Candy Halliday - Dad's E-mail Order Bride

Before Rachel knew what was happening, Courtney flew across the room and engulfed her in a big hug. And when she let Rachel go, she stepped back and smiled.

“I’m so happy to finally meet you, Rachel,” she gushed. “You’re even prettier in person than you are in your pictures.”

“Thanks,” was all Rachel could think to say.

Although Rachel doubted Courtney really cared. Miss So-Happy-To-Meet-You had already hurried back across the room to wrap herself around dear old Dad again.

“We have every right to be angry with you, young lady,” her father said.

Rachel held her breath, expecting the worst.

What she got instead was another big smile.

“But how can we be angry,” he added, “when you’re the one responsible for bringing us together?”

“It was love at first sight,” Courtney said.

“Totally,” her dad agreed.

Huh?

Rachel couldn’t believe it. Not only was her dad still grinning like some silly buffoon, but he had just said totally for the first time in his life. Had he completely lost his mind? That was the only explanation Rachel had for his goofy behavior.

“In fact,” he said, “Courtney and I have already decided now that we’ve found each other, we don’t want to be apart for a minute. Right, Courtney?”

“Absolutely,” Courtney said, smiling up at him.

And then he kissed her.

On the mouth!

In a flash, Rachel was mentally packing her bags. She could see herself running through Central Park with Broadway. And she would take Broadway back to New York with her. Millions of people had dogs in the city no matter what her dad said.

Other images quickly filled her head.

She could order Chinese takeout any hour of the day or night—and man, how she had missed Chinese takeout. She could shop on Fifth Avenue. She could go to the Met anytime she wanted. She could see a musical on the real Broadway. And attend the Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center for the first time in years. She could even be in Times Square for the big ball drop on New Year’s Eve.

Rachel was on the verge of jumping up and down. She couldn’t wait to tell Tiki. She really had been granted a freaking miracle. Finally, she could go to a regular high school with boys and girls her own age. Finally, she could experience what it was like to be a normal teenager.

“Courtney’s agreed to move to Alaska to be with us. Isn’t that great?”

“What?” Rachel shrieked.

And that’s when she saw her dad’s expression change before her eyes. Now his jaw was rigid—his smile gone. And the reaction Rachel had been expecting all along quickly followed.

“A lie isn’t so funny when you’re on the receiving end of that lie, is it, Rachel?”

Rachel balled her fists together. He was using his serious father-knows-best voice. She hated when he did that.

“And save yourself the trouble of thinking up any more schemes,” he warned. “We are not moving back to New York under any circumstances. And that’s final.”

For one brief second, Rachel truly hated her father.

“You can’t control my life forever!” Rachel screamed back at him. “When I turn eighteen I will move to New York City. And I’ll never come back to this miserable place again. Ever. That’s final!”

Sobbing, Rachel ran from the room.

Faithfully, Broadway trotted after her.

COURTNEY FLINCHED WHEN a door slammed in the distance. Slowly, she and Graham untangled themselves, then quickly stepped away from each other.

“That went well, didn’t it?” was all he said.

He didn’t mention that second kiss.

Neither did Courtney. She’d analyze the kiss later. At the moment, her only concern was Rachel.

“I had no idea Rachel would be so upset when I talked you into teasing her, Graham. I need to go apologize.”

“Apologize? Don’t be ridiculous. Rachel’s the one who needs to apologize to you.”

“And I’m sure Rachel will,” Courtney said. “But I’m not very proud of myself right now for making her cry.”

He started to object again, but Courtney stopped him.

“Please, let me talk to her. If you don’t, it’s going to be a miserable weekend for all of us.”

Graham kept staring at her.

Courtney held his gaze.

“Go through the kitchen,” he finally said, pointing across the great room to the saloon-style doors. “There’s a hallway off the kitchen. Rachel’s bedroom door is the first door on the right.”

“Thank you,” Courtney told him sincerely.

“But when you’re through talking to her,” he said, “tell Rachel I want to see her in my office. No excuses.”

Courtney nodded and started toward the kitchen. When she reached the hallway, she could have found Rachel’s room without Graham’s directions. Broadway was stretched out on the floor, guarding the door.

Courtney bent and gave the big dog’s head a fond pat. And only after Broadway wagged his tail in permission did she stand up and place a gentle knock above a sign that read: Teenzilla Inside—Enter at Your Own Risk.

The first knock failed to produce a response.

Courtney knocked again. “Rachel, it’s Courtney. Can I come in for a minute?”

“Go away!”

This time Courtney turned the doorknob and Broadway saw his chance. By the time Courtney stepped inside the room, Broadway had already launched himself onto the bed beside his mistress.

Rachel’s tearstained face made Courtney wince.

“I owe you an apology, Rachel. It was my idea to play a joke on you, not your father’s. It was a mean thing to do and I’m sorry.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Rachel said, swiping at her eyes with the back of her hand. “I played a mean joke on you. I deserved it.”

Courtney walked across the room. Without being invited, she sat on the edge of Rachel’s bed. “If it makes any difference, I’m still glad I came. I wouldn’t have missed meeting you for anything.”

Rachel’s chin came up. “Really?”

“Really,” Courtney said, reaching for her hand. “After all, you and I have more or less been dating for three months now.”

That comment at least got a half smile out of her. Then Rachel’s face clouded over again, reminding Courtney how much she looked like her father. Same ink-black hair. Same brown eyes with the same hint of sadness if you looked closely enough.

Rachel sniffed and said, “Dad’s really pissed at me, isn’t he?”

Courtney nodded. “And I’m afraid I only made things worse. I’m sorry, Rachel. I printed out some of the e-mails you sent me that I thought were from your dad.”

Rachel gasped. “And you showed them to him?”

“Sorry.”

Rachel flopped back against her pillow with a loud groan. “Now he really is going to kill me. I took stuff from his journal.”

“I know. Graham told me,” Courtney said. “And I hope you realize how wrong that was. Everyone deserves the right to privacy.”

Rachel sat up. “And what about my rights? Every day Dad keeps me here he’s violating my right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Courtney smiled knowingly. “How’d you do on your American history test, by the way?”

“Aced it, of course,” Rachel said, but her tone was still surly.

“Do you really hate living here so much?”

“Wouldn’t you?”

Courtney shrugged. “Actually, I think living here might be a nice change from the city.”

Rachel snorted. “Yeah, but we’re not talking about a nice change. Dad would keep me here permanently if he could.”

“Only because he loves you, Rachel. And he wants to keep you safe.”

“I’m sick and tired of being safe!”

But neither of them mentioned what had led up to Graham moving them to Alaska. It was easier to talk about things like that on the phone than it was in person. The phone provided the barrier a person needed to keep anyone else from seeing their pain.