40

“The lights are amazing. I had no idea how talented Harper was,” Darcy said.

Finn nodded. “I had seen some of her work, but mostly party decorations and a few houses, nothing requiring a sense of both beauty and engineering.”

After the lighting ceremony, Darcy and Finn wandered with the crowd toward the community center. Only a select few booths were open for the preview. Thankfully the funnel cake stand was counted in their number. She raised a silent prayer of praise as she pulled another piece of hot, sugary dough and popped it into her mouth. Nothing softened the chaos of life like fried sweetness. “When do you need to relieve your uncle?”

He glanced at his watch. “Now. Uncle Tom wants to visit Mellie Nelson at the medical center tonight.”

“I’m sorry I kept you. Would you like some help?” Was she really volunteering to spend time alone with Finn? Could her lips resist attaching to his? Maybe within the safety of a church festival booth she could build her resistance.

Public place.

Parishioners spilling from every nook and corner.

Her lips should be able to keep to themselves for a couple hours.

Maybe she could train herself how to be less attracted to him? All she needed was a little discipline and order. Practice was the basis of discipline. Logic reasoned that practicing being around Finn and not kissing him would encourage greater discipline and resistance.

Finn’s lips stretched wide. “That’d be great.”

“Umm, let me call Ben to make sure he can relieve Isabel.” Darcy pulled her phone from her pocket and dialed Ben.

“Hey.” Ben said.

“What’s wrong?” The twins may not have really talked in five years, but Darcy would know the sound of her brother’s heartache when she was dead and buried.

“Nothing, Darc. Not a thing.”

“Don’t lie to me, Bennett.”

“Just something with…never mind. What do you need? Wait, is something wrong with Lulu?” Bennett’s voice flipped from misery to panic in a breath.

“Not exactly. I wanted to ask you a favor. Finn’s uncle needs to visit a parishioner tonight, leaving Finn all alone in the church booth and I was wondering…”

“If you could stay with Finn and I could relieve Isabel?”

“I know I made a big stink about it and I’m the one who guaranteed we could take care of Aunt Lulu, but…”

“Don’t worry. I’m glad you’re trying something a little spontaneous.”

“Well, it’s not as though volunteering in a church booth is skydiving.”

“For you Darcy, it is.”

“Do you think I should just come home? What if Lulu needs something?”

“Then I’ll take care of it. Don’t question your impulse. For once in your life, live in the moment. Be present without planning.”

Darcy chewed her bottom lip and glanced over her shoulder toward Finn who was chatting with his cousin Tessa. “It all makes me a little nervous, Ben. I feel…I’m not sure what I feel.”

“But you’re feeling, which is good. Don’t worry about what you can’t control. Be present. Enjoy being. For one night, just enjoy being Darcy Langston. Not Dr. Langston or all the other labels you’ve heaped on yourself, be you. Be Darcy.”

“I’m not sure I can.”

“Sure, you can. You’re my other half. I know exactly what you can do. And tonight, you’ll just be you.”

“Thanks Ben. I have missed you. I’m so sorry…” Tears began to blur Darcy’s vision.

“I love you, too.”

“I love you, baby brother.” She swiped at her cheeks. “And you better not go to sleep before I get home. I want to hear what your nothing is all about. I have a twinning suspicion it begins with a Harper and ends with a Jessup.”

“Enjoy being a PW for the night.”

The phone clicked dead in Darcy’s ear. Staring at the blank screen, she whispered, “PW?”

Someone tapped her shoulder and she turned to see a wide smiling Finn. “Who was talking about a pastor’s wife?”

“Huh?”

“PW. Generally, in my circles, it means pastor’s wife.”

Darcy glanced skyward and begged God to swallow her whole. Or her brother. Stupid Ben.