A Ring and a Promise

“Because you’ll be working here, I guess I’ll see you around,” she said as she flung on her coat. “Will you lock up?”

“I’m leaving now, too. I must get back to Grandmother’s. Ariane and I are staying there, for now.”

“Oh.” Abby trailed behind him to the back door and set the security alarm. But outside, standing on the step, she hesitated.

Donovan didn’t know why, so he waited.

“Does it seem weird to be back?” she whispered.

“It seems right,” he answered just as quietly. “God used George’s death to remind me of how much I need my family and their love and support in my life. Especially now that I’m to care for Ari.” He paused to study her. “I hope you can understand that, Abby.”

“Understand that family matters? Of course I understand that. Or are you trying to tell me that you’re not interested in picking up where we left off five years ago?” Her smile was hard and forced. “Believe me, Donovan, neither am I.”

He was making matters worse. Donovan wished he’d never left his office.

“My family is very important to me,” he said.

Abby jumped on that.

“So is mine. I might not have the family support that you have, Donovan, but the past five years have taught me one thing.” Sparks flew from Abby’s hazel eyes.

Donovan opened his mouth, but didn’t get a chance to speak.

“If I’m going to get to New York, I’m going to have to do it on my own. Alone.”

With that she walked away into the night.

Chapter Two

Abby’s words helped Donovan decide his course of action.

He would avoid her as much as possible while he figured out how to do his job and be a father to Ariane. Maybe later, somewhere along the way, he’d figure out a way to breach the chasm between them without getting caught up in the past.

It was a fine decision.

Unfortunately, his grandmother blew it out of the water on Thursday evening when she called him into the living room after he’d tucked in Ariane.

“Sit down, dear. I made some coffee.”

“You’re not supposed to be drinking coffee.” He shook his head at her. “And don’t say it’s for me. I don’t drink coffee this late at night.”

“I’m allowed this much.” Winifred liberally laced her half cup with cream. “Have you settled in? Ariane’s all right?”

“We’re fine, Grandmother. Thank you for hosting us.” She had something on her mind. He could see it in the sparks lighting her eyes. “I hope we’re not putting you out too much.”

“I’ll let you know when you do.” She tapped the spoon on her saucer twice before she set it down and leaned forward. “You and Abby talked? There aren’t going to be any problems between you?”

Not if he stayed away from her.

“Well, after five years, it was a little difficult to squeeze everything into a couple of fifteen-minute discussions,” he temporized. “But I’ve apologized and Abby said she didn’t want to hark back to the past. We’re both professionals. I think we can do our jobs at Weddings by Woodwards without conflict.”

“I see.” Winifred leaned back and sipped her coffee, her eagle eyes trained on him. “You never did clarify why you left town so quickly after proposing to the girl.”

And he wasn’t going to explain now.

“First you announced your engagement and then, bang, you were on the next flight to Europe, a job for which you had already turned me down.” Clearly Winifred wanted an explanation.

“I—uh, realized I’d made a mistake. So I corrected it.”

“The way you did it seemed kind of hard on Abby.”

“What did she say?” Donovan asked curiously.

“Abby?” Winifred shook her head. “Nothing to me. I overheard an argument between her and her mother that grad night. The next day, I learned she’d left for a short holiday. When she came back, she moved into her own place, put a smile on her lips and focused on whatever work I assigned her.”

“For the summer, you mean.” Just as he’d done, Donovan thought.

“From then until now. Abby’s never left Woodwards.”

Donovan sat up, confused.

“But what about when she went to college?”

“Abby didn’t go to college.” Winifred frowned. “She’s taken a number of courses over the past few years, of course. She’s fully qualified as a jewelry designer. But she never formally attended college. She’s always focused on her work.”

“Because her career is so important to her.” For five years Donovan had prayed hard for the bitterness to leave. Guess that needed more work.

“I’m not sure that was true back then. She seemed to need the work to give herself focus five years ago.” Winifred smiled. “But she’s certainly career-oriented now. Not that I’m complaining. Abby is the best thing to happen to our jewelry department.”

Something didn’t make sense. Abby had won a full college scholarship. Why hadn’t she gone?

Winifred set down her cup.

“Actually, Abby is why I wanted to speak to you, Donovan.”

“Oh?” Trepidation climbed up his neck.

“I know that girl is going places. She has the drive and she has the capability. Before she does, I want to use her skills, and yours, to make some changes in our jewelry department. I want the two of you to come up with some kind of campaign or revamping of ideas—something that will give Woodwards Jewelry a whole new look. In short, I want you two to work together.”

Donovan went cold.

“Grandmother, you’ve already asked me to put together a national campaign. I’m not sure I can manage that and—”

“Aren’t you the marketing guru who said he had a thousand ideas?” Winifred’s perceptive gaze narrowed. “I want the jewelry department modernized, Donovan. If two projects are too much for you, we’ll put the national one on hold.”

She was shrewd. Donovan knew there was no way to avoid this assignment without admitting to his grandmother that he’d never resolved exactly how he felt toward Abby.

“Unless there’s some reason why you can’t work with her.” Those all-seeing eyes dared him to argue.