Page 33 of Upon an April Night

He squeezed his arms around her and kissed her cheek, and everyone clapped.

Dréa leaned close to his ear. “Aren’t you going to say anything?”

He shook his head. “You said it all perfectly.”

She looked disappointed but gave him a weak smile.

“I Don’t Want to Set the World on Fire” began to play over speakers set up in the yard by cousin Tim, the musician of the family.

Nana walked toward them. “May I have this dance?” she asked.

Duncan looked at Dréa with eyebrows raised.

“Be my guest.” She moved aside as he took his grandmother for a slow turn under the twinkly lights.

Nana held onto his hand and wrapped an arm around his back. “What happened up there?”

“What do you mean?”

“I know you, my boy.”

“I don’t know. I guess I froze.”

“Why?”

“It hit me that we’re getting married, and she’ll soon be part of our family.”

“That’s what happens after you get engaged.”

“I know. And I’m happy about it. I just had a moment of panic, I guess.”

“It’s normal to be nervous. If that’s what this was.”

“It is.”

“All right.” Nana eyed him.

“Just say whatever it is you want to say, Nana.”

“Have you been talking to God about everything?”

He hadn’t. He’d made himself busy with a design job, pushing aside all thoughts of what had happened with Jamie. And he hadn’t been praying about his and Dréa’s issues over where to live either. He kept thinking everything would work itself out, but he knew deep down that’s not how it worked.

Nana waited for his reply, but he remained silent.

“Trying to ignore your problems will never end well. Give it all over to Him, Duncan. You’ll be amazed at how things work out when you do.”

“I know, Nana. I will.”

They swayed back and forth to the song, slowly turning. Duncan glanced around and noticed Mama dancing with Papa and Dréa with her dad. Dréa’s brother, Kyle, had Melissa and both of their daughters in his arms. Even Aunt Paulie was enjoying a dance with Max.

At the final lines of the song, Duncan saw Jamie, standing in the doorway of the house, scanning the crowd. Her face lit up when she spotted Shannon, and his chest tightened at the sight. She moved toward Shannon, who looked delighted to see her and immediately wrapped her up in a hug before whisking her away into the house.

Duncan had the strongest desire to follow them and talk to Jamie, but Dréa was standing before them now.

“May I cut in?” she asked with a wink.

“Of course,” Nana replied and gave Duncan a hug and kiss on the cheek before taking a seat next to her sister.

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