Once most of the crowd had finished their meal, Luke went to the microphone to give his grandmother’s presentation about the Food4Kids program.
“I’d like to thank everyone for the prayers for my grandmother. She’s improving and should be home from the hospital in a few days.” The crowd applauded, and he felt their genuine concern deep in his bones. As if this town and church were a part of his makeup, part of his DNA.
For the first time, he truly appreciated this group of people.
Luke read Granny’s report on the founding of the organization and the stats of how many kids they’d been privileged to help. Talking about his mother, on top of the recent worry over his grandmother, made him choke up. He had to clear his throat twice to get through the speech.
At a table near the stage, Burt sat with tears in his eyes. As Noreen took Burt’s hand to comfort him, Luke sensed someone at his side.
Darcy didn’t touch him, but stood beside him for support. Strengthened by her presence, Luke called the mayor up to make his presentation.
“I’m proud,” the mayor said, “to have called Joan Jordan a friend. Proud of her hard work and dedication to the children of our community. Because of Joan, we now have this outstanding program that’s serving those most vulnerable.” He nodded toward Burt’s table.
“Burt, would you please come up and accept this token of our appreciation for your beloved wife and her service?”
As Burt approached the stage to the sound of applause, he beamed with pride.
“Burt,” the mayor said, “we’ve planted a tree outside the courthouse in Joan’s memory. The city of Appleton would like to present you with this plaque, a replica of the one that stands beside that tree.”
Once again, the audience applauded, and Burt shook the mayor’s hand.
Luke glanced at Darcy, smiling.
“This was perfect, Luke,” she whispered. “You’ve truly honored your mom.”
“Thank you all for attending and for honoring Joan,” Burt said. “As you know, I loved her deeply for many reasons. But mainly because she was a woman of courage and conviction.”
Darcy took hold of Luke’s hand and held tightly.
Burt gripped both sides of the podium. “When Joan saw a problem, she dove in with a solution. When she saw a need, she filled it. And when faced with a battle, she fought it bravely. I’m thankful that before she fought her last battle with cancer, she fought for the kids in our county. I urge you to bid high today to ensure Joan’s work is carried on.”
The crowed clapped as his dad returned to his seat.
Contact with Darcy felt good. And right. As if they were meant to work together for the good of a community. Their community.
The only time he ever felt at home in his skin was when he was with Darcy. Even as he dated other girls, even as he settled into his new career.
Nothing felt right unless she was involved. Nothing ever would.
The thought slammed into him, stealing his breath away. He loved Darcy O’Malley. Really loved her. Not just the emotional, touchy-feely, get jealous of other guys kind of love he’d experienced last night.
But he also loved her with the full commitment kind of love that nothing and no one could change. He loved her with every fiber of his being.
How had he not recognized the fact sooner? Once again, he’d been a fool, had practically pushed her into another man’s arms.
Hating to release her hand, Luke gestured to the podium. “Your turn at the mic.”
“Thanks.” Darcy stared into his eyes then stepped away. She took a moment to thank everyone who donated items for the silent auction, smiling at Bryan as she did so.
Luke squinted his eyes in Bryan’s direction.
Game on, drummer boy.
Darcy declared the bidding officially open.
Over the next hour and a half, the proceedings were fun but intense as participants bid on their favorite items.
Despite his jealousy over Bryan, Luke had to be grateful to the musician. The autographed guitar and concert tickets were bringing in big bucks. Several potential buyers kept returning to the bid sheets to raise their bids.
“Amazing, isn’t it?” Darcy asked, her eyes bright with excitement.
Luke pointed at the bids. “That guitar itself is going to fund the whole year’s budget.”
“The man bidding is a collector who heard about the ad and came from Atlanta. He said he knows it’ll go up in value once Bryan’s band hits it big.”
Which was something Luke hadn’t really thought much about until he’d seen the crowds of people who’d come for the band’s mementos and tickets. Maybe he’d hit on the perfect reason for Darcy to avoid getting serious about Bryan. “Yeah, anyone who marries him would have to move to Nashville and either stay at home while he tours or go on the road with him. Not much of a life for a new bride.”
She scrunched her nose, incredulous. “Are you giving me a warning?”
“I’m just telling you what any friend would. I can’t see you happy in that kind of life.”
In fact, he could only see her being happy with him.
Shaking her head at his declaration, she turned her attention to the bids at the next table and pointed at the two men breathing down each other’s necks as the bid on the guitar went higher and higher.
When she smiled, the cute way her nose bunched up pushing her freckles together, reminded him how vulnerable she could be. How tender and sweet.
Loving her would be making a huge step that would change his life.
In an irrevocable but oh, so good way.
“Luke?” Darcy waved her hand in front of his face. “I said I think you need to announce time is nearly up.”
Luke shook the wild thoughts from his head and went to the stage to grab the microphone. “Folks, we’re down to the last two minutes. Be sure to check the items you want, to make sure you have the highest bid.”
