been admiring you.”
“Oh.” Abby blinked, then glanced at his goddaughter. “Why?”
“I think it’s your earrings. She loves all that sparkles. Your design?”
Abby nodded.
“They’re lovely.”
“Thanks.” She averted her eyes and concentrated on eating.
“Abby makes lots of jewelry, Ari. She’s a quite-famous jewelry designer.”
“Not yet, but soon, hopefully.” Abby smiled at Ariane who seemed intrigued by the bracelet Donovan had given Abby. “Do you like jewelry, Ariane?”
The little girl nodded eagerly and after signaling that she needed a pen from Donovan, she drew an altered picture of the bracelet she’d helped Olivia form.
“Ah, I see you’ve had a change of idea. That’s what we designers do.” Abby smiled at her. “The bracelet’s in my office, waiting for you.”
Ariane seemed happy to hear that and settled down to dinner, like everyone else. Donovan couldn’t reconcile the easy camaraderie she and Abby shared, with what he’d been told. As the meal drew to a finish, his suspicions about that conversation multiplied, but Donovan stuffed them away and focused on enjoying the evening.
Reese took his turn as MC. Sara sang a song about homecomings and Cade announced their pregnancy. Once congratulations had died down, Katie had her parents act out a charade about the Chicago store.
Donovan took it all in like a bystander and realized that his sisters, his brother, Grandmother, his parents were all genuinely enjoying life, friends and family. Only he felt as if he had to work to smile. Even though Ariane was beside him and Abby across from him, even though the room was full of his family, he suddenly felt lonely. In that moment, he realized something else.
Abby wasn’t the only one with a pressing goal.
He wanted to be an integral part of his family’s lives now. He wanted to be the one they turned to when they needed to talk things over, the one they called on when they needed a shoulder to lean on. He wanted to be the son they counted on.
The prospect both terrified and tantalized Donovan. He’d never been good with long-term anything, especially commitment, although he’d wanted to try with Abby. A few hours talking to God might help him figure out how to become more than the carefree role he’d always defined for himself.
Maybe then Abby wouldn’t look at him with that funny little smile that clearly said she felt sorry for him for having missed so much.
Chapter Four
Monday mornings were always hectic.
Today leaned more toward crazy.
Anticipating the furor, Abby had arrived early. She filed her approved sketch for a newly commissioned diamond engagement ring, made changes another customer had requested on an anniversary ring and released the delicate tiara she’d created for a local fashion show.
Then she allowed herself a coffee break and a few moments to study the ring she wanted to send in for her contest entry. It was almost ready. A tweak or two and—
A child’s wail erupted from the front of the store. Assuming it was Brett or Brady, both of whom knew exactly how to create disaster at Weddings by Woodwards, Abby hurried toward the sound. She found Donovan kneeling in front of Ariane, his face taut with worry.
“It’s okay, Ari. Just tell me what’s wrong? Are you sick?”
One negative head jerk.
“Is it your clothes? But this is the school’s uniform.”
Ariane wailed a little more. Only it wasn’t really a wail. More like a soft, mewling cry.
“Honey, if you’ll just tell me what’s wrong, I’ll fix it. Do your shoes hurt?” Another shake of that dark glossy head left Donovan looking completely mystified and adorably uncertain.
Although she longed to ignore them both, Abby had to help.
“Hello, Ariane. Donovan. Can I help?”
“I don’t think so, thanks, Abby. Something’s wrong, but—” He stopped as Ariane walked over and threaded her hand into Abby’s. “Oh.”
“I have some drawing crayons in my office,” Abby mused. “Why don’t you come and draw me a picture while we figure out what’s got you so upset?”
Ariane nodded and after a reproachful look at Donovan, walked beside Abby to her office. Seated in a chair, she waited until Abby handed her crayons and some paper. Then her eyes moved to Abby’s ring for the contest. She poked at it curiously, picked it up and slid it on her finger.
Donovan stepped forward as if to stop her, but Abby rested a hand on his arm.
“Wait,” she murmured.
Ariane studied the ring for several moments. Then she put it back and began drawing a representation of it but with added swirls that resembled a flower circling the stone. It took Abby several moments to recognize a gardenia—Winifred’s favorite flower. Did the girl know Art had commissioned the ring for Winifred?
Ariane held up the paper for her to see.
“It’s lovely. May I use it in my design?”
Ariane nodded.
“Good. Now, tell me what’s wrong.” Judging by Ariane’s frown, this was touchy territory. Abby got the ball rolling. “Today’s your first day of school, isn’t it?”
The little girl nodded while big tears dripped down her cheeks.
“But that’s not a sad time. School is fun. You’ll see.” Abby hunched down beside her. “There are lots of books. Do you know how to read?”
Ariane nodded, sniffed.
“She loves stories,” Donovan added.
“And there’s playtime. And craft time. You’ll be good at that.” She touched the girl’s cheek, dabbed at her tears. “You’ll learn lots and lots of new fun things. I did.”
Ariane grabbed another paper. Did you wear a uniform? she printed in a childish scrawl.
“Yes. So did Donovan.”
Ariane tilted her head to see if it was true.
“Abby’s was always clean. Mine got a little dingy.” His funny face made Ariane giggle.
“I suspect you’ll be very popular at school, Ariane. Just like Donovan was.”
“Abby always got the best marks. She beat me in spelling. But I beat her in baseball.” Donovan winked at Ariane who glanced from him to Abby, her confusion evident.
“We got to be friends. When you go to school, you’ll find a friend,
