The Twins' Family Wish Read online

  “Yes.” He grinned at her relief. “Go and help guide another little life into this world and know that I think you’re an amazing woman, Penny Stern.” He leaned toward her and whispered in her ear. “By next Saturday you’ll be Penny Granger.”

  She blinked at him in startled surprise before Tara tugged on her arm, drawing her away.

  Rick watched her leave. A feather of peace settled his restless heart. With Penny’s help the twins would be cared for no matter what. At least he had one answer to prayer.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “Happy birthday, Penny!”

  Rick knew from the shocked look on her face that she’d forgotten the date. But he hadn’t and he intended to make this day as special as she was.

  Telling the twins about their marriage last night had been a simple affair, made easier by Penny’s repeated assurances that she would still take care of them at the daycare, still love them. She was an incredible woman and she’d agreed to marry him!

  “Aren’t you ready for breakfast?” Katie asked, eyes wide as she took in Penny’s disheveled state.

  “Did you just get out of bed?” Kyle asked, obviously shocked by the thought. “We’ve been up for a long time.”

  “So have I.” His fiancée’s glower made Rick hide his grin. “I was having my coffee on the back patio and relaxing since I don’t have to work today.”

  “And now we’re here to disturb that.” He smiled. “Sorry.”

  “No, you’re not,” she said in a disgruntled tone. “It will take me forever to get ready,” she warned darkly.

  “Better not. We have reservations in—” Rick checked his watch. “Twenty-five minutes.”

  “Reservations where?” she demanded but the kids prevailed.

  “C’mon, Penny. We’re starved.” Katie tugged on her hand. “I’ll help you get dressed.”

  “Help her fast,” Kyle ordered. “’Cause my stomach’s growling.”

  Rick sat down in the chair on her front porch, content to wait. Penny was worth waiting for.

  Turned out he didn’t have long to wait. Penny’s mussed hair was a bit damp and a few drops of water glistened on arms revealed by his favorite yellow sundress, but she made it out the front door in ten minutes flat.

  “Thank you for your help, Katie.” Rick grinned at his niece. “I owe you one.”

  He got them all in his newly washed truck then drove to one of Tucson’s top-rated hotels where breakfast on Saturday morning was a luxury made for birthday celebrations.

  “Can we have whatever we want?” Kyle asked in disbelief.

  “Yes. Just don’t make yourselves sick. We’ve got a full day ahead.” He sipped his heavily creamed coffee and waited for Penny to recover from her shock. “We’re going to be a family soon so the kids and I thought we should celebrate your birthday as a family.”

  “I see. Doing what?” She pretended to pout when he wouldn’t explain.

  “What would you like to eat?” Rick asked her.

  “Crepes with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. And bacon. Please.” She smiled when Katie ordered the same thing.

  After he and Kyle had given their orders Rick leaned back, delighted with himself when the waiter, as per earlier instructions, brought Penny a single crepe rolled and draped across a silver platter.

  “One?” She glanced at him, frowned then fiddled with the crepe.

  “There’s something in it,” Kyle noted. “Better unroll it.”

  Penny did, cheeks flaming with color. But a huge smile appeared on her face as she lifted out a diamond ring. “It’s lovely,” she whispered, holding the platinum band between two fingertips.

  “It’s your marry me ring from Uncle Rick,” Katie squealed excitedly. “He has to put it on your finger.”

  Penny was sacrificing so much for him. Rick was determined to make this marriage come as close to her dreams as he could. So he rose from his chair, walked to hers and knelt.

  “Will you marry me, Penny?” he asked quietly, fully aware that every eye in the place was on him.

  “I already said yes,” she hissed, dragging out the s. When he ignored her, she ordered, “Get up!”

  But he took his time sliding the ring onto her finger, savoring the pleasure in her blue-eyed gaze after he rose and kissed her on the lips.

  “Thank you, Penny. I hope you won’t regret your decision,” he said very quietly before returning to his seat.

