Chapter 24

When she joined her roommates for breakfast on Thanksgiving, Darcy suspected something amiss.

Sam lowered his head and poured the coffee, staring into the cup.

Linda, who loved to chatter, passed around the cream and sugar without saying a word.

In spite of the tight knot in her stomach, Darcy sipped her coffee.

Sam sat beside her and cupped his hands around his coffee mug, staring into the swirls of cream. “I’m sorry to have to ask at the last minute, but our daughter has decided to come home for Thanksgiving. She’ll be staying until Sunday night. Can you make other arrangements? We’d hate to ask her to sleep on the couch.”

Darcy shuddered. Where would she go for the next four days?

Linda held out a plate of blueberry muffins. “Aren’t you visiting your daughter for Thanksgiving? Maybe you could ask her if you could stay the weekend.”

“I’ll call her.” Although Darcy declined the invitation to stay the night when invited to Thanksgiving, she hoped her daughter might be thrilled by the change in plans. After all, a breakup with Victor justified an all-girls’ weekend of junk food and chick flicks. But knowing Joyce, the weekend would probably end in a spa day and juice cleanse. Either way, spending time with Joyce would be better than spending the holiday weekend alone.

Darcy picked up her coffee mug, strode into her bedroom, and shut the door. Sitting on the edge of her bed, she called her daughter.

Joyce answered on the second ring. “Is anything wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong. Just a change of plans.” She gripped the phone tighter. “You see, my landlords’ daughter is spending the holidays here, and they asked me to vacate my room until Sunday night. Is it okay if I stay with you?”

“Well, of course,” Joyce said. “You can share the downstairs with me and Tanya.”

Why was Tanya coming to Thanksgiving? She flinched. “I thought only Victor and I were invited.”

“Why does it matter?” Joyce asked. “We’re all family.”

“No, we’re not.” Darcy ran her fingers through her hair, wondering how her daughter kept forgetting she didn’t get along with Nathan or Tanya. “I wish you would have said you invited them.”

Joyce sighed. “If I told you, then you wouldn’t come.”

“You’re right, I wouldn’t.” She gazed up at the ceiling and shook her head. After she broke up with Victor, she could not face her ex-husband and his new wife. The painful humiliation would crush any remaining dignity.

“Mom, you need to go to therapy to get over your hostility toward Tanya.”

“No, I don’t. You, my dear, need to stop replacing me with that woman! I’m the one who gave birth to you and not her.”

“She raised me after you moved out,” Joyce said. “She’s been more of a mom to me than you have.”

Tears clotted her throat. She gulped. “If that’s how you feel, then neither Victor nor I should show up today.”

“Don’t be silly. You’re still my mom,” Joyce said. “I’m getting married, and I’m having children. I want my children to know both my parents and my stepparents.”

“I can’t.” With each breath, she thought with resentment how she much she hated Tanya for entering their lives and how much she blamed Joyce for her devotion toward the woman who divided their family. “I can’t be their friends.”

“You don’t have to,” Joyce said. “When you see them, I just need you to be civil. You and Victor don’t have to spend the night.”

“But Victor isn’t—”

“I’m sorry, Mom, but I have to go. See you in a few hours.”

Click. With her heart hammering in her chest, Darcy speed-dialed Victor.

“Hello?”

“I need your help,” she stammered. “Sam and Linda have their daughter staying in my room until Sunday night, and Joyce is entertaining her father and his new wife through the weekend. I don’t have any place to stay.”

“Your ex-husband and his wife will be at Thanksgiving dinner?”

“Yes, and they’re staying the entire weekend.”

“Well, that fact sure complicates things.”

“I know.” She grabbed a fistful of bedspread. “After we break up, I can’t face them for three more days.”

“We can’t break up now,” Victor said. “At least, we can’t break up tonight. They are the entire reason why we’re together in the first place. If we break up, they will gloat with their victory over our misery. The entire evening will be unbearable.”

“What will we do?” Adrenaline spiked, and her hands trembled.

He expelled a long breath. “We will put on a brave face and pretend one last time we are an engaged couple. Then after this weekend, you call Joyce and tell her the engagement has been canceled because we had a big blowout fight, and you decided it is best if we go our separate ways. We intend to remain professional colleagues. Okay?”

“Okay.” Finally, he agreed to end the madness of the charade. She placed a hand on her chest, waiting for the rapid heartbeat to subside. “But where will I spend the rest of the weekend?”

