The Wedding Wish

clearing about to go down, then why did it appear the two women in his life were throwing up a smoke screen?
    “I think I hear a car!” Isabel said, getting to her feet.
    “Why don’t we all go and greet him?” Trudy said, standing as well.
    Kip reluctantly followed after them, hoping this whole thing would be over soon. He had a ball game to watch and other things to attend to. Important things, like rearranging his CD collection or helping Trudy sort those blasted cookbooks.
    “Sir,” Robert said with a nod. “It’s good to see you.”
    He wished he could say the same, but the truth was he still wasn’t over it. That whole marriage thing had sat with him the wrong way. If a man can hide one thing, he can hide something else. That was the trouble with deception. Some people didn’t know where to stop. He suspiciously rolled his eyes toward Trudy, who was grinning like a cat who’d swallowed a canary. The entire thing, feathers and all. “It’s a beautiful day,” she offered. “Isabel and I were thinking it would be nice if you boys took a walk.”
    “A walk?” Kip’s tone rose in dismay. To add insult to injury, now he had to exercise? Didn’t he get enough of that at work, walking around, supervising everything? Standing on his feet nine to ten hours a day?
    “Go on,” Trudy said, giving him a little push down the path. He begrudgingly sidled up next to Robert but kept his distance. Arm’s length. So he wouldn’t be tempted to reach up and throttle the boy the way he’d nearly done before.
    “We’ll be back in a bit,” Robert told the ladies with an easy grin.
    Why did Kip have the feeling that everyone else around here knew something he didn’t?
    Robert started right in on it before they had even rounded the corner. “Thanks for agreeing to talk with me today, sir.”
    “I’m not sure I was given much of a choice.” He glanced back at the women, who watched them expectantly. Trudy motioned him forward with her hand, urging him along.
    “The truth is, I wanted to talk to you about Isabel.”
    “Listen, Robert, if this is about that whole Susan thing, I know all about it. Isabel and Trudy filled me in.”
    “I know it might seem hard to understand.”
    “It’s not really for me to understand or not, is it?” He shot Robert a sideways glance. “That’s up to Isabel.”
    “Yes, sir. I agree, sir. And she does too. It was a shock to her at first as well. But once I explained it—”
    Kip blew a hard breath and stopped walking. “Robert,” he said, meeting the young man’s eyes. “What’s this really about?”
    Robert stunned him by throwing himself down on one knee. “Sir, I want to marry your daughter!”
    Kip nervously scanned the block, then hissed under his breath. Of all things, Mrs. Meryl was out watering her petunias, and she was staring at them, mouth agape. “What are you doing?”
    Robert latched on to his arm. “Asking for Isabel’s hand.”
    Kip stared down at the boy in horror and shook off his hold. “Her what ? Get up!” he said in a hoarse whisper. “The neighbors are staring.” He grabbed Robert under his arm and yanked him to his feet. Robert shielded his face like he feared Kip was going to slug him.
    “Now what are you doing?” Kip spouted in low tones.
    “Self-defense?”
    “And you have the balls to ask to marry my daughter?” Kip huffed and stormed forward.
    “I didn’t have to do it,” Robert called after him.
    Kip slowly turned on his heels. “What did you say?”
    Robert unabashedly met his eyes. “I said I didn’t have to do it. Go to the trouble of asking for her hand. I want your blessing, sir. Yours and Mrs. Miller’s both. But even if I don’t get it, I’m planning to ask her.”
    “Harrumph.”
    “You just told me yourself, Isabel makes up her own mind.”
    Kip hung his head, wondering where he’d gone wrong. Maybe this had to do with the last time he went to confession. It had been so long ago, he couldn’t even recall when that was. This was divine retribution, and he knew it. What else could it be?
    “Mr. Miller.”
    Kip slowly looked up.
    “I might not have done everything right in your eyes, but I can assure you of one thing: I desperately love your daughter. I am madly and unconditionally, one hundred percent, without a shadow of a doubt in love with her, and I will do everything in my power to make her happy.” After a pause, he continued. “I also know how much Isabel loves you. And part of my making