Darcy checked her watch. “Now we get to wrestle the bid sheets away from people when time is up.”
Two of the last bidders for the guitar, the local veterinarian who wanted it for his teen daughter and the man from Atlanta, good-naturedly elbowed each other out of the way as they took turns raising their offer.
“Time’s up,” Darcy called as the wall clock hit bid closing time.
Several groans sounded around the room from apparent losers while others cheered.
“Everyone please go back to the dinner tables while we take up the sheets. Once we have a total, we’ll announce the winners, and you can line up to pay and retrieve your items.”
The vet had won the guitar. The Atlanta man won the concert tickets. So neither ended up disappointed.
The two women who were Bryan’s biggest fans ended up winning the other paraphernalia—autographed drumsticks and concert posters.
The new pediatrician in town, a woman Darcy had called Violet, won the lake house vacation.
Darcy, Noreen and Chloe sat at a table punching in numbers on calculators. Darcy waved Bryan and Luke over.
“Look.” Darcy’s eyes lit with joy as she showed them the total for the autographed guitar and other items. “Bryan, thank you for helping make this a success.”
“I’m glad I could help. I hope you’ll invite me back next year.”
Darcy and Bryan shared a smile that made Luke’s teeth ache.
“You’ll be the first I call,” Darcy said.
Bryan shook Luke’s hand, gave a wave to the O’Malley women and then strode out the door.
“That was a quick departure,” Luke said.
Darcy flipped to another bid page, circled the final bid and keyed the amount in her calculator. “He had to get back to Atlanta.”
Interesting. And impossible to decipher what his departure m
eant. Luke was just thankful one distraction was out of the way. It was time for him to make his own bid, to let Darcy know he planned to move back to Appleton to join his dad’s firm.
He had to tell her he loved her.
Darcy suddenly hopped up, hurried to the microphone and announced the total money raised for Food4Kids. Cheers broke out through the fellowship hall because they’d well surpassed their goal. She thanked everyone for coming and closed the event with prayer. The day had been a huge success.
Many people had won that day, especially the children in the Appleton community. Plus Joan had been honored, and his dad pleased by the ceremony. Luke had been part of something important, something he’d like to see carried on in the future.
He planned to be right here next year with Darcy by his side.
Before Darcy made it back to the table to begin receiving payments, he snagged her attention. “Darcy, will you go with me to the lake this evening, to get away, relax for a while? You deserve a brief respite.”
Her brow furrowed. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Oh, man. Definitely time to pull the friend card one last time. “I need your advice. Really need to talk to my best friend.”
She huffed, exasperated.
He couldn’t fail. With his best-buddy grin, he bumped her shoulder. “Come on, you know you can’t refuse a friend in need.”
“We’ll see.” She hurried away, distracted already by auction duties.
For the first time ever, she hadn’t gone immediately into best friend mode. Was she hesitant because of her date last night? Would Darcy give him a chance?
* * *
Darcy walked to her car, worn out but thrilled over the day’s results. Luke walked with her, carrying a basket of books she’d bid on and won. Of course, now she needed to make time to read.
He opened her door and set the basket in the backseat. “There you go.”
“Thanks. For everything.”
His smile, so warm and familiar, set up an ache that was also familiar. Way too familiar.
“I won this basket for Granny.” He held up a beautiful handmade basket that held scented bath products. “Please go with me to deliver it. You should be the one to tell her about today.”
His acting so polite and sincere meant she simply had to tease him. “Oh, wow, asking nicely and using please? I’m stunned.”
“Yeah, I’ve learned when you’re tired, you get snippy if I’m bossy.”
She laughed as she locked up her car, then followed him to his.
As Luke drove to the hospital, Darcy leaned against the headrest and closed her eyes, taking the opportunity to think.
Should she go to the lake with him? The place was dangerous, full of memories. How could she deal with thoughts of their trip last weekend?
No, she didn’t think she could manage to go back to the scene of The Kiss just yet.
Brave the redheaded teen had called her.
No, Darcy wasn’t. She wasn’t fearless like Chloe.
What would Chloe do in this situation? Darcy imagined her with hands jammed on her hips like that day at the café when she shamed the diners, telling Darcy that Luke would leave soon, asking if she was going to just let him go.
Right now though, bravery entailed sitting in the same car with Luke, so close she could smell his shampoo and fabric softener.
Luke wrapped her hand in his, running his thumb against her palm. Her eyes flew open.
“I’m sorry. Were you asleep?”
“No. Just resting.” She should pull her hand away. She really should.
Watching his strong profile as he drove, she relished the feel of his warm hand, comfortable in the silence, in his presence, refusing to question his action or her response.
He pulled into the hospital lot and parked, came around to help her out of the car, then reached in the back for Granny’s basket. When they got to the room. Grace sat up in bed looking tired but happy to see them. Her color was back to normal, and someone had been by to fix her hair.
Relieved to see her recovering, Darcy’s eyes stung. She leaned over and hugged her friend. “I’m so thankful.”
