Page 32 of Upon an April Night

Duncan nodded. “They’ve been doing this for many years, but somehow they’ve outdone themselves with this one.”

The decorations were more elegant than usual, with floral centerpieces and small jars with candles placed on all the tables. There were more strings of lights hanging between the trees than in past years, and candles floated on the surface of the lake surrounding the dock.

Dréa looked ravishing in a red sundress with her dark locks curled and flowing. Duncan reached over and ran his fingers through a curl that was resting against her cheek and tucked it behind her ear. She looked up at him, and he leaned in and softly pressed his lips to her cheek.

They mingled with guests for a while, and when she went to sit with her family, he walked over to where Shannon was refilling the punch bowl. “Hey, is Micah coming?”

“Yeah, he’s driving in from Virginia tonight. He’ll be here soon.”

“Is he back for good?”

“Not yet. He has to get his house sold and wrap up some other things down there before he finds a place here.”

“And then what? Are you guys getting married too?”

Shannon eyed him. “We just got back together, D. Give us a little time to get to know each other again.”

That might have been a jab at his quick engagement to Dréa, but he let it go.

“Is Jamie coming?” He didn’t know why he’d asked, but he hadn’t seen her around since that day he introduced the family to Dréa.

“She left town.”

His mouth fell open. “You’re kidding.”

“Afraid not. She’s been gone for weeks.” Shannon frowned.

“She didn’t … I mean, it wasn’t because of me, was it?”

Shannon’s eyes met his. “What do you think?”

His shoulders drooped, and sadness washed over him. “Is she coming back?”

“I don’t know.” There was something in Shannon’s demeanor that said she was more upset about this than she was letting on. “I have to go help in the kitchen.”

“Okay.” He watched his sister until she disappeared inside the house, and he tried to pretend it didn’t bother him that Jamie leaving town was his fault.

The sound of Papa’s fork tapping against glass gained everyone’s attention. He and Mama stood alongside Dréa’s parents in front of everyone.

“We wanted to take a moment to welcome Dréa’s family tonight. They’ve traveled all the way from Denver to be with us and celebrate Duncan and Dréa’s engagement.”

Everyone clapped and a few friends and cousins cheered and whistled.

“We’ve been praying for years for our children’s future spouses, and we couldn’t be happier that God brought Dréa into our Duncan’s life. Dréa, you are a special woman and we are elated to welcome you into our family.”

Dréa lay her hand over her heart and gazed over at Duncan lovingly.

Duncan stood and took his fiancée’s hand, and they joined their parents in front of the crowd. They exchanged hugs, then Duncan faced everyone, scanning the faces of his family that he loved before turning to Dréa. He was marrying this woman. She would become a part of the McGregor family. The enormity of that suddenly hit him, and he was at a loss for words.

She looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to speak. But when his silence hung heavy in the air, she took over in that eloquent way of hers. Speaking was her job, after all.

He didn’t hear everything she said, but a few phrases broke through.

Never expected to meet someone.

God brought us together.

She finished with, “I can’t wait to marry this man,” and wrapped her arms around his waist, snuggling into him.

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