An office, primarily for development, in Chicago, was healthy for Swain. Moving close to home, though not quite home, was a career decision. A promotion and a pay raise. Buying a home of her own would be way more pricy, but within her new limits. She would be close to her family again. Accelerate her career, make her boss happy, all at the same time.
Tyler wasn’t a factor.
The biggest question on her mind, besides what to do with all her stuff from the apartment back in Dallas, was how to break the news to her sister, her parents, that she was indeed, moving back home.
The house smelled homey, like Oliver had a candle on an hour ago and blew it out before it started to take over. Spring. Lavender and Jasmine. The windows were open and the gentle breeze had fun with their curtains at the front window. Natural light illuminated the whole house.
“Shall we?” Darcy asked her sister, dropping her purse beside the closet and feeling like she were ready for a nap. Maybe dinner, then a nap.
Lila cried a little, fanning her face, “Can’t wait.” Her feet started to dance in anticipation.
Together, they walked up the stairs, Darcy was right behind Lila for support, while Lila held the rail. “I think I’ve got the record for the slowest pregnant woman on the earth.”
“It’s an achievement,” Darcy said, holding onto Lila’s arm. “You did a lot today.”
“Probably too much, actually,” Lila said. “I’ll need to rest. I just have to see the baby’s room.”
And it was finished. The guy’s were moving the crib right into place, sliding it against the wall where Lila had wanted it. Dresser. Changing table. Crib. All in place, with toys and a mechanical swing, which was also a shower gift, in their proper places.
Oliver beamed, seeing Lila there, tearing up. They hugged a long time.
Darcy asked Oliver’s friend and helper, “How’s your hand?”
He smiled, sheepishly, glancing at it and looking up at Darcy. He had a light in his eyes she loved already. Warm. Kind. Charming. Soft. He reminded Darcy a little of Galen. That same easiness about him. Darcy could see herself talking to him for hours, laughing and forgetting herself in a way that was disarming.
“Sorry I never introduced myself,” he said, stepping around Lila and Oliver as they whispered to themselves in the middle of their new nursery.
He extended his hand. “I’m Bryan.”
Darcy accepted it and appreciated his grip, firm but not overdoing it. His hands were smooth. He even seemed a little nervous and Darcy let herself wonder if he had been thinking about her, maybe even wishing she would pop up again.
“Darcy.”
Lila came into view suddenly, “Oh, I’m so sorry! I never introduced you two,” she said quickly, before launching into an explanation about how Bryan and Oliver become such good friends, wingmen actually, on their morning runs. Lila said that Bryan and Oliver could be husbands, at which both guys agreed, to Darcy’s surprise.
Watching Bryan’s reaction to Lila’s storytelling, she couldn’t help wanting to know more. What came next?
The furniture was settled, nursery installed, crisis averted. And Oliver, Darcy knew Oliver could keep the secret from Lila. She wondered quickly if Elnora would keep that secret, or if Marcella would get glory hungry and confess she chipped in for the set.
Darcy had to decide quickly that it didn’t matter. She had done all she could for her sister. Right?
That night at dinner, which was a pork roast Lila prepared, was delightful. Perfect, even. When Lila and Darcy were washing the dishes and talking, mostly about Bryan and Oliver, Lila stopped and paused a moment, watching her sister with that look of hers, a smirk on her face.
Darcy turned her head, “What’s that about?”
“You know, if you and Bryan are an item, you’re going to have to tell mom that she was right.”
Huh? “What’s he got to do with mom?”
Lila laughed, setting a dish aside on the drying rack. “He’s the guy mom’s been telling all about you. She mentioned Bryan, didn’t she?”
Then, Darcy remembered. And laughed with her sister.
Table of Contents
Darcy
Galen
Darcy
Galen
Darcy
Galen
Darcy
Galen
Darcy
Galen
Darcy
Darcy
Your Flight Will Leave Soon Page 18