Grace Under Fire (Buchanan-Renard 14)

FORTY-TWO

Michael officially proposed to Isabel on Nathan’s Bay.

This proposal was perfect, the one Isabel wouldn’t be embarrassed to tell, should the subject come up.

Michael had gotten past the little incident that occurred on their way home from their appointment with Father O’Dowell at St. Michael’s Church to lock in a wedding date. Isabel had insisted he give her another chance to prove she was actually a good driver. She wore glasses now and assured him her vision was perfect.

Michael decided to accommodate her. He found a huge, empty parking lot the size of a football field in front of a brand-new supersize We-Carry-Everything hardware and appliance store that hadn’t opened yet, and then he let her get behind the wheel. There were a multitude of tall, round steel poles with giant numbers on top to help customers remember where they parked, but the poles were so far apart, Michael didn’t think they would be a problem.

Isabel maneuvered around the poles with ease, and Michael was pleased—and relieved—to discover that her driving was no longer going to be an issue.

He was wrong about that.

He couldn’t figure out how she had done it. One minute they were heading out of the parking lot, and the next he was examining the dent in his right-front fender. He didn’t yell, and she didn’t make any excuses. As he exchanged places with her, taking the driver’s seat, he simply said, “Okay, now we know.”

Neither one of them mentioned the damage, but after she snapped her seatbelt on, Isabel muttered, “That exit sign came out of nowhere.”

“Uh-huh,” he replied.

•••

It was sunset when they arrived at the house. Michael dropped their bags on the porch, took her hand, and walked with her to the old gnarled tree she loved, overlooking the ocean. The weather was lovely, warm and balmy with just a tinge of humidity and a gentle breeze. There was a golden blaze of color filling the sky as the sun slowly eased away for the night. After he slipped the emerald-cut diamond ring on her finger, he kissed her passionately and told her how much he loved her.

The family was happy about the news of their engagement, but no one was surprised. Apparently, they all had known that Michael and Isabel belonged together.

•••

Two weeks later Jordan and Regan hosted an engagement party for the couple. Isabel didn’t want them to go to any trouble, but they insisted it wasn’t going to be anything fancy.

“We’re keeping it small,” Jordan promised.

“Only the family and a few close friends will be invited. There will be food and beverages... and maybe a couple of tables with linen tablecloths and candles sprinkled around the lawn. People will want to sit, after all,” Regan explained. “Don’t you agree, Laurant?”

“Absolutely,” she said.

Jordan and Isabel were on a conference call with Regan, who was in her office in Chicago, and Laurant, who was at her home in Boston.

“Have I left anything out?” Regan asked, and before anyone could answer, she remembered, “Oh, and a little music, too, and maybe a make-do dance floor so couples can dance to the band.”

“Band?” Isabel asked. “What band? It’s supposed to be a casual party...”

“It’s just a small band,” Jordan explained. “You know how Regan is. She’s quite the organizer, and she’s planning all of this from Chicago. She’s so impressive and amazing, isn’t she?”

“Yes, she is, but...”

“She wanted to throw the party at the Hamilton, but Judge Buchanan wouldn’t hear of it. He said it was safer for you on the island so crazy fans will leave you alone.”

“There’s going to be a buffet,” Jordan interjected. “Nothing fancy. By the way, Isabel, you should probably get a bit dressed up... for the photographer. Maybe wear one of your new outfits.”

“Photographer? This doesn’t sound like a small get-together,” Isabel protested. “You’re going to a lot of work.”

“The food is being catered, so we won’t have to lift a finger. It’s going to be so much fun,” Laurant said. “I love a good party.”

Isabel stopped trying to squelch their enthusiasm. They were hell-bent on throwing Michael and her a party, and she wasn’t going to object any longer, though she couldn’t understand why they wanted to go to all this trouble for what they were calling a little get-together with family and a few close friends.

•••

As it turned out, there was quite a crowd—around sixty at last count. When she and Michael walked outside, Isabel was astounded by the number of guests. This was considered a small get-together?