A Fortune's Children's Christmas (18 page)

“You’ve never taken off your amethyst ring, and it’s the only ring you ever wear,” he said in what he hoped wasn’t too odd a non sequitur. He lifted her hand to look at the unimpressive gem on her right hand.

“It was my mom’s ring that was given to her by her parents on her sixteenth birthday,” Joanna said, gazing at the ring. “Every time I look at it, I think of her.”

“It’s a beautiful ring,” Ryder said quietly, brushing his lips over her fingers.

His plans for the engagement ring fell into place. A simple elegant diamond, a ring that she would treasure, that she would never take off. A ring that would make her think of him and how much she loved him every time she looked at it.

“I can’t believe Mommy and Daddy flew to Min
neapolis just to come to Aunt Kate’s Labor Day picnic.” Charlotte sipped a diet soda as she talked to Ryder and Joanna on Kate Fortune’s spacious, well-tended green lawn. “Do you think they’re really here to spy on me?”

“Absolutely.” Ryder grinned. “News of your party-girl reputation finally reached them in Arizona, and they rushed up here to cramp your style, Charlotte.”

“Which they’re definitely doing,” grumbled Charlotte. “I missed the big summer wrap-up extravaganza at Surf City this weekend ’cause the parents are here and we have to spend quality time with them.”

“Well, we enjoyed the family dinner and the play last night, Charlotte,” Ryder said rather sanctimoniously. “Didn’t we, Joanna?”

Joanna nodded her head. She’d been invited to accompany James and Sylvia Rutherford Fortune with Ryder, Matthew and Charlotte everywhere they’d gone this weekend. To lunches and dinners, to the movies and the theater, shopping and the museum. She liked Ryder’s parents and didn’t agree with Charlotte’s gripe that they were two of the most boring people on the planet. It was too bad that spoiled, immature Charlotte didn’t realize how very lucky she was that her parents were alive and well.

“Your folks are great,” Joanna told Ryder.

James and Sylvia had been so warm and welcoming to her, insisting that she join them, taking an interest in her, offering her advice on all manner of things. Joanna enjoyed the proxy parental attention that Char
lotte and Matthew considered to be annoying interference. Ryder had claimed that not long ago, he too would’ve complained, but he’d mellowed these days. He appreciated that his parents cared.

Only Kate, Sterling, and Kelly knew that Ryder’s parents were actually here because his engagement to Joanna was to be announced at the picnic. They’d all taken an oath of secrecy, although James and Sylvia Fortune believed the surprise announcement was to be their oldest son’s romantic gesture to his bride-to-be…not a public ambush because he couldn’t get her to say yes any other way.

Today the Fortune mansion was swarming with Fortunes and assorted guests enjoying the warmth of the picture-perfect sunny day on the official last weekend of summer. The estate bordered the clear waters of Lake Travis, providing swimming and boating fun for all age groups. There was a kidney-shaped pool for those who preferred water warmer than the bracing temperature of the lake, and the tennis courts were in use for a series of Fortune
vs.
Fortune matches and rematches.

Dinner—steaks, fish, as well as the traditional hot dogs and hamburgers—had already been served and consumed when Kate took center stage on the wide patio.

“Before we have dessert, there is a very important announcement to be made. Ryder…” Kate nodded at him, and he came to stand beside his great-aunt.

They exchanged sly smiles, and Kate gave his hand an encouraging squeeze.

Brandishing a velvet ring box, Ryder proceeded to announce his engagement to Joanna Chandler.

“Joanna? Where are you, sweetheart? Come on over here and put this on your finger to make it official.” After his momentous proclamation, Ryder scanned the multitude of Fortunes gathered before him for a glimpse of Joanna.

Joanna had moved from the patio to the grass, carrying her baby niece, Noelle, in her arms. For a few moments she stood frozen with shock as the clapping and cheers and congratulatory wishes surrounded her. A fussy, teething Noelle gnawed her tiny fist and drooled, far more occupied with her sore gums than the commotion around her.

