Finding Family by Judith Keim

Author:Judith Keim
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wild Quail Publishing
Published: 2018-09-21T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

DARCY

Darcy slipped on a simple, long-sleeved, aqua-blue dress and studied herself in the mirror. Not bad. The dress was well-tailored and fit her perfectly. Hooking a silver band around her neck, she gave it, too, a silent nod of approval. Since becoming engaged and starting to build a wardrobe for travel, Darcy had learned simple and quality go together nicely. At Christmas, she’d studied Austin’s mother, carefully observing how she dressed, talked, and acted.

“Ready, honey?” Austin stepped into their bedroom and let out a low whistle. “You look great, Darcy!”

Darcy turned around to face him. “Thanks. I want to look nice for your parents.”

“Don’t worry about it. They don’t care,” said Austin. “They love you because I do.”

Darcy smiled, but she wasn’t so sure. Whereas her family sometimes seemed smothering, Austin’s family seemed detached. Of course, his parents spent most of their time traveling for their business. Traveling that included weekends and, sometimes, holidays.

Darcy wrapped a light shawl around her shoulders, and they left the condo. A cold front had come down from the Midwest, bringing a chill to the air Darcy hoped would not hang around for her wedding. “I can’t wait to have dinner at the Don,” said Darcy. “My sisters and I drove up to the front of the hotel when we first moved here. We’d heard about the Don CeSar, but until we saw the big, pink building, we didn’t understand how elegant it was.”

“It’s a beautifully maintained property,” agreed Austin.

They drove from the condo to St. Pete Beach on the coast and pulled up to the front circle of the hotel. A uniformed young man rushed to open the car door for Darcy. She stepped out onto the drive and waited for Austin to come around the car and take her arm. When she walked inside and into the lobby, her glance took in the marble flooring, pillars, and sparkling chandeliers, and a shiver of nerves shook her shoulders. She knew she shouldn’t feel anxious about meeting his parents for dinner, but she was. With her own mother deceased, she yearned for a close relationship with Austin’s mother. Though they’d been pleasant to her, she still needed to be reassured they wouldn’t turn on her like her old boyfriend’s parents had.

After receiving directions, Darcy and Austin walked into the grill-type restaurant. Charles waved to them from a booth in front of a salt-water fish tank and rose to his feet. Beside him, Austin’s mother, Belinda, smiled and waved.

Darcy took a deep breath and smiled, focusing on Charles, who had his arms out to her.

They exchanged quick hugs, and Darcy slid into the booth, so she was sitting opposite Belinda.

“How are you, dear?” Belinda asked. “Just a few days until the wedding.”

“I’m excited and nervous at the same time. It’s such a special day.”

“Oh, yes! I’m so pleased you’ve made my Austin happy. He just beams when he looks at you.”

Darcy felt some of the tension leave her.

“What’ll you have? We’ve already ordered drinks. What can we get for you?” Charles signaled a waiter, who came right over to them.

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