“With me, of course. You can stay as long or as little as you like. How does that idea sound?”

She bit her lower lip. For all of their flirting and kissing, Darcy and Victor had never taken their physical relationship any farther. How could she cope with her attraction in such close, intimate quarters for several days?

“Staying here won’t be so bad. You’ll have your own bedroom and your own bathroom. I’ll leave you alone. Or you can spend the weekend watching old black-and-white movies with me. I have quite the collection. Casablanca is my favorite.”

He made the thought of spending the weekend with him sound so simple. “Okay.” She loosened her grip around the phone. “I’ll stay with you.”

What could possibly go wrong?

****

Later that afternoon, Victor drove down the wet highway toward Marin County.

Darcy sat beside him, staring out the window, wondering what to say to her daughter next week when she announced her breakup with Victor.

Smells of pumpkin pie and green bean casserole wafted through the car. They packed the food in the backseat along with two bottles of merlot, one for Darcy and one for Victor, to help ease them through the night.

Stop-and-go traffic clogged the drive to Kentfield.

Victor turned on the news.

The announcer said to expect more showers starting tonight and escalating through the weekend with a possible flood alert for Sonoma and Marin counties.

“We’ll need to leave before it starts raining.” Darcy pointed toward the sky. “We don’t want the highway between Sonoma County and Marin County to close.”

“Don’t worry.” Victor turned on the indicator and glided into the fast lane. “We’re eating early.”

“How do you know?”

Turning his head, he winked. “Tyler tells me everything.”

Glancing out the window, she grimaced. Her own daughter neglected to tell her Nathan and Tanya would be staying Thanksgiving weekend, but Tyler told Victor the entire schedule for the night. How unfair!

An hour later, they turned off the freeway and drove down a narrow, two-lane road until they arrived at a private driveway leading up a hill. The paved road widened into a spacious clearing where a large, two-story, brown-shingled house nestled amidst a grove of redwood trees.

Victor parked the car in the driveway and opened Darcy’s door.

“It smells like rain will fall again.” She inhaled the moist, fresh air.

“Look at the view.” He pointed to the Golden Gate Bridge through a thin layer of fog.

With her hands on her hips, she marveled at the panorama of the valley. Whether she married or not, she never could afford anything this spectacular. Even if Joyce paid for her own education, Darcy wouldn’t have the four million dollars purchase price. A surge of pride swelled her chest, knowing her daughter and her fiancé could afford such luxury, from the infinity pool to the acres of hilltop privacy. She carried the green bean casserole, followed Victor up the stairs to the wraparound porch, and rang the doorbell.

“Happy Thanksgiving!” Joyce flung open the door and invited them inside a wide foyer. She had cropped her blond hair to just below her sharp chin which softened her prominent cheekbones. Bracelets dangled from her narrow wrists. She wore a baggy white angora sweater, tight black leggings, and white ballet flats.

With one arm, Darcy hugged her daughter, who smelled of fresh apples.

Joyce took the casserole from Darcy and frowned at the grocery bags in Victor’s hand. “I hope you didn’t bring more than we asked you to.”

“Just pumpkin pie and a couple of bottles of wine.”

She pinched her eyebrows together and broadened her stance. “We don’t drink.”

Victor lifted the bags. “We do.”

With pursed lips, Joyce shook her head. “I wish you both would take better care of your bodies. You won’t be young forever. And, quite honestly, I do not want to take care of either of you.”

Victor snapped his fingers back and forth.

Watching him mimic someone talking, Darcy suppressed a giggle.

They followed Joyce down a small flight of stairs into the gourmet, stainless-steel kitchen with an island as large as Sam and Linda’s living room.

“Tyler and Dad are watching the game in the entertainment room upstairs.” Joyce set the casserole on the marble counter. “The tofu turkey will be ready in a half hour. Would either of you care for some carrots and humus?”

“I’m fine.” Victor placed the bottles and the pie beside the casserole. “I’ll go upstairs to chat with the guys.” He glanced from Joyce to Darcy. “Is that plan all right with you, darling?” He pecked her cheek.

Darcy nodded and returned the kiss. Although she didn’t want to be alone with Tanya and Joyce, she didn’t want to look clingy. “Have fun.”

He winked and strode away.

Joyce led Darcy to the family room with its wide windows overlooking Mount Tamalpais. They stepped down the hardwood stairs into a white cloud of carpet. Two leather sofas faced a pair of built-in bookcases full of art, books, and sculptures. Soft yellow tea lights filled every counter space.

