“Tony and I were being spontaneous,” Hadley exchanged a mischievous glance with him. “We brought all this pizza from Giovanni’s, and we decided to get everyone together. Come on, let’s eat before it gets cold.”
“We should go out on the deck,” Alex suggested. “It’s a great evening.” He winked at Kit, who smiled back and blushed a little. Ever since those two had started dating last summer, Darla had never seen Kit happier. Alex too, for that matter. Kit’s six-year-old son, Ollie, was blossoming too. They’d all had hard times since Kit’s first husband, an air force pilot, died while serving, but this past year had changed Kit’s life in every way.
Of course, it was just a coincidence that Kit had been wearing the ring.
“Great idea,” Darla walked toward the kitchen. “I’m not sure if I’ve got anything to drink—” As she opened the fridge, she gave a little gasp, finding it fully stocked. Coke. Beer. Even milk and OJ and actual food like a hunk of cheese, eggs, and a carton of blueberries.
Her mom had probably done it on her way to work her twelve-hour ICU shift at the hospital, which, come to think of it, she should just be getting off from now.
Before she could say anything, Nick shrugged and reached past her to pull out the beer. “Nothing worse than coming home to an empty fridge,” he said with a grin as he grabbed a pizza box and headed outside.
Okay, shocker, not her mother after all.
Nick stocked the fridge…for her? With other things besides beer? Who was this man, and what had he done with Old Nick?
A few minutes later, they were all gathered outside on Darla’s expansive deck, sitting around a softly glowing firepit under a starry summer sky, beautiful enough to take your breath away.
“I really missed you,” Hadley said over the gentle lap of waves beyond the deck as she pulled out a giant slice of pizza, trailed by a long, stretchy string of cheese. “Don’t ever leave again.”
“That was a really long year,” Kit said between bites. “But I’m glad you had a great experience in the writing program. We’re just so glad you’re back.”
Darla opened her mouth to tell her friends about accepting the job when Hadley grabbed her hand and held it up. “You’re wearing it.”
Oh no. She must have dozed off before she could take the ring off.
“It’s your turn,” Kit said matter-of-factly before Darla could say anything. “Whether you believe it or not. And just to remind you, you’re the one who started this. So wear it and good luck.”
Darla shook her head. “Um, I suggested wearing the ring because Hadley was so down, remember? I’m more interested in finding out a few things about my ancestor.” But how would she ever make time for that?
Hadley smiled. “The ring came through for us just when we needed it the most. So whether you like it or not, it’s on your finger, babe. Kit’s right. It’s your summer.”
“And you’ve been working so hard,” Kit said. “It’s time to slow down and enjoy life. Maybe the ring will help remind you of that.”
Kit and Alex sat side by side on a couch, glancing at each other like…well, a couple in love. Tony and Hadley sat next to each other too, sipping from the same beer. Darla and Nick sat across from them—each alone on chairs, as far apart as it was possible to be.
Boss was collapsed at Nick’s feet, softly snoring. So even Nick had somebody, even if he was hairy and a hundred pounds of deadweight.
Equally strong as feeling quite alone was the feeling that Darla couldn’t help wanting just a smidge of that happiness for herself. A quiet but insistent voice in her head whispered, Is it too late for me?
“Should we tell them?” Hadley glanced at Tony as she polished off her last slice and set down her plate.
Uh-oh. Darla caught Kit’s gaze. Kit smiled and gave her a thumbs-up.
She would guess that excited reaction probably meant a baby or a wedding or both.
Tony grabbed Hadley’s hand in a sweet gesture that made Darla’s eyes mist over.
On what seemed to be instinct, Darla darted her gaze over to Nick to find him staring quietly at her. Instead of shifting his gaze, he sent her a little shrug that signaled he was just as surprised as she was.
“We have an announcement.” Hadley beamed at Tony. “We’re getting married.”
Kit gasped. Darla held her breath. But Alex voiced what they were all thinking. “Congrats you two, but, um, we’ve heard this before, like, a long time ago.” Hadley and Tony had planned their wedding all last year, and it had gotten bigger and more elaborate with each passing day, the consequence of Tony’s star status. Finally, they’d put their plans on hold until they could think hard about the more intimate wedding they really wanted.
“This time it’s for real,” Hadley said, her eyes dancing with happiness.
“There was a sudden cancellation at the Seaside Inn,” Tony said, referring to the crown jewel of their town, a century-and-a-half–old Victorian right on the water, a coveted venue for weddings. “We can have the ceremony and the reception there, so it’s a nice, simple solution. No muss, no fuss.”
“But I thought you two wanted it in your backyard,” Kit said. According to updates from Hadley, she and Tony were smack in the middle of renovating a quaint old cottage that sloped right down to the bay.
Darla was thrilled for her friends. But she found herself waiting to hear when the wedding was going to take place. After her deadline, she silently hoped. Which maybe was selfish of her, but she wanted to have the freedom to celebrate with her best friends.
“We did,” Hadley said, “but our remodel’s not going to be done for a few more months. And I’m expanding the cat side of Pooch Palace and Tony’s so busy with the restaurant…”
“Basically, life is not going to stop for this wedding,” Tony said.
“So when the venue had an opening,” Hadley continued, “Paula Shearer thought of me. It worked out like a charm.” Hadley turned to Darla. “It’s like…fate. I know this is sudden, but you’re home now and it’s summer and…and it just feels right.”
“We know we’re springing this on everyone,” Tony said. “But does the last Saturday of the month work for everyone? Just say the word if it doesn’t.”
Darla suppressed an anguished groan. That happened to be the exact date of her book deadline. Two weeks away.
Not to mention she had to put her house on the market. And her bathroom looked like a tractor had just plowed through it. She felt a little dizzy. But everyone was piping in with their congratulations and offering to help.
How could she tell them she was leaving now? Ugh, how could she leave these friends of her heart at all?
“The venue takes care of everything—food, music, drinks,” Hadley said. “So all you guys have to do is show up and celebrate with us.”
Tony nodded, putting his arm around Hadley’s shoulders. “What we want is a simple, quiet ceremony surrounded by our family and best friends. Nothing complicated. We hope that making it simple works for everyone.”
Darla pushed aside the sense of looming dread that tugged at her insides. She wanted to be all-in for them, but common sense told her that weddings were never uncomplicated.