Derby Divas (Zoe Donovan Mystery) (20 page)

I’d never been the type of little girl to play wedding or spend hours imagining how my prince charming would sweep me off my feet. I hadn’t thought I’d want some big ceremony
, but watching my parents as they planned their own event caused me to pause and consider the possibility of a grand affair with all my friends in attendance to witness the most important moment of my life.

I
put the dogs out into the yard before going in search of Zak. I found him in his living room, talking to someone on the phone.

“I have news,” I said as soon as he hung up.

“Me too.” He beamed.

“You first,” I insisted. I didn’t want anything except long hours of lovemaking to come after my own announcement.

“Are you sure?” Zak looked uncertain. “I didn’t mean to upstage your announcement.”

“I’m sure,”
I insisted as my stomach continued to churn in anticipation. “What’s up?”

Zak put his hands on my shoulders and looked directly into my eyes.
“I’ve just been notified that I’ve been chosen as number four on
Whose Who
magazine’s ten most eligible bachelors list.”

“Wow
.” I was pretty sure I was going to pass out. “Number four,” I added weakly.

Zak frowned. “You seem disappointed.”

“No,” I assured him. “I’m very happy for you, but you clearly should have been number one.”

I hugged Zak
and tried to mask my disappointment at the timing of his news.

“
Congratulations. Really,” I added as I kissed Zak.

“I know it’s silly
, and I’m as surprised as anyone that I even care, but somehow when they told me I made the list, I was really jazzed. Besides, it’ll be good publicity for the new software company I’m thinking of launching.”

“You
’re thinking of launching a new company?”

I needed to sit down.
I knew Zak was working on a project, but he’d never mentioned that he had plans to get into a new
company
. I’d hoped we’d have more time together now that the project he’d been working on since the previous fall had finally been wrapped up.

“A friend of mine approached me before we left for Maui
, but I had an idea that perhaps I was going to spend the next year focusing on something other than software, so I told him I wasn’t interested. But he called again after I got home, and we had a really long talk. It looks like my original plan might not pan out after all, so I told him I’d be interested in talking specifics. It’s not like I can sit around and do nothing forever, and this really is a good opportunity.”

My face fell. I imagi
ned the plans that had fallen through were
marriage plans
. I wanted to set the record straight, but now the timing seemed off.

“We’ll need to go
to New York for the photo shoot,” he continued. “I know you’re going to be busy planning your parents’ wedding, but they want me there a week from Monday and I really want you to come with me.”

“What about Scooter?”
I asked.

Zak averted his eyes
, the way he does when he’s about to ask a favor, which I have to admit doesn’t happen very often.

“I figured that if you came with me
to New York, we could bring Scooter with us and you could go sightseeing with him while I was tied up.”

Sounds romantic.

I was about to flat-out refuse to go along with Zak’s babysitting idea when I took a moment to look at Zak’s face. In spite of the fact that being named one of the country’s most eligible bachelors didn’t seem at all like something Zak would be into, he looked happy. It occurred to me that, once again, I was being Selfish Zoe. Sure, my plans had taken a detour, but really, whose fault was that? If I’d said yes to Zak right off, chances were we would be planning a wedding rather than having this discussion.

“I’d love to come,” I found myself
saying. “Ellie is moving into the boathouse next weekend, so I’m sure she’ll be happy to keep an eye on the animals. You can bring Bella over as well.”

“Thanks
, Zoe.” Zak kissed me and I felt myself melt. He really was the best boyfriend.

“So what was your news?”
he asked.

Zak looked at me expectantly while
I hesitated to answer.

“I just wanted to let you know that my parents finally set a date for their
wedding,” I found myself saying. “It’s going to be August 23.”

“That’s great
.” Zak smiled. “It looks like things are working out all around.”

I’m not sure how I thought I’d feel as I watched my parents
finally
become man and wife. I know that this very moment was something I’d been dreaming of since I was old enough to dream. I love them both so much, and deep in my heart, I’ve always known that they should be together rather than continents apart. Dad looked so handsome in his casual day suit, while Mom was beautiful in her peach-colored dress and stylish hat.

It was a beautiful sunny day and the sky was as blue as
I’d ever seen it. Although there was a light breeze to keep things cool, the surface of the lake was perfectly still, like a mirror provided just for the occasion.

Mom’s friend Ava helped Hazel with the flowers
that transformed Zak’s patio area into a garden paradise. Dozens of flowers in peach, white, and yellow were arranged in large displays everywhere that a bare spot provided the opportunity for one of Ava’s beautiful bouquets. I hadn’t wanted Ellie to have to spend the entire day in the kitchen, so I’d hired a caterer, but as I should have predicted, Ellie was in there keeping an eye on things anyway.

Harper and I
were wearing dresses in a soft sea-foam color that perfectly matched the ribbon in Mom’s dress. The reception was spectacular, but the service was magical.

Jeremy played a medley of
songs my parents picked out as Harper and I, followed by Pappy and Mom, walked down the aisle to join Dad and Zak, who were waiting for us on the temporary platform Zak had built as an extension to his lakeside deck.

As I walked toward Zak
, I let myself imagine walking toward him on another day in another place and time. I’m not sure why things worked out the way they have, but I suppose there are things in life that can be rushed and there are others—important things—that demand to wait for their own time. I know deep in my heart that, although it isn’t today, one day Zak and I will have our moment.