Everything glowed, even Tanya. She sat with her feet tucked under her hips on the leather sofa. Her blonde hair cascaded over her bronze skin and golden sweater dress. She held a magazine open on her lap and patted the seat. “Come see this dress, Joycie.”

Joyce grabbed her mother’s hand. “Tanya and I are looking through bridal magazines. I’ve decided to get a new dress after seeing the one you’re wearing.”

Darcy felt her stomach drop. She stopped in mid-stride and clutched her daughter’s hand tighter. “What dress?”

“You know, the picture of the gown Victor sent to Tyler.”

Blood rushed through Darcy’s veins. “I don’t understand.”

“Here, I’ll show you.” Joyce tugged free her hand and snatched her phone off the coffee table. “This one.”

The photo Betty snapped of Darcy in the wedding dress of her dreams glowed on her daughter’s phone.

Panic rushed into Darcy’s throat. “When did you get that picture?”

Joyce frowned. “Last Monday.”

That information couldn’t be right, Darcy thought. She shopped with Betty on Saturday. “What time did Victor send this picture?”

Joyce bit her lower lip. “I had just left Tyler’s apartment to come here so it must have been between five and seven. He sent this photo and one of him in one of those uniforms the guards at Buckingham Palace wear minus the ridiculous hat.” She scrolled through the pictures and extended her phone. “Here.”

As she studied the photograph of Victor wearing a scarlet tunic with gold piping along the shoulders, a white belt, and black slacks, she clenched her jaw. Victor looked more like a prince than a soldier. She pressed the “More Information” button on the screen. The date and time stamp read Monday at six p.m. “I don’t believe it,” she whispered. Victor sent those pictures two days after they agreed to end the charade. A patter of footsteps distracted her from her thoughts, and she glanced up just as Victor stepped into the family room.

“What are you lovely ladies discussing?” Smiling, Victor scanned the room.

Tanya uncurled her legs. “Aren’t you excited about the double wedding?”

With wide eyes, he glanced from Tanya to Darcy.

“What double wedding?” Darcy placed a hand on her churning gut. She spun and narrowed her gaze.

Tanya clasped a hand over her mouth. “Oopsie! I’m sorry. I thought Joycie had already asked you.”

“Joyce never tells me anything until after she tells you.” A knocking heartbeat rattled against Darcy’s ribs. She cocked her head to the side and placed her hands on her hips.

“That’s because we’re as close as sisters, right?” Smiling, Tanya stood and wrapped an arm around Joyce’s shoulders.

Joyce bounced her gaze back and forth between Tanya and her mother.

Tightness constricted Darcy’s chest. She turned to Victor. “What do you know about a double wedding?”

Tyler entered the room. “Don’t blame him, Mom. Joyce said she missed your play dates, so I suggested she come up with an adult version.”

“Tyler’s right.” Joyce wriggled out of Tanya’s embrace and retrieved her phone from her mother. “So, what do you say about a double wedding on Valentine’s Day in the backyard of your new home?”

Valentine’s Day? New home? Darcy clutched her head, willing the tea lights to stop fluttering around the room like fireflies. She sank onto the sofa and closed her eyes. The lights disappeared, but her head throbbed like a beating drum. How could Victor let her daughter plan a wedding for a venue which didn’t exist?

“Brilliant, Joyce.” As Nathan entered the room, he clapped his hands. “You were always the smartest of us three.”

“I think it’s a great idea.” Victor flashed a smile, nodding.

Darcy rubbed her face with the palms of her hands. “The idea is terrible.” She lifted her head and directed her gaze at Victor. “Just like the photos of the wedding dress and the Prince Charming tuxedo you sent them.”

Victor raised his eyebrows, but he didn’t say a word.

“Listen.” Darcy glanced at every face in the room.

From the kitchen, a timer buzzed.

Joyce darted up the stairs. “The tofu turkey’s done.”

Tanya hustled after her. “I’ll help you set the table.” She glanced at Darcy. “Want to help with the silverware or glasses?”

Standing, Darcy shook her head. “I had something very important to say and everyone except you took off.”

“Oh, Darcy, don’t be so dramatic.” Nathan scoffed. “It’s Thanksgiving. All this wedding talk can wait ʼtil later.”

Darcy gazed at her ex-husband’s arrogant face. “I understand you guys are close, closer than she is with me, but for you both to plan everything and then tell me is not fair.”

