Chapter Fifteen #2
“No!” she said aloud, then sniffed. “I won’t wallow in self-pity. It doesn’t change anything and it only saps my strength.”
She slapped her hands on the coffee table and sent the lottery tickets flying. She gazed at the one for two dollars. Like that would help. She crumpled the one that hadn’t had a prize, then idly scratched the ticket with the hundred-thousand-dollar square exposed. The next square matched.
Darcy gasped. No way, she thought. She needed three matching to win. There was not going to be another hundred-thousand-dollar square. Life wasn’t that easy.
She moved the coin back and forth. Two dollars. Ten dollars. Fifty dollars.
One hundred thousand dollars.
She dropped the coin and stood up so suddenly she felt faint. She couldn’t believe it. A hundred thousand dollars? Had she really won that?
She screamed out loud. She was saved! With that kind of money she could pay for Dirk’s schooling, put money in the bank and not have to worry. She could work to support herself without sweating her bills every month. She could—
She paused in mid happy-dance. Her shoulders slumped and the dark cloud returned.
This wasn’t her money. Mark had given her the ticket, but he wouldn’t have if he’d known what it was worth.
She couldn’t keep it. Not with how things had ended.
She didn’t want money from him. It was too much like being paid for services rendered.
* * *
Darcy left for the sheriff’s office shortly after eight the next morning.
She still hadn’t slept and she felt like roadkill.
It had taken her hours to compose a note to tuck in with the ticket.
She’d wanted to say the right thing without giving away how much Mark had hurt her.
She’d tried for flip but was afraid she’d simply come off as bitchy.
So be it, she told herself as she drove through town.
He could think ill of her if he liked. The bottom line was she was giving him a hundred thousand dollars.
When she reached the sheriff’s office, she asked after Mark but was told he was out of town.
She left the sealed envelope with the desk clerk, then returned home.
Today she would start looking for work, she told herself.
She would also begin the process of finding another steady baked-goods customer.
There were other restaurants in town. Maybe even a coffee shop in a business office.
Or what about selling things in a kiosk at the mall?
She would make a few calls, then prepare some samples. If she—
Darcy turned into her driveway. She jammed on the brakes when she saw someone sitting on her front step. Someone who looked familiar.
Slowly she eased forward, then stopped in front of the duplex and turned off her car. She got out, not sure she could believe her eyes.
“Mark?”
He rose and smiled at her. Some of the pain in her heart eased a little. This was not the smile of a man who had moved on.
“You make me crazy,” he said by way of greeting. He approached her, stopping when he was in front of her. “I tried to explain everything yesterday, but I was in a bad area for my cell phone and when we got cut off, I couldn’t get you back.”
“I know. I tried calling you.”
He cupped her face in his large, strong hands. “I only have a minute. I’m still tracing the gold and jewelry found in the foundation of the Hip Hop and I have to get back to that. But I wanted to make sure we were okay.”
“Are we?”
He leaned close and kissed her. “This isn’t the way I planned this, Darcy, but I can’t wait any longer.
I love you. I’ve loved you for a long time, but I didn’t realize it.
I was too busy worrying about you being too like Sylvia and being determined never to trust again to realize what a prize you are.
But I’ve learned my lesson. You’re the most incredible woman I’ve ever known.
I want us to live our lives together. I want to have kids with you and make a home.
I tried to tell you the other night, but the fire got in the way. I’m sorry.”
Her mind spun as his words washed over her, healing wounds and making her laugh with happiness. She wrapped her arms around him and held him close.
“Tell me again,” she whispered.
“I love you. I want to be with you always. I want to help with Dirk and buy a house together and invite people with no families to join us for every Thanksgiving, because leading with your heart is what you do best.”
She stepped back and stared at him. “So you don’t think I had anything to do with the fire?”
“Never. Darcy, is that what you thought?”
She bit her lip. “I was worried about it,” she admitted. “You disappeared and then that phone call.”
“Never,” he repeated, and kissed her. “You’re the best person I know. I love you.”
“I love you, too.” She kissed him back, then pulled away. “However, you do realize I don’t currently have a job.”
He groaned. “You make me crazy. Why does that matter? We’re in this together. I would like us to get married right away. Then instead of working forty-seven different jobs you can concentrate on your baking business. It’s the one you like the best, isn’t it?”
She nodded, still not sure this was actually happening. Mark loved her and was willing to help with her brother? Could it get any better?
She searched his face. “You believe that I love you, don’t you? I mean I’m not doing this for the money.”
“What money?”
“Haven’t you been to your office? I left the lottery ticket there for you.”
“What are you talking about?”
She couldn’t believe it. “Mark, one of the tickets you gave me is worth a hundred thousand dollars. I didn’t think I was entitled to the money so I returned it to you with a note. Didn’t you get it?”
“I came straight here and I have to get back in about twenty minutes.” He picked her up in his arms and swung her around. “So my wife is a rich woman. Cool.”
She laughed and held on to him. “It’s your money, not mine.”
“Great. So your husband is a rich man. Either works for me.” He set her on the ground. “We’ll use some of it for the wedding and honeymoon, then put the rest away. Now you won’t have to worry about Dirk’s schooling. It’s paid for.”
She kissed him. “You’re amazing,” she whispered fiercely. “Thank you for loving me. For understanding about my brother. Moving to Whitehorn was the best thing I ever did…for Dirk and for me.”
Mark smiled at her. “It was a lucky break for me, too, Darcy. I’ve been waiting for you all my life.”
* * * * *