Free Randall Wedding by Judy Christenberry

route?”
    “They’ll think I’m lazy. Taking advantage of you and them.”
    “I promise I won’t think that, and they won’t, either.”
    “They’re too good to be true. In my family, if someone does something for you, they demand payment, and it’s always more than you can afford.”
    “It will only be for three days. Will you try it just for me? If it’s horrible, tell me, and I’ll get you out of there.”
    Isabella finally nodded but he could see the worry and reluctance in her eyes.
     
    W HEN THEY REACHED Buffalo, Russ was uneasy. Isabella had slept most of the way, and he’d been left to his memories of driving to Buffalo with Abby. She’d been snuggled up next to him, planning their future. Everything had been exactly as he wanted it. If it wasn’t, she’d changed it so it was. She never argued with him.
    Isabella saw things differently. He suspected she’d argue with him just to be sure she could. She’d finally agreed to stay at his parents’ home for three days, unless she didn’t like it. And he knew she wasn’t joking.
    “We’re here, Isabella. Ready?”
    She gave him a sleepy look that made him want to cuddle her against him. That thought startled him. No, if it was Angel, he’d cuddle her. Not Isabella.
    Inside, he discovered she intended to keep her family name, Paloni.
    “Are you sure?”
    “Yes, I am,” she said calmly. “Why wouldn’t I?”
    He didn’t want to say what he thought of her father. Besides, it didn’t matter. She’d be called Randall in Rawhide.
    “When I adopt Angel, her name will change.”
    Her gaze riveted on him. “Oh, no. Her name will be the same as mine.”
    “Then you’d better plan on having my name, because she’s going to be my daughter. That was part of our agreement.”

Chapter Seven
    “I don’t remember your requiring the same name,” Isabella whispered fiercely.
    “Kids would ask her why she doesn’t have the same name, and they would tease her. It would cause awkwardness with her teachers when I talked to them. It would make her feel that she doesn’t belong. I’m not letting you do that to Angel.” Russ stood there, his hands on his hips, glaring at her.
    “Obviously you’ve done a lot of thinking about this!”
    “Obviously you haven’t.”
    Isabella turned and walked out the door of the office. With an apology to the woman waiting for them, Russ went after her.
    “Where do you think you’re going?”
    She spun around. “Somewhere I can think!”
    Russ had been ready to lay into her again, but the tears in her eyes undid him. “Okay. How about we go to lunch in a restaurant? I’ll be quiet and give you some time.”
    His offer seemed to floor her. “We can do that?”
    “Of course. I know the perfect place.” He drove them to a small, intimate restaurant. Once they were seated at a table and their meals ordered, he excused himself to go talk to the owner, an old friend of the Randall family, leaving her alone.
    When he saw the waitress bringing their food fifteen minutes later, he said goodbye to his friend and returned to the table. He slid into his chair and greeted her, but he didn’t ask any questions.
    After the waitress left, she asked, “Aren’t you going to demand to know my decision?”
    “No, I figure you’ll tell me when you’ve decided.”
    She put her fork down and stared at him in exasperation. “Are you always like this?”
    “Like what?”
    “Reasonable!”
    He laughed. “And that’s a bad thing?”
    “You know it isn’t. I… Thank you for giving me time.”
    “You hadn’t thought about the changes our marriage will make in your life. And you aren’t even settled in Rawhide yet. That’s a lot of change.”
    “Yes. And I would be making it more difficult by keeping my maiden name and doing the same to Angel. Of course we’ll take your name.”
    “Good girl,” he said with a warm smile. Her return smile was tentative, but at least it was a smile.
    “When will you find out about