Vanessa's Match (17 page)

With a frown at the interruption, Rick opened the door to find Mrs. Abby standing there.

“Yes?”

“Someone named Jim is calling for you. He said it was important.”

“Thanks, Mrs. Abby.”

He picked up the desk phone. “Jim? It’s Rick.”

After several minutes, where Jim must have been doing all the talking, Rick hung up the phone.

“What did he say?” Vanessa asked, a worried expression on her face.

Rick gave her a brief kiss. “He said he has talked to Sharon’s doctor, and she wasn’t pregnant, as far as the doc knew. She apparently thought she could bluff her way through until after I paid her money.”

Vanessa put her arms around Rick’s neck and leaned against him. “I’m so relieved. I was so upset when—” She buried her face in Rick’s chest as he held her close.

“I know, honey, I know.” After a couple of minutes, he said, “Don’t you want to see what I have here?” He showed her the ring box. “I know we said we were going to wait, but I don’t
want
to wait any longer.” He looked deep into her eyes. “Vanessa, will you marry me?”

She glanced at the box and then at his face. “Are you sure?”

“Very sure.”

“Then, yes.”

Rick gave her a brief hug and pulled back. “Don’t you want to open the box? I want to show off my fiancée with a beautiful ring.”

She took the box and flipped up the lid. “Oh, Rick, it’s beautiful!”

“Not as beautiful as you,” he said, and kissed her the way he’d been yearning to do all day. “Here, let’s put it on your finger. I had to call your mom and get your ring size.”

“It’s a perfect fit.”

Rick pulled her close and kissed his future bride. As enthralled as they were, a few minutes later it took several rings for them to realize they were hearing the phone again.

Rick muttered as he reached for the receiver, but said politely, “Hello?”

“May I speak to Vanessa, please?”

He handed the phone to her.

“Hello. Oh, Rachel! You saw it on television? Yes, I’m fine. No, everyone’s fine. And Rick is especially fine,” Vanessa said with a wink at Rick.

Rick stood there, his hands on his hips. That was what he got for proposing to a woman with as much family as Vanessa had. There would always be someone calling to be sure she was all right. But
he’d make sure she was. As her husband, he would protect her—and any children they might have.

He was thrilled, though. He finally had a big family.

As he walked over to Vanessa, she motioned to her ring, clearly wondering if she could tell her sister. Rick grinned and nodded. He wanted the world to know.

When Vanessa got off the phone, she said, “Rachel was thrilled.”

“I can’t wait to meet her.”

“Unfortunately they won’t be coming to Dallas until after she’s out of her first trimester.”

Rick looked puzzled.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you she’s pregnant, just like Mom.”

“No, you hadn’t told me that. But I hope you can get married without her, because I’m not interested in waiting long.”

“Maybe she can make one short trip. How long did you have in mind?”

“How about next week?”

“Next week! But—”

He kissed her deeply.

When she surfaced, a smile lit her face. “Maybe we can make it next week.”

It took a little longer than a week, but by the end of the month, a wedding took place in the morning room at the Greenfield house. It wasn’t the first one, but to Rick and Vanessa it was very special.

Lindy, too, was excited. Not only would she get Vanessa as a permanent part of her family, but she would also get to move back into her own home after the honeymoon. Not that she wouldn’t miss Vivian and Will, Danny and Betty and Peter, but they would be close. And she would be returning to where she began—part of the family again.

And today there was one other exciting thing. She was Vanessa’s maid of honor. Her dress was a shimmering blue silk that looked great on her, if she did say so herself. Staring into the mirror, she couldn’t believe how lucky she was.

“Are you ready?” Rebecca called through her door.

Lindy turned and grinned. “Yes, I don’t think I could be more ready.”

“Want to see the bride?”

“Is she ready?”

“Yes, and she looks beautiful.”

When Rebecca opened Vanessa’s door, Lindy gasped. “Oh, Vanessa, you look so beautiful! Rick is going to just melt right there at the altar.”

Vanessa chuckled. “I hope not. There wouldn’t be much of a honeymoon if that happened.”

“It’s time,” Rebecca said. “Will’s waiting for you at the bottom of the stairs.”

“Okay. Go ahead, Lindy. I’ll follow you.”

As the girl left her bedroom, Vanessa turned and hugged her sister. “Rebecca, thank you for understanding about Lindy.”

“Of course. Now come on. You’ve got a groom waiting.”

“Okay, I’m ready.”

She’d been ready three weeks ago, when Rick proposed. But it took a while to coordinate the family. She smiled to herself. That was one of the things a big family required—coordination. But finally, the big day had arrived.

She took her bouquet from her bed and examined herself in the mirror once more. She wanted so much to please Rick.

Walking down the stairs, she smiled at Will.

“You look beautiful, Vanessa. You’re upholding the family honor quite well today.”

“Thank you.”

Then they walked to the door of the morning room. As the music changed to “The Wedding March,” Vanessa looked at Rick for the first time that day. He was very handsome, but then, he always looked handsome to her. More important, he was a warm, giving man. Oh, she loved him.

Will led her down the aisle to Rick’s side and she took his hand. The brief ceremony almost seemed like a dream. But when Rick kissed her at its end, she knew her dream was a reality. A beautiful reality.

With all the family there, and Dr. Cavanaugh and his wife, the house was almost full. But Rick wasn’t interested in hanging around.

However, Vivian made a request before she’d let them leave. “I want a family portrait today. Please, may we do that?”

Of course they couldn’t say no.

Vivian quickly arranged the family around them. Carrie stood with Jim, their two-week-old in her arms. David and Alex were next to them. On the other side, Rachel and J.D. and their little girl posed next to Jeff and Rebecca with their two children. Danny moved next to Will and Vivian, and Lindy stood beside the newlyweds.

The photographer didn’t even need to tell them to smile. They were already glowing with happiness at being together.

After several photos and telling everyone goodbye, Rick took Vanessa aside. “I love your
family, but I’m not interested in staying too long. You and I are going to spend two glorious weeks in Europe, just the two of us. Then we’ll come home and be a part of your wonderful family. Do you agree?”

“Yes, especially the part about two glorious weeks in Europe.”

“Glad to know we’re in agreement, Mrs. Austin.”

They departed amid the excited cheers of a large family that had come together because Vivian and Vanessa had loved them, and Will had found them.

And they would never be lost to each other again.