  “Another incident like that and I well might,” she shot back, pretending anger though her shining eyes told another story. “I don’t like being the center of attention.”

  “Tough because today you are, birthday girl.” He grinned at her. “Shall we eat now?”

  It was a happy, lighthearted meal full of laughter and teasing that helped chase away the gloomy tenseness of the past few weeks. And when they were walking back to the truck, Penny’s hand slid into his. She leaned her head on his shoulder for a moment before whispering a soft thank-you.

  “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet,” he shot back and brushed her nose with his lips.

  She was so easy to kiss.

  “Where to now, Uncle Rick?” Kyle wanted to know.

  “We’re going to see the butterflies at the botanical garden.” He’d questioned Sophie extensively and learned this was Penny’s favorite place.

  Once inside the butterfly house, Rick became entranced by Penny’s demeanor as the butterflies continued to settle on her shoulders, hands and arms. Katie, though she tried desperately, couldn’t get them to do more than hover, and Kyle was hopeless.

  “They’re such innocent, delicate things. They remind me of the preciousness of life,” Penny told him and he saw a tear drop from the ends of her lashes. “So lovely.”

  They toured the rest of the garden before Rick said it was time to leave for the next surprise. He’d barely driven five miles when Katie squealed.

  “We’re goin’ to Gramma and Grampa’s.”

  “Yes, we are. They want to wish Penny happy birthday, too.” Rick saw trepidation on her face and hurried to erase it. “I’m pretty sure there won’t be any blue birthday cake for you,” he said in his drollest voice.

  “I happen to love blue birthday cake,” she said stoically.

  When they arrived, Eva wrapped her in a warm hug.

  “I’m so glad you’re here to share your special day with us.” Suddenly she grabbed Penny’s hand. “David, look at this! It’s gorgeous.”

  “We’re getting married in one week. Hope you’ll be there. It will be just family and a few friends at Wranglers Ranch.” Rick knew his parents understood by the way they glanced at each other before offering him their congratulations.

  Later, when he and his father were sitting outside with their lemonade, his father asked, “Are you sure about this, son?”

  “Yes. Penny’s perfect,” he answered, quelling the tiniest doubt that sometimes bubbled inside.

  “Perfect for you or perfect for the twins?” David said, looking troubled.

  “Perfect for all of us. She’s a wonderful woman, Dad. She loves the twins and she’ll be there for them if—you know what? I don’t want to go there today. This is supposed to be a celebration.”

  But when he was about to enter the kitchen for more ice, he saw his mom sitting across from Penny. Her voice was quiet and her smile in place but it was very clear she was absolutely serious about whatever she was saying.

  “Don’t let her back out,” he whispered as he wandered down to the lake, confident the twins were happily engaged in making animals with the Play-Doh his mother always kept on hand. “Penny’s exactly what we need.”

  What about what she needed? Was it fair to ask her to enter a sham marriage and care for two kids who weren’t her own?

  “It
’s the only way I can do this, God,” he murmured.

  Me. I. As if I’m the only one that matters.

  What about Penny?

  Rick knew he’d asked for a lot. But had he asked too much of this woman he’d come to love but couldn’t tell her of that love?

  Time would tell.

  * * *

  “This has been a birthday to remember. I’m sad the twins couldn’t stay up for this part,” Penny whispered as she sat beside Rick on the deck of his house later that evening, waiting for the sun to sink behind the craggy mountaintops. “I don’t know how to thank you for such a special day, Rick.”

  “It’s been our pleasure.” His gravelly voice came from behind her left shoulder. “We’re the ones who should be thanking you for everything you’re doing for us.”

  She let that hang for a long time as the questions piled up in her mind. Then, finally, she asked the one question that constantly preyed on her mind.

  “Are you sure we’re doing the right thing by getting married, Rick?” When he didn’t answer she turned her head to see his face. He was staring into the distance, his dark eyes tortured.

