Maria’s smile disappeared. “I hope you mean it. Grandpa’s life hasn’t been easy, and I don’t want anyone to hurt him again.”
“I wouldn’t do that,” Bella reassured Maria. “Did he tell you that I’ve known him since kindergarten? That’s a long time to know someone and still like them.”
“That’s true.” Maria nodded. “Ruth said that you always stuck up for him even when some of the people around here were saying he was a murderer.”
“As I said, I knew he couldn’t have done that. He loved Annie, he really did. It’s a real shame she died before he could make things right with her,” Bella said. “So are you okay with me and your grandpa being a couple?”
Maria shrugged. “You make him happy. He smiles a lot more, and that makes me happy because now I live with Dad and Jenna I can’t take care of him myself all the time.”
“He’s wonderful.” Bella hesitated. “I never thought I’d find someone I could love again.”
“That’s awesome.” Maria offered Bella a high five. “You should tell him.”
“Tell me what?”
Bella looked up to see Billy smiling down at them, a tray of canapés in his hand.
Maria groaned. “Jeez, Grandpa, I ate about two million of those things last week! Take them away!”
“I thought you liked them,” Billy protested.
“I liked the first couple of hundred.” Maria stood up and stretched. “Is there any of that shrimp thing left?”
“Plenty,” Billy said as Maria wandered off. “Poor kid got stuck being my number one taster for everything. She was really helpful, but I think I put her off eating for life.”
“I think she’ll pull through.” Bella also rose and directed her gaze over to the buffet table where Maria was piling her plate with food and chatting to her father, Blue. “Are we almost ready to set out the main course?”
“Sonali and I decided we’d do it in about ten minutes. Do you want to make an announcement or something, or have a few speeches?”
“I’d rather not,” Bella said. “It all seems to be going really well at the moment. Even Erin’s parents are being gracious about the whole wedding fiasco—in fact, I bonded with Erin’s mom over our shared wish to have seen Erin in a beautiful wedding dress.”
“Good for you.” Billy gestured at the tray. “I’m going to put this down on the table. Is there anything I can get for you?”
“I’m good,” Bella replied. “I just need to speak to Yvonne about the cake.”
“She’s in the kitchen right now setting it up.” Billy looked down at her. “Is everything okay?”
“It’s wonderful.” She smiled into his eyes. “Jay’s happy and Erin’s parents have finally accepted the fact that their daughter hasn’t married a potential member of Congress.”
She went through to the kitchen and spoke to Yvonne, who had designed, baked, and decorated the most beautiful cake Bella could ever have imagined. They would set it out after the buffet along with champagne and hope that by then, everyone would be too full of good food and benevolent thoughts to do anything but toast the happy couple.
Billy came into the kitchen and caught hold of her hand.
“Come and see this.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be managing a kitchen or something?” Bella asked.
“Sonali, Avery, and Yvonne are in charge. We can goof off for a few minutes.”
He took her to put on her coat and they walked out into the crackling stillness of ice and the gentle fall of snow.
“Look up there,” Billy said.
“At what?” Bella stopped and raised her face to the inky night sky. Billy stood behind with his arms wrapped around her waist. “Wow, that’s a big moon, and the stars are so clear!”
“Now come and look at this.” He led her toward the old barn that housed a mixed collection of farm animals and the family horses.
He paused by one of the stalls and unlocked the top half of the stable door. Bella stood on tiptoe and looked inside to see a newborn foal and her mother.