The Wedding Wish

Isabel, but all of us? ” He glanced at Trudy, who appeared faint. “We have to tell Isabel.”
    “I’m going to tell her,” Robert squawked. “I was on my way just now!”
    “Kip,” Trudy said. “He’s right. This is for the two of them to work out.”
    Kip would prefer to work things out right here and now. Mano a mano with Robert, that little pipsqueak. But he knew that his wife wouldn’t forgive him. Isabel, God love her, might even get angry with him too. Though if she asked her dad to settle things up with Robert later, he’d be more than happy to do it. He felt Trudy’s hand on his shoulder and released his grip, leaving a stunned Robert to fall back on his elbows. “ You! ” he said with a parting growl. “ Stay away from my daughter! ”
    As they left, Trudy glanced sadly over her shoulder. “You really disappointed us, Robert. And I was one of the ones pulling for you.”

Chapter Eight

    Robert stood on wobbly knees and dusted off his dress slacks. He watched Kip and Trudy walk away, shaking their heads as they made for their car. Of all the scenarios Robert had envisioned occurring this evening, Kip’s assault hadn’t been among them. Though Robert knew he couldn’t entirely blame Kip for reacting the way he did. Robert understood the information had come as a shock. He worried it would come as one to Isabel as well. He only hoped she’d give him more time than her dad had for him to explain the entire truth.
    Robert straightened his tie and pulled back the heavy door, finding the museum’s entry foyer nearly empty. Only a few scattered guests remained, chatting casually amidst the catering staff that was busily cleaning up. It took him a few moments to find Isabel in a back chamber, gathering up some extra programs. She heard his approach and looked up. “Robert!” she said, her cheeks flushed. She was stunning in a short black dress and heels, her blonde curls twisted up in a knot behind her. She set down her pile of papers and hurried to him. “I didn’t think you could make it.”
    He sadly surveyed the empty room, then took her in his arms. “Looks like I missed it.”
    “Most of it, yeah.” She gave him a tilted smile, and his heart stilled. How he wished there was a way to make things easy, but any way he could think of was hard.
    She ran her hand down his lapel, noting the tear at his collar. “What happened to your shirt?”
    “Let’s just say I had a little run-in with Kip on my way here.”
    “With my dad?” she asked with surprise. “I don’t understand.”
    He looked down into trusting blue eyes, hating to shatter her illusions. But the only way to move forward at this point was with full disclosure, and Robert knew it. “I told him, Isabel. Told him why I went to New York.”
    Her delicate brow wrinkled in concern. “And now you’re going to tell me?”
    “All I ask is that you hear me out. Let me say my whole piece.”
    “Robert,” she said, her voice trembling. “You’re scaring me.”
    He drew a deep breath, then released it, gathering his courage. He locked on her gaze and willed the words from his throat, but they wouldn’t come.
    “What is it? What’s happened?”
    “When I told you before there was no one else, that wasn’t exactly right.”
    “What?”
    “Isabel, I’m married.”
    She pushed back in his arms and broke their embrace. “ Married? ” she shrieked, looking as if she’d been slapped across the face.
    “But it’s not like you think!”
    She shook her head in disbelief and then stammered, “You mean, all this time… When you and I have been together?” She brought her hand to her mouth as if she might retch.
    “Isabel.” Robert stepped forward, but she inched back.
    “Stay where you are.”
    “You don’t understand. I’ve been trying to get it undone.”
    “Sure you have,” she said, clearly not believing him. “That’s what they all say, isn’t it?”
    “They?”
    “Men, Robert! Like you!” She shot him an accusing glare. “And all this time I blamed my dad, said he was overreacting…” She stood up straighter and squared her shoulders. “But he was right, wasn’t he? You weren’t to be trusted. All this time, you’ve been married to somebody else.”
    “Yes, but—”
    “Were you or weren’t you?”
    Robert hung his head. “I was.”
    “Does she know about me?”
    “No.”
    “Perfect. That’s perfect.”
    “My marriage was over a long time ago.”
    She set a hand on her hip and asked