Page 76 of One Golden Ring
“Where are you going?” he whispers, his brow furrowed.
“I should head home and get some rest,” I tell him. “I’ll be back in the morning to go with you all. Unless you’d rather it just be family?”
“What?” he asks.
But I’m pretty sure he heard me.
“I…” I trail off.
“First of all,” he says, “you’re taking my room. The sofa folds out, so I’ll be out here.”
“No, you don’t have to—” I begin.
“Like fun I don’t,” he retorts. “Unless you want some company in my bed?”
My entire body feels like it just caught on fire and I canfeelmy face turn beet red.
“That’s what I thought,” he chuckles. “Secondly, of course you’re coming with us tomorrow. I do want it to be just family, but you’re part of that now.”
Family…
“Are you sure?” I hear myself whisper, the idea of being a part of this family still not seeming totally real to me.
“Does it feel different being back here?” he asks me gently, stepping closer very slowly, like he thinks I might bolt.
Part of me wants to. It’s all so much to take in. But most of me wants to never leave his side again.
“I guess,” I say. “The only times I’ve been here before it was for work.”
“It’s going to be different now,” he says, taking my hand. “If you still want it to be.”
“Of course I want that,” I tell him, a happy littlezingshooting through me like it does every time he touches me.
“Then go to bed,” he says firmly, giving my hand a squeeze. “Before I change my mind about following you in there.”
He winks so I’ll know he’s just teasing, and I feel awave of gratitude that he understands me, and doesn’t hold it against me that I want to wait.
“Darcy,” he says softly as I’m headed for the bedroom.
I turn back to him and the look on his face is pure love. Suddenly, it all falls into place for me. No matter where we go, city penthouse or country cabin, the bottom of the ocean or the craters of the moon, as long as we’re together, that will be home.
“Thank you,” he says simply. “I’m so glad you’re here with us.”
Michael isa real trooper the next day. All the nurses fawn over him and Dr. Nasar talks with him patiently before the surgery.
Once Michael goes back, Derek and I focus our efforts on keeping J.B. distracted. I have a set of UNO cards in my bag and Derek gets juice and crackers from the vending machine so we can have a little feast while J.B. absolutely trounces us at the classic game.
Another family comes in a while later, and J.B. immediately invites their little boy to play, leaving Derek and me to chat quietly for a few minutes.
“He was in good spirits,” Derek says.
I can tell that he’s thinking it might be the last time he’ll ever see the man who has been so important to him all his life.
“I’m so glad he’s doing this,” I tell him. “I love that he’s fighting so hard to stay with you.”
He nods and takes my hand and we watch J.B. and the little boy laugh and play, as we wait for what feels like a lifetime.
When Dr. Nasarcomes out to greet us with a big smile on his face, my heart soars.
