Page 24 of One Golden Ring
When he pulls back at last, I’m breathless.
He wraps an arm around me and I venture a gaze up at him as I try to remember how to breathe.
He’s wearing a proud smile that’s obviously meant for his grandfather.
I look around and find Michael standing by the fireplace, gazing at us with tears in his eyes.
The knowledge that none of this is real twists my stomach, but seeing that it’s making the sweet man so happy soothes my feelings a little.
We’re not hurting anyone. It’s only Michael who is going to be impacted by this deceit, and only in a good way.
We only have to keep up appearances for a little while, then everything will be back to normal and no one will even know about any of it.
How hard could that really be?
“Dad?” a familiar voice says from the entry to the lounge.
Derek is spinning us both around before I can fully process what I’m hearing.
“What are you doing here?” he demands.
But Judi-Bloom only blinks at him for a moment before she drops her duffel bag and launches herself across the lounge at me.
This cannot be happening.
When she throws her arms around me I freeze, completely blown away.
I thought I was as surprised as I could possibly be that Derek’s daughter was here. But I’m evenmoresurprised that she’s hugging me.
Judi-Bloom is a friendly upbeat person, but she doesn’t like it much when people touch her. So this hug means… well, a lot.
“You’re getting married,” she squeals as she practically chokes me in her tight grip. The oversizedheadphones she’s always wearing are down around her neck right now, and they’re kind of cutting into my windpipe. “I can’t believe it. Finally.”
Finally?
“Hi, Judi-Bloom,” I manage. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
And even though this definitely complicates everything to a level I still can’t really get my mind around, Iamgenuinely glad she’s here and I can’t help saying it out loud. In my opinion, everything is better when Judi-Bloom is around.
“It’s J.B. now,” she tells me, pulling back. “And just to get it out there, you guys are going to hear something about a fire in the girls’ bathroom at school.”
“What?” Derek asks, his voice a little too quiet.
“But I hadnothingto do with it,” she says quickly. “I was only using the dean’s toupee to put the fireout.”
Derek’s face goes pale, but before he can say a word, Michael is there, taking J.B.’s hands.
“I can’t believe it,” he says. “My great-granddaughter is here to celebrate with us. How did your father keep this a surprise?”
I glance up at Derek, expecting him to be so furious that he gives away the whole game and I have to slink back to the city in shame.
But he’s gazing down at the three of us, and instead of anger, I could swear I see wonder in his eyes.
9
DARCY
My heart is still pounding from all the excitement—but mostly from that kiss—as we head into the dining hall. And Derek’s hand at the small of my back isn’t exactly helping to calm things down.
