The Reluctant Bride by Anne Marie Duquette Page A

marriage on your father’s unrealistic hopes for Margot’s return—and yours. That your loyalties lie with your mother first, then your father, then me?”
    â€œYou’re twisting my words!”
    â€œI don’t think I am. This isn’t fair to either of us, Karinne. It’s one thing for you to stay in Phoenix because of your father’s age and health, not that I ever thought he needed a babysitter. But this—this is…”
    For the first time ever, Karinne saw Max at a loss for words.
    â€œMax, you don’t understand!”
    â€œI understand that I love you. Do you love me?”
    â€œOf course I do!”
    His eyes narrowed. “Here’s my next question. If they’d found your mother’s body years ago, if you weren’t waiting for her to turn up at your old home, would you and I be together? Here at the Grand Canyon?”
    â€œYou know my job’s based in Phoenix.”
    â€œThat’s not an answer.” His arm dropped from her shoulders as he swiveled to meet her gaze. “Let me rephrase thequestion. Is it your job keeping you in Phoenix, or is it some fantasy about Margot?”
    â€œFantasy?” she echoed.
    â€œDon’t be a coward, Karinne. At least have the guts to answer my question.”
    On the outside, Karinne didn’t flinch from his harsh voice. On the inside, she told herself to tread carefully.
    â€œMy job is what it is,” she said calmly. “As for my mother, if she’s alive, she’d want to be at the wedding. I’d want her to be at the wedding.”
    Max said nothing.
    â€œI hope all this can be settled by then.”
    â€œRealistically, it may not be,” he said. “You have to accept that. This is probably a wild-goose chase.”
    â€œI know, but if she’s alive, I’d like to see her again.”
    â€œThat’s extremely generous, considering the circumstances. If this woman is your mother, you realize it means she really did abandon you and your father. Are you okay with that?”
    Karinne frowned. “No, but there’s nothing I can do to change the past. And Mom might need me. Maybe that’s why she’s turned up after all these years.”
    â€œAnd that’s why you’re okay with us having a long-distance marriage. Because Jeff—or your mother —might need you.”
    â€œNot exactly, but…”
    â€œWhat about what we need?”
    â€œMax, we’ve been through this before. You can’t work in Phoenix, and I’m always on the road, no matter where my home base is. Once I can talk my father into moving into a retirement home and out of that big house…maybe I could move to Flagstaff. I need to be near an airport.”
    â€œJeff’s never going to move as long as he has you in thepalm of his hand, Karinne. He lost Margot, and he’s held on to you ever since.”
    â€œIt won’t be forever.”
    â€œHow long, Karinne? One year? Ten? Twenty?”
    Karinne kissed him. “You know I love you.”
    â€œThat doesn’t fix anything.”
    â€œNo. But this is the first time I’ve been here longer than a weekend—the first time we’ve been together on the river. Can’t we just enjoy it for now?”
    Max sighed heavily.
    â€œI wish we weren’t sleeping in dorms tonight. I wish we were in our own tent, just you and me,” Karinne murmured.
    â€œIf nothing else, we won’t be getting strange phone calls and packages,” he replied. “Come on, I’ll walk you to the women’s dorms. Tomorrow morning we’ll catch a chopper up the river to Lee’s Ferry, unload our gear and raft the eighty-seven miles back here to Phantom Ranch.”

Chapter Five
    Mile Zero,
Lee’s Ferry, Colorado River
    T HEY SLOWLY DRIFTED down the Colorado River, a steady rain muting the brilliant colors of the canyon into softer pastels. The inflatable raft, loaded