Page 105 of Noble Neighbor
Sunny gasped, eyes widening with horror as she watched the road. “That’s Bella and—” More than one vehicle drew near. Ones she recognized. “Oliver, what have you done?” she whispered, her heart hammering hard in her chest. She wasn’t one for panic attacks, but dammit, it felt as if she was having one now.
He placed his hands on her shoulders, turning her to face him. “Do you trust me, Sunny?”
“I thought I did,” she spat, but he’d betrayed her. He—
“I’dneverdo anything to harm you or the girls,” he insisted, holding her stare.
Her shoulders sagged, and she dropped her eyes from the truth written in his. “I know.” And she did.
“Itwillbe fine, sweetheart. We have our game plan, remember?” He pressed his lips to her forehead and lobbed the next bombshell. “Besides, I reckoned you’d want your besties to attend our wedding tomorrow.”
“I’d want—” The last word registered, and her gaze flew back to his with eyes narrowed to slits. “What?”
Oliver shrugged. “Figured we could take advantage of having our folks here, invite a few friends, and have us a wedding.”
“Have us a— we’re getting married … tomorrow?”
“Yup.”
Her eyeline flew past his shoulders to her family, then flicked to where Bella and Ruth, and their families, were emerging from the two vehicles. “But—”
“As with Kenzie and Molly, we’ll introduce your family as friends of Bert and Vera.Theirconnection to Savannah might be made, but you’re not her anymore, Sunny. It will be fine, sweetheart. I promise.”
“Beau’s here, too. He already hates me.”
“He doesn’t hate you. He just distrusts women. And yes, if anyone made the connection, it would be him. But Sunny, he’s kept my confidence for years, and I believe we can trust the man to keep our secret if he connects the dots.”
*
Sunny hadn’t slept well. She’d stumbled to bed last night, exhausted, unsettled by her past intersectingwith her present. And this morning she’d woken before dawn, and after tossing and turning with her troubled thoughts, she finally abandoned sleep and sneaked from their bed to avoid waking Oliver.
He’d made unilateral decisions about events they should’ve discussed beforehand, and she should be annoyed with the man.
But she wasn’t. Not really.
After years of fending for herself, the way he’d taken charge of her life over the last few days should’ve gotten her back up.
But it hadn’t. Not completely.
And it was her lack of concern that, well, concerned her. How was that for a conundrum?
Nearing footsteps alerted her to company, and she twisted her neck. A welcome smile bloomed across her face.
Her father walked closer, a mug of coffee in his hand. “Thought I’d find you up.” He placed an arm around her shoulders and pulled her in for a hug.“Good morning, darlin’. How’s my Sunny-girl today?”
“Daddy,” she murmured, resting her head on his shoulder. She shouldn’t call him that. Not anymore. But wow, it was wonderful, and it was just for nowwhen it was the two of them. “I’m getting married today,” she said, wonderingly.
“You are. He’s a fine man.”
“Yes. Yes, he is. Even if he’s sneaky.”
“Somethin’ me and your ma are grateful for.”
“Me too, Daddy. Me too. Everything inside me says I should be upset with him, but I can’t because this” — she waved her hand about — “is special. And I’m grateful. So very grateful.”
“You’ve made a good life for yourself, Sunny. Andyour girls …” He stopped, swallowing hard as he inhaleda shuddering breath.
“Daddy …”