“I had nothing to do with the double wedding idea.” Nathan lifted empty palms. “You might blame Joyce. So, don’t play the victimized ex-wife card and blame me.”

Darcy glanced around the room. Everyone else had left, even Victor. She stood alone with her ex-husband, the man who failed to live up to her expectations. Why was she still trying to impress him? “I’m not blaming you. I just wanted to tell everyone the truth.”

“About how I’m a bad ex-husband and father?”

She shifted her weight to one foot. “This conversation isn’t about you.”

“Then what is it about?”

“Me.” Darcy pointed to her chest. “I made a terrible mistake to impress you. I’ll never meet your expectations just like you could never meet mine.”

“So, we’re even.” Nathan folded his arms over his chest.

“Not really.” Darcy thought of her false engagement. “I still have to fix my terrible mistake.”

Joyce entered the room carrying a dish towel. “Dinner’s ready.”

“What mistake?” Nathan asked.

Joyce stood between her parents. “What’s happening?”

Darcy glanced at her daughter. She had the same look in her eyes she had as an eight-year-old when Darcy and Nathan argued in the family room about their impending divorce. The old heartache stabbed her chest. She never wanted anyone feeling heartbreak again, even if she had to keep up the lie. “Nothing.” She nudged Joyce in the direction of the kitchen. “Let’s go eat.”

At the dining room table, Darcy took the seat at the end of the table next to Victor. She avoided his curious gaze and focused on her plate full of rubbery tofu turkey, fluffy mashed potatoes, creamy green bean casserole, and gluten-free bread rolls. “I thought we were serving ourselves.”

“We are.” Tanya pointed her fork across the table. “Victor served you.”

Victor poured a glass of wine and handed it to Darcy. “Cheers.”

She took the glass. After dessert, she could gather everyone into the family room and announce her decision not to marry Victor.

Joyce lifted her glass of sparkling water. “Happy Thanksgiving!”

“Happy Thanksgiving!” everyone echoed. Their glasses clicked.

With relief, Darcy took a long sip of tangy wine. Finally, she found a way out of this mess! In a matter of minutes, she would break up with Victor over a petty argument while everyone enjoyed dessert, and they would escape from the charade, happily separate again.

After dinner, everyone gathered in the family room to eat pumpkin pie.

Tanya and Nathan sat on the love seat.

Tyler and Joyce sat on the sofa with Victor and Darcy.

Setting her plate on the coffee table, Darcy turned toward Victor. For a moment, she glimpsed the contentment in his face, and knowing she planned to upset him created a pang of guilt. Steeling her spine, she took a deep breath for courage. “I didn’t appreciate you buying our wedding outfits without consulting me.”

Victor waved a hand. “You liked the dress.”

“Even you agreed, we can’t afford the price.”

“Your matron of honor said if I love you, I would buy the dress no matter what the cost.”

But you don’t love me, do you? she thought. You’re just pretending. “I don’t care what she said.” She pointed to her chest. “You’re supposed to listen to me.”

Joyce shifted on the sofa. “Why don’t you both go into the other room if you’re arguing?”

“We’re not arguing.” Darcy smoothed her skirt. “We’re having a discussion.”

“The conversation is not one the rest of us want to hear.” Joyce waved toward the guests.

Darcy stood. She needed to accelerate this battle, so she could slaughter the engagement in front of everyone.

“Come, sit down.” Victor tugged on her hand. “If you don’t like the dress, we can take it back.”

She resisted his hold. “What about your Prince Charming tuxedo?”

He winced. “I’m not returning that outfit. Even if you won’t let me wear it to the wedding, I’ll keep it for Halloween.”

“You look great in that outfit.” Tanya fluttered her eyelashes. “I wish Nathan would have worn something that creative.”

A stab of jealousy pierced Darcy’s chest. She pivoted to face Tanya. “Maybe you should have married Victor instead of Nathan.”

Tanya blushed, raising her eyebrows and glancing at Nathan.

“It isn’t too late.” Darcy shook a fist. “You stole one man from me. You can steal another.”

Victor stood and grabbed Darcy’s hand. “No one can steal me away.” He tugged her close for a kiss.

The passion of the kiss crinkled her scalp and buckled her knees. Clutching his shirt, she steeled herself against him to remain standing. What did she want to say?

Releasing her, Victor placed his hand on the small of her back and escorted her up the stairs. “I’ll show Darcy the view from the balcony. We’ll be right back.” After climbing to the second story, he guided her down the hallway to the entertainment room. Opening the French doors, he stepped out onto the balcony.