“No, dear, I’m the one who’s thankful. I hear you may have saved my life.”
“I’m telling you, Grace, God was watching out for you. He must have big plans for you yet.”
“God was watching out for Granny by sending you,” Luke said to Darcy. Then he held the basket aloft. “I won something for you, Granny.”
“Oh, I’m going to smell so pretty. Thank you.”
He placed it on the windowsill along with several arrangements of flowers.
“Grace, today was amazingly successful,” Darcy said. “You’ll be pleased to hear we surpassed our budget.”
Grace clasped her hands together. “Thank you, God! I’m glad you two came by to tell me.”
“We couldn’t have done it without your groundwork, Granny. Everyone missed you today.”
“I’m thrilled you had a part, son. Your dad called and told me about the memorial for Joan. Thank you for that.”
Luke’s cheeks streaked with red. “It was my honor. I think it was good for Dad.”
“I know it was. Now, why don’t you two leave this dreary place and go celebrate.”
“I’ve asked Darcy to go to the lake with me.” Luke glanced at Darcy and gave her one of his trademark winks.
“Oh, how nice. Darcy, enjoy yourself. You deserve a nice getaway.”
“Exactly,” Luke said, his eyes full of mischief. “Darcy, you wouldn’t want to disappoint Granny, would you?”
“Are you kidding me?” she asked, yet not really surprised at his ploy. “Playing your sick grandmother to get your way?” she whispered. “Shameful.”
“Hey, I’m desperate.”
Biting her lip, Darcy tried not to smile at his antics. “I told you, we’ll see.”
Luke clutched his heart. “You’d leave me in limbo?”
“Go.” Grace said. “You two have fun.”
As they walked to the car, Darcy decided she would go. But she wouldn’t tell him. Would simply leave him to wonder.
The big worry now, though, wasn’t about whether to go but, rather, how much she would say when they arrived.
Luke didn’t ask again for her decision. He drove to the market and faced her with a big grin. “Need to run and grab a few items for our trip. Be right back.” He dashed inside, leaving her in the car with her thoughts.
What truly brave woman ignored her own feelings because she feared the risk of revealing her secret longings? What truly brave woman didn’t have the guts to go after what she wanted, needed. Wouldn’t Darcy tell any other woman in her position that she had a lot to offer and should confidently share her feelings?
Oh, my goodness. I’m that girl. That girl letting mean girls and others tell me I’m not good enough. Worse, I’m telling myself I’m not good enough. Sure, I’ve been a tomboy and science geek, but I have a lot to offer.
For so much of her life, Darcy had felt invisible, wanting to be valued and loved. When what she’d needed most was to look in the mirror and value herself.
With a confident, somewhat cocky smile on his face, Luke returned to the car and tossed a plastic grocery bag in the backseat. Then he backed out of the parking spot. “Next stop, the lake house.”
“Don’t you think you’re assuming a lot?”
“You want to go to the lake, you know you do.”
“You’re impossible, Luke Jordan,” she said with a laugh.
At a nearby stoplight, he faced her. “Okay, enough joking. I really want you to go. I know you’re starving, because at lunch you set down your plate and never ate. So I brought food. I also brought the makings for s’mores since we never got to
have them last weekend.”
His eyes flashed as he said the latter. Not blame. Something else. Maybe memories? “Darcy, I’d like the chance for a do-over.”
Oh, that didn’t sound good. A do-over between two friends at an old hangout?
For a moment, her newfound bravery fled. But she could do this. She could prove Chloe and the redhead right.
Besides, Luke had known she hadn’t eaten, had worried about her. He was sweet and considerate. “Okay. I’ll go.”
With a firm nod, and the hint of a smile, he drove out of town, toward the lake. As the buildings of downtown Appleton faded, Darcy stared out the window, watching her reflection when the sun hit just right.
Am I going to let him leave town with a job offer on the table?
Or am I willing to risk my heart once and for all?
Chapter Fourteen
Luke stood hidden at the edge of the woods, peering into the clearing as Darcy gave the logs in the fire pit a poke.
Late afternoon sunlight filtered through the trees, highlighting the lighter, coppery strands of her hair. She still wore the khaki pants and navy polo shirt she’d changed into for the auction.
She was so beautiful, so sweet and generous, that imagining a life with her caused a physical ache in his chest, like pressure from the weight of his future happiness hanging in the balance.
Determination pushed him from the overgrown path, out into the open.
“Fire should be perfect for s’mores soon,” Darcy called.
He entered the clearing holding up the grocery bag of supplies. “Still going for the sweets, I see.”
“You know me too well.”
Never too well. Never enough.
He wanted more than she would ever imagine.
Luke readied the graham crackers and chocolate, then sat beside her on the log, holding a marshmallow over the hot gray coals.
When he got it cooked just the way she liked it, he used his teeth to slip off the burned outside of the marshmallow, leaving the warmly melted inside part. “Exactly the way you like it,” he said, handing the treat to Darcy.
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