  “I don’t know. But it’s the only thing I know to do.” He shifted so the porch light shone into her face. “Do you want to call it off? Now, before news spreads all over town?”

  “No. It’s just—I don’t know. Confusing, I guess.” Penny sighed as the full weight of her decision returned after a fun-filled day when she’d stopped thinking about what her future held.

  “Was it something my mother said?” he asked very quietly.

  “Not really, though she very kindly welcomed me to the family.” Penny paused but could not suppress the truth. “It’s just that we talked about faith and God working in our circumstances and now I feel like such a fraud for not waiting for God to work things out for both of us.”

  “You shouldn’t feel like a fraud, Penny. You haven’t done anything wrong. We are trusting God,” Rick assured her with a squeeze to her hand. “Or at least I’m trying. But God also gave me brains and it would be wrong and irresponsible of me not to be prepared where the twins are concerned when Gillian specifically asked me to do my best for them.” His chest heaved as he exhaled. “And truth to tell, we don’t know yet exactly how God will work this out so we should be prepared.”

  “I suppose. Your mom reminded me of the way Old Testament wives were chosen and how they had to be wholly dependent on God,” Penny mused. “I sort of feel like I’m not being strong and trusting to the same extent.”

  “Do you want to call things off?” he asked.

  This was her chance to back out, to shake off the doubts and walk away. To quiet that accusing voice in her head that continually questioned the faith she talked of.

  And yet here she was in Rick’s arms, exactly where she wanted to be. Okay, he didn’t love her the way she wanted, but she loved him and being near him, helping him with the twins. This was what she wanted.

  “Penny?” His breath brushed her ear in a caress that sent shudders to her heart. If only God could somehow make it that Rick loved her, life would be perfect.

  The Lord will work out His plan for your life.

  Okay, then.

  “I’m not calling anything off unless you want to, Rick. Do you?” She twisted to get a clear look at his face. Their gazes met and locked. Rick’s was clear and determined. He shook his head once. “Okay, then, we’ll wait for God to work out His plan.”

  “Thank you, Penny.”

  “Don’t thank me. We’re partners in this.” Having made her decision, Penny leaned against her fiancé’s chest, his hand firmly wrapped over hers as they watched the sunset.

  Fiancé. What a lovely word.

  * * *

  Three days before her wedding Penny felt as if she was dancing at the edge of happily-ever-after, except when bouts of pure joy interspersed with shock and surprise kept her on edge, minimizing her bliss. Maybe it was because their news had spread and everyone kept congratulating her and Rick on their love.

  They’d agreed to maintain the illusion of a love match fearing that doing otherwise might somehow stop their expedited adoption process. Since Rick was the twins’ legal guardian and he’d named Penny as joint guardian, his lawyer tried to reassure them that there should not be any difficulties with adoption.

  It seemed Penny was finally getting her wish for a family, but late at night, alone, she often wondered at what cost.

  The sparkling diamond on her ring finger mocked her hasty engagement to a man who didn’t love her yet also filled her with pride. Rick was a wonderful, generous, kind and special man. She couldn’t imagine marrying anyone else. But lurking under her joy was the question of God’s intervention. When would this tense situation break? When would He help?

  Molly’s brand-new baby boy reignited Penny’s desire for her own child but that came second to her longing for Rick to be free of all accusations. Though her arms ached fiercely after cuddling Molly’s new son in the hospital, Penny stuck by the promise she’d made to God.

  “It doesn’t matter about me not having a child. I’ll have the twins and that will be wonderful. But it really matters about Rick,” she’d prayed desperately and repeatedly. “Please intercede. The only way he’ll ever forgive himself for not saving Gillian is if You prove he was not responsible for that fire.”

  Desperation had also brought out truth.

  “I love him. I can’t watch him suffer so deeply for something I know he’s not guilty of. Please, Father, help. I promise I will never again ask You for a child or a family if You will please clear up the fire investigation.”