Dad and Mom elected to write their own vows
, which they recited while gazing deeply into the eyes of the other. They had been in love for their entire adult lives, in spite of the decisions they’d made, but as I listened to them declare their feeling for each other, I knew that for once and forever, Mom was finally home.

“It really was a lovely ceremony,” Phyllis King, a member of the book club I attend
, as well as Jeremy’s landlady, commented as I helped Ellie replenish the food, which had been quickly devoured.

“It was perfect,” I agreed. “I noticed you held Morgan during the ceremony
, while Jeremy was playing the processional.”

“I love that little girl and am so very glad that you thought to suggest that Jeremy rent my town
house. Jessica is here with Rosalie as well. If you want my opinion, I think Jeremy and Jessica might be having the next wedding.”

“Really?” I knew Jeremy and Jessica were friends and suspected their relationship might have developed into something more
, but I’d never thought marriage might be on the horizon.

“I suppose my interpretation of the situation may just be the hopes of an old woman
, but it seems that Jessica and Rosalie are at the town house more often than not. Jessica babysits Morgan a lot, and Rosalie likes to stop by to see the kitten Jeremy got for her, but if this grandma surrogate has her way, the four of them will be a family by this time next year.”

As far as I was concerned,
the idea of Jeremy and Jessica marrying had its merits. Jessica was a few years older, but Jeremy really had matured since Morgan was born.

“I noticed Scooter is still here,” Phyllis commented.

“Zak managed to get him into a boarding school on the East Coast that we think will work out perfectly for an energetic little boy. Zak and Scooter took a trip to visit the school, and Scooter loved the place. He really was bored living on his grandparents’ farm, and we hope that if he’s placed in an environment where there’s plenty to do to keep him physically and mentally occupied, he’ll really flourish. He already met his roommate, and the two boys seemed to hit it off.”

“You know
, I went to boarding school when I was a child,” Phyllis shared.

“I didn’t realize that. How did you like it?”

“I
loved
it. My parents were both academics who traveled a lot, and I hated being left with a nanny.” Phyllis was a retired English professor who had gone into academia herself. “I suppose that’s why I never married and had children of my own. I always felt my parents would have been happier without me to consider.”

“I’m sure they loved you.”
I had no idea whatsoever if Phyllis’s parents had loved and wanted her, but it seemed the supportive thing to say.

“Perhaps. I sometime regret the life I chose. Don’t
misunderstand me: I have many close friends and have traveled more than most, but when I hold little Morgan and think about the experiences I missed out on . . .”

I squeezed Phyllis’
s hand.

“
When does Scooter leave for school?” she asked.

“Zak
and I are going to get him settled in next weekend. He starts school after Labor Day.”

“That will be nice.”

I was looking forward to the trip. Not only were we going to get Scooter settled but we planned to take an extra week to stay at his friend’s house in the Hamptons. Just the two of us. No friends, no jobs, no murder investigations (I hoped).

After I spoke to Phyllis
, I decided to work my way around the patio. Zak looked very 007 in his suit, and the only thing I really wanted to do was shoo everyone away, but I knew
that
would be rude. Zak hadn’t brought up his proposal again after I got distracted by his status as a most eligible bachelor, and I hadn’t either. Basically, I had been living with him since Ellie had moved into my boathouse. It really was too small for both of us, so I’d packed up Charlie and the cats and moved in with Zak and Scooter temporarily.

I know Zak wants
me to take the leap and move all my stuff over. Now that Ellie is living in the boathouse, I feel better about leaving. She’s been marathon dating all summer, and I know she enjoys having her own place to come back to, especially since she’s
seemed
to have found just the right guy right here in Ashton Falls. I suppose time will tell if he actually is the right one, but he’s nice and easygoing, never married, and seems open to the idea of a big family.

“Beautiful wedding
.” Tiffany kissed me on the cheek.

“Thanks. It really was nice. Is Scott here?”

“Yeah. He’s talking to Jeremy about the mountain lion that was brought in yesterday. It seems like it’s always work, work, work with him, but I love it. Are your parents going on a honeymoon?”

“They’re going to Paris for a month,” I informed her. “
They’re taking Harper with them, and Pappy is going to stay at their house and take care of the dogs and the store.”

“Paris.”
Tiffany got a dreamy look in her eyes. “Have they been before?”

“Mom has
, but Dad hasn’t. I’m sure they’ll have a blast.”

“Are you ready for your own trip?”
Tiffany asked.

“Almost.”

“Need a babysitter for the cats?” Tiffany asked hopefully.

I knew Tiffany had enjoyed her time with Marlow and Spade when we were in Maui.

“I was going to ask Ellie, but actually, if you wouldn’t mind staying at Zak’s, that might be very helpful.”

“Seriously?”
Tiffany gasped. “You want me to stay in Zak’s mansion?”

“El
lie has been living in the boathouse, so I’ve been staying here and have already moved the cats over. We’re taking Charlie with us but leaving Bella, so you’d have to watch her as well, but you could bring her to the Zoo during the day so she won’t have to be alone. Actually, if you’re willing to stay here, it would be a huge help.”

Tiffany
hugged me. “Thank you, thank you. This place is great. Lakeside with a pool and a home theater. It really will be like being on vacation, and I’d love to bring Bella to work with me.”

I laughed as Tiffany
hugged me again. “I’m glad it’ll work out for both of us.”

“Is it okay if I have Scott over for a romantic dinner?”