“Aunt Joanna, can we be flower girls in the wedding?” A thrilled young Grace rushed over with her two smaller sisters trailing faithfully in her wake. “Can we
all
be in it, even Noelle? I could carry her and the flowers.”

“I think Noelle is way too young to be in a wedding, Gracie.” Michael Fortune joined his daughters at Joanna’s side. Baby Noelle made a leap into her father’s arms, making them all laugh. Even Joanna.

She quickly sobered as Ryder’s announcement replayed itself in her head. He’d just told a zillion of his relatives—including his parents!—that they were engaged. Now he wanted her to play along with the charade, to stand in the center of a circle of Fortunes while he placed a ring on her finger.

She felt like she’d been ambushed.

“Congratulations, honey.” Michael hugged her. “Of course we knew you and Ryder were serious, but this surprise announcement is a nice touch. Better run up there and claim your ring. Ryder’s starting to look a little nervous.”

“Joanna?” Julia was beside her now, studying her younger sister with concern. “Was this surprise announcement a surprise to you, too?”

Nothing got by Julia, Joanna acknowledged, as confusion continued to surge through her. Why had Ryder done this? Didn’t he realize that she loved him too much to marry him? She had tried to show him by consistently refusing his gallant, achingly tempting proposals.

How could she possibly accept, knowing full well there were all sorts of expectations and demands on a Fortune wife! Joanna pictured herself wreaking havoc on some charity ball she would be expected to chair as Mrs. Ryder Fortune—she would surely forget some crucial detail, skip an essential planning stage, delete the guest list from the organization’s computer.

Joanna envisioned the inevitable chaos with a shudder. The prominent Fortune clan would be horrified by her gaffes, the charity disappointed and Ryder’s standing in the business community harmed. No, she wasn’t about to limit her brilliant, ambitious man’s future by legally saddling him with a defective spouse. Her.

There was a place for her in his life as Ryder’s girlfriend, just as there was a place in his company
for her as his receptionist. Joanna accepted, even embraced her roles. After all, she had finally successfully corrected the idiot-assistant problem by becoming a good receptionist. It would be stupid beyond imagining to reverse her current excellent relationship with Ryder by turning a good girlfriend into the idiot wife.

“I never expected this, Jules,” Joanna whispered. It was a relief not to have to pretend with Julia, who needed only to look at her younger sister’s face to interpret her state of mind.

“You don’t have to go through with it if you don’t want to, Joanna.” Julia took Joanna’s hand and gazed into her eyes. “If you’d like, I’ll say there’s been a misunderstanding and we’ll go home. You know that Michael and I will stand behind you, no matter what.”

Joanna knew that. Julia didn’t require a faux engagement to save face in front of the Fortunes.
But Ryder did!

“Joanna, there you are!” Ryder had finally spotted Joanna, surrounded by her family, and he worked his way through the crowd of relatives to her side. “I was starting to worry that you’d had second thoughts about marrying me and hit the road,” he said as the other Fortunes engaged in indulgent laughter.

It was clear that they shared a collective familial viewpoint. No woman in her right mind would have second thoughts about marrying one of them.

Joanna glanced around her, at all the smiling, expectant faces. Ryder’s parents were jostling their way through the group, their faces aglow with pride and happiness. And there was Ryder…

Joanna met his eyes, which somehow were both determined and pleading at the same time. “Here’s the ring, Joanna.” Ryder removed it from the box and took her left hand in his.

“Joanna, honey, I meant what I said,” Julia murmured in her ear.

Joanna knew. Her sister had already proven that she would stand by her through thick and thin…and dumping a Fortune in front of a bevy of other Fortunes definitely fell into the realm of “thin.”

She just couldn’t humiliate Ryder that way! Joanna’s heart clenched. She loved him so much, she would do anything to spare him pain or sorrow or shame. Right now accepting the ring in front of the assembled Fortunes was the only option available. Later she would make Ryder see reason, she would convince him that ending their bogus engagement was in his best interest.

“I love you, Ryder,” she said, her eyes shining with emotional tears. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed close, nuzzling his neck with her lips.