She shivered in the cold, wet air.

He steered them underneath a canopy where they could still enjoy the view of the San Franciscan lights and stay dry. “I know what you’re doing,” he whispered. “But we agreed we cannot break up tonight.”

With arms crossed over her chest, she swallowed. “My daughter believes all four of us are getting married on Valentine’s Day in the backyard of a home we do not own. How could you trick her? She already suffered the loss of Paradise Ridge Winery. How dare you plunge her into more disappointment when she discovers the truth!”

Glancing away, he exhaled.

“I know how this situation happened.” She broadened her stance. “You were talking to Tyler, one upping each other like you always do.” Narrowing her gaze, she released her arms and clenched her hands into fists. “I bet you mentioned something about the house we were allegedly buying and how having everyone get married at the same time would be fun and how affordable the venue would be, right?”

Bowing his head, he stared at his feet.

“Now, my daughter wants to buy a new wedding dress for a new date at a new location which doesn’t exist.” She threw up her arms. “What am I supposed to do to fix this situation without us breaking up tonight?”

“You don’t need to fix anything.” He raised his face and lifted his hands, palms up. “I bought the house with the money I saved to start my own practice as a down payment.”

She gasped. Why was he always so impulsive? “Without funds, you can’t start your own firm, can you?”

“The house was more important.” Moistness glistened in his eyes. He dropped his arms to his sides and lowered his voice. “I signed the purchase agreement last night, and we had an accepted offer this morning.”

“We?” Stepping back, she pointed between them.

He stepped forward and wove their fingers together. “I thought about how much fun we were having. I didn’t want the fun to end. After the dress fiasco, I realized I love you. I want to have fun with you for the rest of my life.” He knelt on one knee. “I know the first time I asked, we were pretending for an audience, but right here, right now, I’m asking you for real. Will you marry me, Darcy Madison-Costello?”

She caught her breath in her throat. Marry him? For real? “I c-can’t,” she stammered.

“Why not?” A gust of wind pelted them with rain.

She tugged him to his feet.

They ducked inside.

As she closed the doors to the balcony, she swallowed the lump in her throat. “I don’t want to get married. We’re not a couple. We’re a joke.”

He touched her arm. “I didn’t know my feelings for you would become real.”

“Maybe they’re not real.” She glanced up from where his fingers warmed her skin and gazed into his dark eyes. “Maybe they’re pretend feelings.”

He puckered his lips in a kiss.

She turned away her head.

“Don’t you love me?” He leaned closer.

She blushed. “I’m attracted to you.”

“I thought your feelings went beyond the surface.” He wagged his head from side to side. “I’m sorry I misread you.”

With a churning stomach, she wiggled off the ring on the third finger of her left hand. She admired the starlight brilliance for one more moment before returning the ring.

Tears clouded his eyes as he waved his hand away. “Keep it.”

“I can’t.” She held out her hand.

He glanced at the ring and swallowed. “We’re breaking up for real, aren’t we?”

Holding up the ring, she nodded.

“I guess we don’t have to pretend anymore.” He tucked the ring in his breast pocket.

“We still need to figure out how to break the news to everyone.”

“Not tonight.” He sniffed and rubbed his nose with a handkerchief. “I need some time to process this new reality.”

Rain pounded on the roof like angry fists. “We should leave.” She pointed to the rain streaked against the windows. “We don’t want the Sonoma Marin line to close.”

Downstairs, everyone else talked about Joyce’s wedding dress options and discussed the new locale for the wedding.

Nathan stopped chattering and pivoted toward Darcy. Squinting, he examined the expression on her face. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” She just broke up with a man who loved her the way she needed to be loved, but she was too scared to take a chance on love again.

“Let’s go before the rain gets worse.” Victor gestured toward the exit.

A wave of relief flooded through Darcy. She fluttered around the room, hugging everyone goodbye.

“You guys don’t have to go.” Joyce waved toward the hallway. “We have an extra bedroom.”

Darcy didn’t want to spend the night in the same bed with Victor knowing how he felt about her and how she didn’t want to feel about him. “Thanks, but we’ll pass this time.” Darcy offered Tanya a hug. “I’m sorry I snapped at you earlier.”

“What happened to your ring?” Tanya pointed to Darcy’s left hand.

