yet, she’d had to fight to keep from looking toward where Zach sat between her parents in the front pew. Had the hand he’d placed on her father’s knee been a reassuring touch or one meant to keep him seated?

“Oh, Rosie!” Morgan giggled at the woman sashaying around Cole. The other three Butterflies shook their heads, then laughed and followed suit. “I miss them so much.”

“Any thoughts of moving back to Pine Hill?”

Morgan’s gaze stayed on Cole and the Butterflies. “Andrew wants to work a few years as a smokejumper, but we’ve always planned to move back at some point. With the baby on the way, we may make the move sooner than expected, though. I’m not sure. It wasn’t planned, but we’re both ecstatic.”

Cole took Ruby’s hand, twirled her around, then did the same for the other Butterflies, coming to Rosie last. Rosie batted her lashes, then crooked her finger at him. Laughing, Cole spun her, then gave her a quick dip. When she straightened, Sophie tapped her shoulder.

The Butterflies cleared the dance floor, leaving the newlyweds to their first dance.

“Look how happy she is.” Morgan leaned close. “I want that for you, too, Izzy.”

Isabelle frowned. “I’m happy.”

“You know what I mean. Talk to Zach.”

“Why? Zach has nothing to do with my happiness.” Nothing at all, she assured herself, hating that her gaze sought where he sat at a table with her father, Sarah and Bodie, and others. He looked so handsome in his dress clothes and so very far away.

“Seriously, Izzy, the two most important men of your life are at that table. Go talk to them while I go see what my husband and Ben are up to. I suspect Cole’s truck may never look the same after those two get through with their Just Married additions.”

As if he’d somehow heard Morgan’s comment from across the room, Zach’s gaze met hers. Rather than look away, he lifted his drink in a salute.

Isabelle scowled, then looked away. Zach was not one of the two most important men of her life. He was just someone who’d found the man who should have been the most important man of her life.

*

“Was that look on my account?”

“Doubtful.” Although Zach could feel Cliff’s gaze, he didn’t shift his own from where Isabelle fiddled with the tablecloth, smoothing out the material. She’d been sitting with her cousin but was now at the table alone. He longed to go to her, but he had no right, nor did she want him to.

“What did you do?” Cliff asked from next to him.

The man had leaned close, but still spoke loud enough that Maybelle’s ears had perked up.

Zach snorted. “Exist.”

Cliff’s sandy-gray brow lifted in question.

“Zach and Isabelle have unresolved feelings for each other,” Sarah supplied from where she sat on the opposite side of Zach, proving Maybelle wasn’t the only one interested in what they were saying.

Unresolved feelings? He fought laughing. From the beginning, Isabelle had looked at him with daggers. The only thing that had changed was the way he looked at her.

Cliff eyed Zach suspiciously. “Is that the real reason why you refused to leave Louisiana without me? Because you couldn’t disappoint Isabelle?”

“You’re here for Sophie,” Zach clarified. “She wanted you here and Isabelle wants Sophie happy.”

The man sat in silence a moment, then half choked on his next words. “Thank you.”

Zach’s heart clenched, continuing in its battle between empathy for the man and wanting to smash his face in for all the pain he’d caused Isabelle over the years. “You’re welcome.”

Cole and Sophie finished their dance. Maybelle and the other Butterflies rejoined them toward the front of the reception hall, calling everyone to attention.

“As many of you know, the beautiful bride heads up our local Quilts of Valor group. The quilts you see displayed around the room are all Quilts of Valor made by various members. This work is very near and dear to our Sophie’s heart.” Maybelle glanced toward where Sophie stood, her fingers laced with Cole’s. “As part of the celebration of her marriage, Sophie requested that we do a Quilts of Valor presentation.”

“And,” Rosie joined in, “she made a special request on who we wrap.”

Having gathered one of the quilts, Ruby and Claudia held it up, displaying the red, white, and blue pattern. Maybelle and Rosie told the history of the organization, filling Zach with pride at being a member of the foundation Catherine Roberts had started after a dream where she’d seen a dejected soldier being wrapped in a quilt and finding comfort and healing.

Maybelle glanced toward their table. “Cliff, can you and Zach join us up front, please?” Then she turned toward where Isabelle sat. “Isabelle, you, too.”

Wondering at why he needed to be up front, Zach’s gaze immediately sought Isabelle. Her face had gone pale as she realized what Sophie had planned.

Sophie was going to wrap their father in a quilt to welcome him home.

*

No , Isabelle thought. Sophie wasn’t doing this to her. She wasn’t a part of Sophie’s quilting group. She didn’t need to be up front. Her sister had bride brain.

Isabelle must, too, because she made her way to the front. Avoiding looking toward her father or Zach, she kept her gaze focused on where Sophie and Cole held hands. But then Sophie was taking the microphone from the Butterflies.

“Isabelle,” she said. “Come stand beside me.”

Heat burned Isabelle’s face as she moved to where her sister indicated. Oh Sophie, what are you doing?

“All of you know that my father has just returned home,” Sophie addressed her guests. “Many of you wonder where he’s been. Where doesn’t matter. What matters is that he is here now, back in Pine Hill, where he belongs.”

Isabelle closed her eyes, then took a deep, steadying breath. As she opened her eyes, she realized her father, apparently feeling just as awkward, had done the same.

“Daddy,” her sister turned to him. “Today has been full of dreams come true. Every Quilts of Valor quilt I’ve ever made has been made with wrapping you in one filling my heart.”

