His Secret Child (18 page)

"Okay, you two, smile." Danny aimed the camera at his parents, who turned around and bestowed beaming smiles on him. He snapped the picture. "Now, Mom, hold up your hand and let me get a shot of that big ring."

Sheila held up her left hand, where Caleb's ruby and diamond engagement ring shimmered on her third finger. "How many more pictures are you going to take? You've already used up a whole roll of film."

"You want your engagement party documented, don't you?" Danny focused the zoom lens on the camera and took a closeup of his mother's ring.

The country club buzzed with life as two-thirds of Crooked Oak's residents milled around the most celebrated party the town had ever seen. Caleb Bishop was getting married to hometown girl Sheila Hanley Vance. And despite a few ugly tidbits of gossip about Danny's true paternity, the town as a whole considered Sheila and Caleb's union a long overdue blessing.

With his arm around Sheila, Caleb leaned over and whispered, "I wish the wedding was tomorrow. I'm tired of spending nights alone at my house."

"You can wait another three weeks," Sheila told him. "We're setting a good example for our son. Remember?"

"He's starting to accept me, isn't he?" Caleb smiled, watching Danny as he made his way around the room taking snapshots of their guests.

"It'll take time, but eventually, he'll accept you completely. One day, you'll really be his father."

"That day won't come too soon for me," Caleb told her. "I lost the first eleven years of his life. I don't want to lose any more time with him."

"I think he knows that."

"Yeah, I think he does." Caleb led Sheila out onto the dance floor. "I was wondering what Danny would say if I asked him to be my best man at our wedding."

"Oh, Caleb. What a sweet idea. Why don't you ask him and see what he says?"

They danced their way across the room until they spotted Danny again. He was taking a picture of Lowell and Susan Redman.

"You got a minute, slugger?" Caleb asked.

"Yeah, sure. What is it?" Danny came over to his parents.

"You know the wedding is only three weeks off and … well, Susan is going to be your mom's matron of honor and … It's like this, Danny. I need a best man."

"You've got two brothers, don't you?"

"Yes, and Hank has promised to be here for the wedding, but I had hoped my son—that is, I'd hoped you might want to be my best man."

"Me? Are you kidding?"

"It would mean a great deal to me if you would."

"Gee, I don't know, Caleb. Can I think about it and let you know?"

"Sure you can."

Sheila slid her arm around Caleb's waist, leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "Be patient with him. Give him some time."

"I'll give him all the time he needs."

Epilogue

Crooked Oak's Congregational Church was filled to capacity and the overflow stood outside the building, where loudspeakers had been set up so that the press could cover Caleb Bishop's wedding.
The wedding of the decade.
The former superstar playboy was marrying his former high school sweetheart, according to all the worldwide headlines.

Governor Peyton Rand and his first lady, Tallie Bishop Rand, had arrived surrounded by bodyguards, and a squad of private security officers mingled with the guests, inside and out. The crowd outside the church quieted when the processional music began. A woman standing just inside the doorway whispered loudly, "The bride's attendants' dresses are bronze and they're all carrying white daisies tied with bronze ribbon."

The women in the crowd oohed and ahhed. "Sheila's dress is candlelight cream and she's carrying a huge bouquet of daisies. She's absolutely beautiful."

Sheila held Mike's arm and waited while Tallie and Susan strolled down the left aisle and Hank and Lowell went down the right one. This day was a dream come true for her—a fairy-tale ending for a romance that had begun so long ago. Who but a true romantic would have believed a girl like her would wind up marrying Prince Charming? Today she felt very special. In fact, she felt beautiful. As beautiful as Caleb had told her she was. Perhaps love really was blind. She smiled.

The wedding march began. Mike led her down the flower-strewn aisle. Caleb waited for her at the altar— Caleb, the man she loved with all her heart. And beside him stood their son, a younger, shorter replica of his father. These days, no one who saw the two together could help but notice the striking resemblance.

Danny's agreeing to be Caleb's best man had given them hope for the future—hope that their little boy was willing to truly forgive them and help the three of them become a real family.

Caleb joined hands with his bride. He thanked God for the chance to do it right this time. Twelve years ago he hadn't been worthy of a woman like Sheila. He still might not deserve her, but now he was man enough to try to be the husband she wanted and the father Danny needed.

They exchanged vows, pledging their love and their lives. And in words they had written themselves, they made solemn promises to their son. By the time the minister said, "You may kiss your bride," there wasn't a dry eye in the house.

"I'd like to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Caleb Bishop," Reverend Swan said.

"And son," Caleb whispered to the minister.

"Yes, yes. Mr. and Mrs. Caleb Bishop and son."

As they faced the congregation, comprised of family, friends and supportive acquaintances, Caleb and Sheila reached over and pulled Danny between them. Together the threesome came down the aisle and walked outside, where the governor's private security officers made a path to the waiting limousine.

"You two go on," Danny said. "I'll ride with Uncle Hank and Lowell."

"We want you to ride with us, son," Caleb said.

"Okay, Dad, I'll ride with y'all to the reception, but I draw the line at going with you and Mom on your honeymoon."

At that moment Caleb thought his heart would burst with happiness. He had everything a man could want. He was the luckiest husband and father in the whole world.

"It's a deal," Caleb told his son. "If you don't go on our honeymoon, I promise your mother and I won't go on yours."

The three of them laughed as the driver headed the limousine toward the country club and the happy celebration of their love and lifelong commitment.