She stared at her finger. “Oh, I, uh…”

“I have it.” Victor removed the ring from his breast pocket. “I need to get it resized. It’s loose since she’s lost weight. Haven’t you, darling?”

Everyone gazed up and down the length of Darcy’s body. Since the October wedding, she had actually gained a few pounds.

“That’s what’s wrong.” Nathan peered closely at Darcy’s face. “You guys just broke up.”

Silence echoed in the room.

Victor clasped his hands together and rocked back on his feet.

The pounding escalated in Darcy’s head. She glanced around at the stunned and confused faces. “We never were together,” she confessed. “We just pretended to get everyone off our backs.”

“I don’t believe it.” Tyler stood. “Vic’s a good man. He wouldn’t lie to me.”

“Unless he lied to himself.” Darcy shrugged.

Victor broadened his stance. “I haven’t lied to anyone.”

“Then what’s happening?” Joyce lifted her arms and stared at the ceiling.

Victor softened his gaze. “I love your mother, but she doesn’t love me.”

Tears filled Joyce’s eyes. Her bottom lip trembled. “She doesn’t love anyone.”

“That’s not true.” Darcy moved toward her daughter. “I love you, sweetheart.”

Joyce nudged aside her mother and sidled up to her father. “You couldn’t love me, and you couldn’t love Dad. I bet you don’t even love yourself.” She buried her face in her father’s shirt and sobbed.

Nathan patted his daughter’s back. “Look what you’ve done.” He shook his finger at Darcy. “You’ve ruined Thanksgiving! And you’ve ruined Joyce’s wedding.”

“I didn’t ruin anything.” A stab of pain ripped through her chest. All her life she wanted only to protect and nurture her daughter, but every time she tried, she was thwarted until she felt she had no choice but to distance herself from the intimacy she craved. She lifted her chin. “I just told the truth.”

Tanya glanced over at Victor. “You broke his heart.” She strode over to him with outstretched arms.

Victor ducked away from her embrace. Grabbing Darcy’s arm, he steered her toward the stairs. “We need to go. The storm’s getting worse.”

As she marched up the stairs and into the kitchen to retrieve the empty grocery bags, Darcy remembered all the meals during Joyce’s childhood when she listened to her parents bicker. No wonder she was so thin. Who could eat when food became synonymous with unhappiness?

“Leave the extra bottle for Tyler.” Victor pointed to the wine. “He can drink the wine when Joyce is not home.”

“He’ll never drink it.” Darcy shook her head. Heaviness weighed against her shoulders. “She would notice and scold him.”

Tyler followed them into the kitchen. “Joyce said I should walk you guys out to your car.”

“Should we leave the extra bottle for you?” Victor pointed toward the wine.

For a long moment, Tyler glanced at the bottle then shrugged. “Sure. We can always use it for cooking.”

At the front door, Darcy turned. “I’m sorry we deceived everyone.”

Tyler shrugged his shoulders into a raincoat and unlocked the front door. “I’m just a little stunned. You guys make such a great couple. You never fight like Joyce and me. You always agree on everything that matters.”

Heat flushed her cheeks. “We’re great actors.”

“You sure fooled me.” With downcast eyes, he shook his head. “I thought you guys were real.”

Victor opened the car’s passenger door, waiting for Darcy.

Raindrops pelted her forehead and dripped from the tip of her nose. “Please, tell Joyce I’m sorry, and I love her.” Darcy hugged Tyler.

Tyler squeezed her tightly before he released her. “I’ll tell her, but I don’t think she’ll listen.”

A gust of rain blew between them.

Shoving his hands into his pockets, Tyler shuddered. “Our relationship is different than yours is with Victor. She never listens to me.”

“Why are you marrying her?” Darcy always recognized the uneven balance in their relationship but believed the dynamics worked until now. She pinched together her eyebrows.

Tyler shrugged. “Because I love her?”

Darcy broadened her stance. “You say you love her like you’re questioning your own feelings.”

The moonlit brilliance illuminated his blue eyes. “Maybe I am.”

Another blast of rain bombarded them.

“C’mon, the weather’s getting worse.” Victor ushered Darcy into the car and shut the door. He patted Tyler’s shoulder once before he slipped into the driver’s seat and started the engine.

As the car backed out of the driveway, Darcy waved to Tyler. He stood on the porch looking as lost as she felt. Leaning back her head against the seat, she closed her eyes. The throbbing between her temples would not stop. She hoped she hadn’t ruined her daughter’s life.