Page 31 of One Golden Ring
“I saw adinerjust up the street,” she tells me excitedly.
“The Better Angels Diner,” I say with a smile. “I haven’t thought about that place in forever.”
“You’ve been to it before?” she asks.
“Sure,” I tell her. “Back in my day Better Angels and Slice of Heaven were really the only spots in town.”
“Slice of Heaven?” she echoes.
“That’s the pizza shop,” I tell her. “One of several now, but back then it was the only one. The pizza was incredible.”
“Oh, I love a good pizza,” she says, like she can just taste it, and I find myself smiling.
“Would you rather go to Slice of Heaven?” I offer.
“No, no,” she says shaking her head. “Diners are my favorite.”
“The diner it is,” I tell her, offering her my arm.
She takes it and I feel a wave of longing that any of this could be real, that Darcy Keller could really be my girl.
Fiancée.
The diner is open and even though it’s actually kind of full, there’s a perfect booth by the window. A waitress motions us over to it, and I wait for Darcy to sit before taking the bench opposite hers.
I’m tempted to squeeze in next to her, but I know the temptation to touch her will be too great.
Across from her I’ll be able to look but not touch.
Her eyes are on the view out the window, and I follow her lead. It’s surprisingly enjoyable to look out over the park across the street, and at the twinkling lights on the shops, and all the smiling people carrying their bags and packages.
“I guess we can shop for J.B.’s presents in real life this year,” Darcy suggests. “As long as they have a good bookstore here.”
“They do,” I say, nodding.
My voice is gruffer than I mean for it to be again, but it’s only because I’m trying to cover the emotion she keeps bringing up in me.
My assistant shouldn’t help me choose my child’sChristmas presents. J.B.’s mom should be doing that with me.
But she’s gone and these are the options I have—go it alone, or build a village as best I can.
When my thoughts about Darcy were just empty fantasies, it didn’t feel like such a betrayal. But now that we’re going through the motions like we’re in a relationship I’m feeling the impact, even if it isn’t supposed to be real.
What if it is real, Addie? Would you forgive me?
She died so young. It feels unfair for some other woman to take her place in J.B.’s life when Addie herself got to experience so little of it.
“Mr. Lockwood,” Darcy says softly, before correcting herself. “Derek. Are you okay?”
Great, I’m spiraling in another direction now. Darcy Keller is giving me whiplash.
No. I’m doing this all to myself.
Kindhearted Darcy Keller is sitting in front of me, innocently worried because I’m scowling out the window like the Christmas tree in the home goods store across the street owes me money.
“I’m fine, Darcy,” I tell her, forcing my expression to soften and meeting her eyes. “I’m okay.”
But she doesn’t believe me, and I can tell.
