A Ring and a Promise. Lois Richer

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.