Page 75 of One Golden Ring
It’s only when she pulls back that I remember that we have an audience.
“Well, now that’s settled,” Grandpa Michael says in a contented way.
I glance over and J.B. is grinning at me.
“There’s still one more mystery,” Darcy says, looking to my grandfather. “How did you know J.B. would be here in the barn?”
She’s right. That is impressive.
“Because I know that my great-granddaughter isn’t foolish enough to go galloping up the mountain in the middle of a snowstorm,” he sniffs.
J.B. starts giggling and then Darcy’s laughing too. The sound of their laughter is so bright and cheerful that I chuckle too, out of pure happiness.
“One more thing,” Grandpa Michael says. “If your doctor still has space, I’m ready to try the surgery.”
His words hang in the suddenly silent air.
“Really, Great-grandpa?” J.B. asks him softly.
“You allobviouslystill need me,” he tells her with a funny half-smile.
He’s right. We really do need him.
Darcy flings herself onto the hay bale next to him, wrapping her arms gently around his neck in a happy embrace, and J.B. opens her arms, telling me to join the group hug.
I fall to my knees on the floor of the barn and wrap my arms around the three people who are my whole world.
25
DARCY
The next week and a half passes so swiftly it nearly takes my breath away.
Derek has been laser-focused on getting his grandfather lined up for surgery. I can tell by his furious determination to make every single detail perfect that he’s terrified.
I think we all are.
I put my nervous energy into clearing his schedule for the rest of the month. I try not to think about it, but he’ll need time off whether the surgery goes well or not.
And J.B. has spent most of her time working on a plan for her own next steps.
Derek asked her to describe her perfect school to him, and she took the assignment seriously. She has been obsessively banging away at her laptop, taking virtual campus tours, reading about specialized labs and student exchange programs, and then adding them to her wish list.
I’m not sure if Derek will ever find a place with all the things that get her excited, but I love him for trying.
My only hope is that the school they settle on will be a day school in easy commuting distance so she can live at home.
The night before the surgery finally arrives, and we all leave Angel Mountain and head back to the city for now. As soon as we get to Derek’s penthouse we hurriedly do what we can to make Michael comfortable and prepare the space for him and J.B. to be here for a few days.
Within an hour or two it’s feeling more comfortable, even if it’s kind of surreal and stressful—a lot more like life was back when we were only working together.
Did we really go to Angel Mountain?
Are Derek and I really in love?
I stay until almost two in the morning, doing a little cleanup and laundry while Derek sits with Michael, who is too keyed up to sleep.
Just as I’m about to sneak to the door to head back to my own apartment, I hear the door to the guest room open and Derek comes out.
