Page 34 of One Golden Ring
And yet somehow this is the happiest I’ve felt in a long, long time.
What am I supposed to do when this is over?
11
DEREK
As soon as we step back into the lodge, J.B. hops up from the table where she was playing chess with her great-grandfather and flings herself at Darcy.
“You were gone forever,” she accuses her with a big smile on her face.
And once again I’m watching my daughter embrace the girl I’m trying not to have real feelings for like she’s already a part of the family—even more than that, actually.
In addition to her sensory issues, Judi-Bloom also doesn’t especially like being touched. She’s a loving kid, but she’ll let you know she loves you by spending time with you, laughing, asking questions, playing chess, or talking about her latest science experiment. She’s never really been the type of kid to hug or cuddle.
So seeing her embrace Darcy means she really cares about her—enough to show her affection in a way that will mean something to Darcy.
“What’s in all those bags?” she demands, pulling back from the hug.
“Oh, these are for your grandpa,” Darcy tells her. “And we have something little in the car for you, just a small thing, and lots of supplies for the cabin.”
“For me?” Grandpa Michael asks, looking a little concerned.
“Oh, yes,” Darcy says. “I had so much fun picking these. I hope you like them as much as I do.”
The little furrow in her brow wins him over.
“I’m sure I’ll love them, whatever they are,” he tells her approvingly. “I just don’t want you kids spending your money on me. You’ve got a future to think of.”
I barely manage not to roll my eyes. He hasn’t seen my investment portfolio, but I’ve told him enough for him to know that we can buy pretty much anything that’s for sale on Angel Mountain and not risk our future over it. And it’s only some clothes. It’s not like I bought him a gigantic diamond ring too.
Although if I thought it would convince him to get the surgery, I’d buy him a whole jewelry store.
“Can I see what Grandpa got?” J.B. asks, trying to poke her nose into the bags.
“Sure,” Darcy says. “If it’s okay with him. We might want to do this in your room so we can see if it all fits, Michael.”
“Of course,” he tells her, rising slowly from the chair.
I can tell he’s a little tired, but his eyes are bright with excitement. It’s good for him to have family here and things to do.
I’m grateful all over again to Darcy for fixing myschedule. I probably couldn’t have done this on my own without throwing the whole company into chaos.
We follow Michael to his room, J.B. right by his side, like she knows instinctively he might need someone to hold onto.
I close the door behind us, hoping we might get him to try on some of his new wardrobe.
“Okay,” Darcy says. “We didn’t even take the tags off, so please don’t look at the prices. You know they don’t matter anyway. Your grandson is richer than Midas.”
“Ha,” Grandpa barks out.
“That’snotwhat I like about him, by the way,” she puts in quickly, like she’s worried he’ll think that.
“What do you like about him?” J.B. asks suddenly.
If I didn’t know any better I’d say she soundssuspicious.
Predictably, Darcy turns about as pink as a peppermint shake.