There were aahs and applause from their audience as they watched Ryder slip the simple but elegant diamond engagement ring on Joanna’s finger.

“A toast to the happy couple!” Kate exclaimed exultantly, and seemingly out of nowhere an army of waiters appeared with champagne and crystal goblets. Even the fourth generation of young Fortunes were included in the toast, with ginger ale and colorful plastic cups.

Joanna and Ryder spent the rest of the day playing the part of the newly engaged couple for the other guests. It wasn’t until the picnic had ended and all the Fortunes dispersed that the two of them were finally alone.

“This is the happiest day of my life, Joanna,” Ryder said as he drove to his apartment.

Joanna heaved a sigh. “Ryder, let’s drop the act. We’re the only two here, and we both know that we’re not really engaged.”

“You’re wearing my ring, and we announced our engagement to both our families, the Fortunes and the Chandlers,” countered Ryder. “That’s as real as it gets, Joanna.”

Her eyes misted. “You are so manipulative, mentioning the Chandlers—” She swallowed hard. “There are only two of us left—Julia and me—and you know how much I…I—”

“Michael’s daughters are half Chandler,” Ryder reminded her. “I’d say the Chandlers are definitely regrouping, and our own kids will add to the number. Joanna, I know you only accepted my ring so you wouldn’t embarrass Julia today but—”

“Embarrass Julia?”
Joanna gawked at him. “Is that what you think?”

He nodded tersely, continuing, “But I love you, and now that we’re engaged, even faux-engaged, I’m going to prove to you that marrying me is exactly what we both want and need, Joanna. Give me the chance to do that, baby.”

She sighed again, not certain where to begin. “If you think Julia would be embarrassed if I’d publicly turned you down—or even if I’d run out of the place screaming—you don’t know my sister. She would back me all the way. Ryder, I wanted to save
you
from humiliation. Your whole family was there, I couldn’t—I had to—I would never do anything to hurt you.”

Ryder pulled the Range Rover into the parking garage of his apartment building. Joanna’s words kindled a spark of hope that he hadn’t expected to feel so soon. “You took my ring so
I’d
save face?”

“Of course.” She looked down at the diamond sparkling on her finger. “It’s a beautiful ring, Ryder,” she said softly, “but I…you—” She shook her head and took a deep breath, trying to compose her thoughts. “Ryder, I’m not the woman you need for a wife, you need a woman who can—”

“I need you. You’re the only woman I need, the only one I want. Ever, Joanna.”

He braked the car to a stop and turned to her. “Joanna, I am so sorry I said things that caused you to think that I don’t truly value you and adore you, because, sweetheart, I do.” He tried to swallow around the lump lodged in his throat. “You’re everything to me. Everything I’ve ever wanted and needed in a woman, in my wife.”

He pulled her into his arms, holding her tight, like he never wanted to let her go. “Please make your yes a real one right now, Joanna. Let’s make our bogus engagement the real thing.”

Joanna clung to him, kissing him, trying to explain why she’d consistently refused his proposals, why keeping her as his girlfriend instead of making her his wife was in his best interest and in his company’s best interest, too. Loving him as much as she did, she honestly had his best interest at heart, she explained fervidly.

Ryder shot down each of her assertions one by one, his counter-claims matching hers in intensity and sincerity. They entered his apartment, too involved in their discussion to more than vaguely notice that they were headed into the bedroom.

They stopped at the foot of the bed and looked at each other.

“Have I convinced you yet, Joanna?” Ryder asked hoarsely. “Because I’ll stay up talking all night if I have to. Until I make you believe that you’re perfect for me, because you are. Until you
know
that we belong together forever, just the way I do.”

Joanna looked up at Ryder and down at the rings on her fingers. Her mother’s ring and Ryder’s ring. The past, the present and the future.

Did she dare risk it? Joanna wondered. Julia loved her, defects and all. Was it possible that Ryder might feel that way about her, too? He seemed utterly convinced that she was perfect for him. Should she keep trying to talk him out of loving her? He didn’t look ready to agree.

