Page 80 of One Golden Ring
He looks over to us and I see the exact moment when he notices the ring on my finger.
“Something’s back where it belongs,” he says, his eyes dancing.
“My hand didn’t feel right without it,” I tell him, giving him a wink.
“Congratulations to you both,” he says, and gives us the kindest smile.
It occurred to me at one point last week that we thought we were being so clever, but it was really Michael that played Derek and me for all we were worth when we first arrived here to see him, and we didn’t suspect a thing. The moment he pretended he thought we were together, Michael set the wheels in motion for everything that happened after.
I mentioned it to Derek and he laughed and then got thoughtful. He told me that we should be grateful for the push that finally woke us up to our true feelings.
And I am. I always will be.
“I guess I’m going to have to move to the city now to keep an eye on you all,” Michael says. “Maybe I can get an apartment near yours, in a building that’s not so fancy.”
I know that’s not really what he wants, but I also can’t imagine Derek not returning to his work. And we all want to be close to Michael.
“Actually,” Derek says. “I had some thoughts about that.”
He’s obviously been doing some planning of his own.
“Oh, really?” Michael asks.
I expect Derek to say he’ll fix up the guest room of the penthouse just for Michael.
“How does everyone feel about staying here?” Derek asks instead.
“All of us?” J.B. asks carefully.
She means school. She’s asking him if she has to go back.
“Allof us,” Derek tells her firmly. “What do you think about all of us staying right here on Angel Mountain?”
Derek Lockwood has had his share of brilliant, million-dollar ideas. But this is definitely his best one yet.
26
DARCY
SUMMER ANGEL-FEST ON THE FOURTH OF JULY
I’m folding up a big quilt that Michael told me isperfect for the Fourth of July picnicwhen I hear J.B.’s light footsteps on the stairs.
“Hey,” she says, flopping unceremoniously onto the bed. “Dad said he’s packing healthy snacks?”
“Don’t worry,” I tell her with a smile. “I’m bringing money to buy real ones.”
“I wonder what Angel-Fest will be like,” she says, staring up at the ceiling fan that’s revolving lazily over the bed. “I’ve never been here in the summer before.”
“Oh, I’m sure it will be fun,” I tell her. “This town has a sense of humor. And anyway, it’s for a good cause.”
“You sound like one of them,” she says thoughtfully.
I guess I do. They sure made me feel like part of the community at the wedding in January.
Derek and I got a license as quickly as we could. J.B. stood by my side and Michael stood by Derek’s when we got married in the little town church. We only planned to have a nice meal at the lodge when it was done. A bigwedding wasn’t the point, after all. What we really wanted was to be a family officially.
But as we left, Michael asked Derek to drive over to the community center for aquick errandand when we stepped in, there was… well, everyone.