  It didn’t seem God was keeping His side of the bargain, though, because on Wednesday Rick received a summons to attend an arson hearing slated for the following week. His lawyer wasn’t hopeful since the investigator was now openly placing the blame squarely in Rick’s court.

  Her only confidante was Sophie and even her best friend didn’t know Penny and Rick’s wouldn’t be a real marriage.

  “I thought I’d serve a nice plain relaxed meal for your reception. Tanner says he’ll grill steaks and we can have baked potatoes and some salads. Does that sound okay? Penny?”

  “It’s way too much. Far more than we expected.” Penny hugged her and held on until she had her tears firmly under control. “You’ll be my matron of honor, right?”

  “I’d love to. Do you have a dress?” Sophie asked. They discussed wedding details until late in the afternoon.

  Penny had brought a picnic lunch so she and the twins could share supper with Rick before he went back to work on the cabins, doggedly determined to finish them, still certain he would soon be prosecuted.

  “Thanks,” he murmured when they finished eating, brushing his lips against hers, his arm sliding around her waist in the familiar embrace she’d come to delight in. “I know you’re as tired as I am these days.”

  She hugged him close, relishing the bittersweet contact with him. She loved him so much and she tried hard to remain upbeat and positive. Help us, God. Please?

  “Go and finish the cabins,” she directed when it became too difficult to stay in his arms and not tell him how much she loved him. “We have to make a shopping trip for school clothes.”

  “I know.” He pulled out a credit card. “Charge what you need on this.”

  Penny didn’t argue. Rick didn’t need the aggravation. Instead she returned his kiss then watched him walk back to the cabins, shoulders bowed as if he knew his freedom wouldn’t last long.

  She tried to make the shopping trip fun for the twins, who, as usual, brimmed with questions about the wedding.

  “I really like my dress,” Katie proclaimed. “An’ I like pink lots. Are you gonna wear pink, too, Penny?”

  “No, silly. Uncle Rick told us that brides wear
white dresses, remember?” Kyle’s disgust with his sister quickly passed and they finished shopping early.

  Back at Wranglers Penny gave them time to race around the daycare playground and work off excess energy before she got them ready for bed. Three stories later they had drifted off and the last daycare worker had gone home.

  Molly stopped by for a visit and quickly handed her baby to Penny to care for as if she was eager to be relieved of the responsibility.

  “What’s wrong, Molly?” Penny could see the girl was extremely troubled. “Are you unwell?”

  “Just tired. Really tired.” Molly’s face looked ravaged and she was so thin. Penny’s heart ached for her. “I’m going to give the baby away,” she said at last. Big tears rolled down her cheeks. “I can’t keep him. I always knew that, I think. But I still don’t know how to figure out who’ll be the best parents.”

  Penny wanted so badly to offer herself and Rick as parents. To adopt this baby and give him a home, to love and care for him, give the twins a brother—she wanted it desperately but she wouldn’t make the offer. She couldn’t ask Rick to agree to it when he was already crazy worried about the twins and his future.

  And on top of that, Penny couldn’t get past the thought that perhaps God didn’t want her to have the child. If He had, wouldn’t he have already made that possible?

  But perhaps she could help this needy girl.

  “I have a suggestion, Molly, if you want to hear it?” She waited until she had the girl’s full attention then began speaking. “God is your father and He loves you more than any earthly father could. If you ask Him and pray for His leading, I know He will show you the right home for your baby.”

  Molly frowned. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.” Penny nodded. “I’m positive. It might not be right away. You might have to wait awhile and really listen for the answer. But if you ask, I know God will reply.”

  “Why will He?”

  “Because He loves us and He has a plan for our lives. He wants us to lean on Him as we would an earthly father. If we ask, He’ll show us little by little what He wants us to do. Then all we have to do is follow it.” Katie cried out just then so Penny rose and handed Molly the baby. “Try it,” she suggested. “I’d like to pray with you about it sometime, if you’d like that.”