“I’m tired of talking, Ryder.” Decisively Joanna moved into his arms. “Show me how much you love me. All night.”

Ryder gladly, passionately complied.

A
nother Christmas, another Fortune family party.

Kate surveyed her clan, many gathered around the huge Christmas tree. The young parents particularly enjoyed showing the babies and toddlers the bright strands of twinkling lights. A posse of school-age children exuberantly played some kind of running and hiding game that involved plenty of delighted shrieks. Kate savored every minute of it.

Across the room she spied her great-nephew Ryder and his fiancée Joanna holding hands and gazing out the window at the lightly falling snow. They were deep in conversation, perhaps discussing their upcoming wedding, which Kate knew was scheduled for the second of March.

Kate admired Joanna’s red dress with the eye of a fashion maven. The silky material shimmered in the candlelight, and the sexy elegant style flattered her petite figure. It was the type of dress Kate would have favored herself, if she were twenty-something.

She and Sterling approached the younger couple.

“Ryder, I know we probably shouldn’t be talking business in the middle of the party, but I was hoping you would look over some papers I have in the den,”
Kate said, her eyes twinkling. “Bring Joanna with you, of course.”

The four gathered in the den, where Kate handed Ryder a pen and a document transferring complete ownership of Fortune’s Design to him. “Just sign there, and Fortune’s Design is yours free and clear, Ryder.”

Ryder and Joanna exchanged rapt glances, then hugs. Next they hugged Kate in turn, and Joanna threw her arms around Sterling. When Ryder appeared ready to do the same, Sterling pointed to the papers. “Sign, my boy. Right there on the dotted line.”

Ryder signed. He was now the bona fide owner of Fortune’s Design. The company was his—and Joanna’s. He felt almost dizzy with joy.

“Aunt Kate, there are no words to thank you,” Ryder began.

“I never wanted words. I wanted action. I wanted results, and that’s exactly what you provided, Ryder. Fortune’s Design is thriving. You’ve taken an ailing company and turned it around in a year, showing true business acumen.”

“He’s shown lots more than that—Ryder has heart,” Joanna piped up, gazing proudly at him. “Fortune’s Design is going to carry a line of life-skills products. Ryder contacted one of my friends from the rehab center who’s designed a bunch of adaptive devices to make things easier for the physically impaired. Fortune’s Design will bring them to the market, even though they’re not high-profit items.”

“The company has a stable of high-profit items,”
Ryder assured Kate. “But the life-skill products will enhance the quality of life for a small, defined market and—”

“You’re putting your profits to good use for a good cause,” Kate interjected. “Plus you found a remarkable, lovable young woman to share your life with. I’m so very proud of you, Ryder.” She hugged him again.

“This past year has been the biggest adventure of my life,” Ryder declared as he and Joanna walked hand-in-hand along the corridor, back to the party.

She glanced up playfully at him. “Just think, Ryder, you didn’t have to go off to the diamond mines and fight thugs for adventure, simply working in an office with me provides plenty of hair-raising thrills.”

“Joanna, every day with you is an adventure, in or out of the office. And I’m not being glib, I mean that sincerely. You interest me in a way nobody else ever has. Or ever will,” he added earnestly. “I love you, Joanna.” He stopped to draw her close in a shadowed alcove.

They were about to kiss when a group of children ran by, shrieking.

Joanna and Ryder broke apart, laughing, mutually conceding that this was not quite the time or place for romance.

“Think we’ll have our own little rug-rat zooming around with the pack one of these years?” Ryder asked, gazing down at her with love-filled eyes.

“I hope we’ll have at least two little zooming rugrats. How soon do you want to start?”

“How about on our wedding night?”

“I could be pregnant at next year’s Christmas party.” Joanna was delighted. “Or maybe even be here with a newborn!”

“And I’ll be telling you that the past year has been the biggest adventure of my life.”

Ryder swung Joanna up in his arms and kissed her, oblivious to everything and everyone but her.