Aunt Claudia and Ruby stepped forward, handing off the quilt to Sophie and allowing her to wrap the patriotic material around her father’s shoulders. “Thank you for your service. Welcome home, Daddy. We’re so glad you’re here.”

Hugs were exchanged. Her father mumbled words of gratitude and regret. Isabelle’s heart pounded so hard that dizziness threatened to steal her consciousness. Fortunately, before that happened, Sophie finished, and Isabelle readied to make a quick exit. She needed air.

“I want to thank the Butterflies for all their help. They made my gorgeous dress, you know. My sister’s, too.” Sophie gestured toward her, and more heat burned Isabelle’s cheeks. “I’d planned this presentation weeks ago, before I knew my father would be here, and I already had someone in mind and knew the exact quilt he needed wrapped within.”

Isabelle’s gaze went beyond her sister to where Rosie and Maybelle were bringing another quilt to the stage. The quilt that had been hanging in the shop when they’d closed Thursday evening.

“I know you’re a member of our great organization, but when I checked the database, I realized you’d never been presented a quilt of your own, Zach.”

Her sister was going to wrap Zach in the quilt that he’d admired so much, he’d bought Sarah the kit. Isabelle just wanted this day to end so she could go home and pour her woes out to Bobbin. Maybe the cat could help her reconcile everything that had happened. Or maybe not, she thought, as Sophie turned imploring eyes her way.

“Izzy, I need your help with this one.”

Isabelle gave her sister a what-are-you-doing look. “I’m not a member,” she reminded in a panicked whisper.

“Actually, you are. Merry Christmas a bit early.” Sophie took her hand as if she thought Isabelle might make a mad dash from the reception.

Good thinking, because that was exactly what she wanted to do. This wasn’t happening. Sophie gave a short spiel about Zach’s service, briefly mentioning his injuries that had ended his military career, then glanced toward where Maybelle and Rosie held the quilt. They moved closer, and Sophie took one end. “Izzy, take the other side, please.”

Not moving, Isabelle stared at the quilt.

“Please, Izzy.”

All her life’s frustrations accumulated in that moment. Her frustrations with her father. With Zach. With everything. Isabelle shook her head. She wasn’t doing this. Not even for Sophie. She shook her head again. Shock registered on her sister’s face, then Sophie turned to Zach. She and the Butterflies wrapped the quilt around him and welcomed him home.

Without a word to anyone, Isabelle walked off the stage and left the reception.

*

Stomach clenching, Zach glanced around the foyer, then, acting on gut instinct, headed out of the church. Where had Isabelle gone? She could have walked home, but he doubted it since she was too practical to have left her car parked at the church. Which left the quilt shop as the most likely place for her to have gone to get away for a few minutes.

Only, as he headed down the street, he paused. There she was, sitting on the bench and staring at the monument. The inscribed words ran through his mind. Goosebumps prickled his skin. What did those words mean to Isabelle? Was she thinking about the sacrifices her family had made? Not with their last breaths, but with their family unit? Her head bowed into her hands and her shoulders shook. Zach took off down the street, determined to get to her, determined to hold her until every tear had dried.

“Let me do this, son.” Surprised Cliff had caught him, that his grasp was as firm as it was, Zach paused, turning to look at the pale man who wore his quilt about his shoulders. “This is my mess.”

“Isabelle is not a mess. She’s a beautiful and bright woman who has made a success of the life you dealt her.” Even if she was currently sobbing while sitting on a courthouse lawn bench. God, he had to get to her. Only… wouldn’t she rather have her father go to her than Zach?

“I didn’t mean to imply she was a mess. I’m just owning that I’m why she’s sitting where she is. You wanted me here and I came. Now, give me this.”

Emotions warring with logic shredded Zach’s insides. Cliff was right. Her father should be the one to go to Isabelle, only… only Zach wanted to be the one, to have a reason to wrap his arms around her and hold her one last time. But that was nothing more than selfishness on his part. He needed to do what was right for Isabelle.

“You better not hurt her,” he warned, reconciling himself that he had no rights where she was concerned. No matter how much things felt different, he was just someone who’d visited Pine Hill and would be forgotten soon enough.

Cliff inhaled sharply. “And you? Are you going to hurt her, too? Just like I did?”

Zach shook his head. “I’m not like you.”

“No?” Cliff’s eyes, so hauntingly similar to Isabelle’s, bored into him. “You’re leaving her because you’re afraid of what’s inside you. You worry about whether you can control the darkness if those suppressed memories ever resurface. And if you can’t, everyone around you will be hurt.”

Zach winced. It was why he’d stayed away from his family. That, and the fact he couldn’t stand their pity.

Cliff sighed. “You know I’m right. It’s why you haven’t shaken my hand free and gone to her. We both know you’re leaving. I’m here. Let me go to her. She and I need a chance to heal.”

“She isn’t going to forgive you. Not that easily.”

“I never thought she would, but I need to ask her to, don’t I?”

Realizing that their conversation was preventing either of them from comforting Isabelle, Zach pulled his arm free. “If you hurt her again, I’ll…” He paused, not sure how to label the emotions coursing through him.

Apparently, he didn’t need to, because Cliff nodded with understanding. “The last thing I want to do is hurt my little girl any more than I already have. Now, let me go to her.”

Zach nodded, then watched as Cliff did just that, joining Isabelle on the bench.

He stood there for long moments, watching the father and daughter converse, feeling guilty that he spied on them and yet struggling to walk away when he knew how precious these moments were, knowing he’d never see Isabelle again.

Not outside of his mind and heart.