Bouquet of Lies Part 46

"From the back pocket of your jeans where you always put your to-dos."

Lacey held it aloft with fanfare and read. "Seven a.m. breakfast." She narrowed her eyes.

"What?"

"This is more detailed than usual, but still, you didn't say what you ate."

Dan sighed and raised his hands in a what-can-I-say gesture.

"Clean up kitchen. Shower. Get dressed. Get to Lacey's by ten." She looked at Dan. "You were late." She pursed her lips. "And why aren't you squirming as I read this?"

"Everyone knows I jot down schedules. As for being late, I had an errand to run before I got there."

"Errand?" She pretended to study the list. "There's no errand written here."

"I know." And he winked.

"And what time is it? Are we on schedule?"

Jake checked his watch. "It's twelve-thirty-ish."

"No ishes."

"Twelve-thirty-three."

"Ha! You're off by three minutes." She feigned utter horror before she smiled. "Okay. That's enough. Everybody eat."

Lacey stuffed the list in a pocket, chose a picnic table, and deposited her backpack. Dan sat. Darla and Jake took the bench across from him. Lacey broke out the sandwiches Crystal had made. Then she handed out small bags of potato chips and juice boxes.

"I have news," she said. "Drumroll, please."

Darla tapped the table.

Lacey dunked a straw through the hole in her juice container and lifted it in a toast. "I want you all to know, I have completed my second semester of business school and have pa.s.sed with flying colors. Henderson is very proud of me."

She took a sip and everyone cheered.

"We had no doubt," Jake said.

"No doubt at all." Dan raised his juice box.

"But I'm disappointed in you," Darla said.

Lacey left the straw in her mouth and quit drinking. "What are you talking about?"

"You didn't finish reading Dan's list of things to do. I want to know what comes next."

"We can't come up with that on our own?"

"I like watching him squirm."

Lacey nodded. "The new Darla. Okay." She put down the drink and took out the list, then turned it over to read the other side. "Arrive at Switzer Falls. Eat lunch. Hear Lacey announce her business school success." She looked at Dan. "Smarty." She looked back at the paper. "Ask Lacey to marry me."

She stopped reading and stared. Jake grinned and Darla giggled.

Lacey looked at Dan. "And what does Lacey say?"

"She says yes," Dan said.

"Pretty sure of yourself there, Ticket Master."

"Haven't given you a ticket in more than a year."

"Stick-in-the-mud."

"Not so much, anymore."

"You're right. Not so much. And you do know how to make bombs burst in the air." She smiled slyly.

"A point in my favor."

"A big point."

"Well," said Darla. Her eyes widened and she gave her sister a stern look.

"Well, what?" Lacey took a drink of juice.

"Well, I don't want to get married alone when I get married for real this time." Darla held out her hand. Instead of a promise ring there sparkled a big fat princess-cut diamond.

Lacey's mouth opened. "When?"

"When Dan told me he was asking you," Jake said. "I couldn't pa.s.s up a really great brother-in-law."

Darla grinned as she punched his shoulder and he put an arm around her and held her close.

"Well, in that case." Lacey turned and looked in Dan's amused eyes. "I love you," she said.

"I know." Dan put down his sandwich, wiped his hands against each other, and then pulled her to him. "All of me. So what do you say?"

"I say, yes."

"She says yes." Dan smiled at his future brother and sister-in-law. He pulled a small box from deep in a pocket and opened it. Inside sparkled a two-carat, a.s.scher-cut diamond ring. "Why I was late." Lacey extended her fingers and he slipped the engagement ring on.

Speechless, Lacey placed her arms around Dan's neck. She kissed him tenderly. And even though they weren't alone and they weren't making love at the moment, she felt excitement and pa.s.sion. She was committing herself to a man she'd never have dreamed was her type. She looked forward to a future that left behind all the lies she'd ever been told and all the uncertainty of feeling unloved. She'd keep Bouquet as her middle name, appropriate if she ever became CEO of the company, and when the time came, she'd run Bouquet Industries with Mrs. Dan O'Donnell ethics. The lives she and Dan and Darla and Jake were going to lead would change the Bouquet legacy forever.

She glanced at her sister who was smiling at her and she smiled back. Life couldn't get any better than this. And the years ahead? Well, they would be as bright as the sun shining over their heads.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR.

Roberta Smith was born in Los Angeles and raised in Downey, California. She lives with her husband in Apple Valley, California. Smith is a member of the High Desert Branch of the California Writers Club where she has worn many hats, winning the Jack London Award in 2013 for her service. Aside from her pa.s.sion for writing, she enjoys history, ghost stories and mysteries. She is the author of four novels that make up the Mickey McCoy Supernatural Mystery Series and is also the author of an anthology comprised of five Hitchc.o.c.kian-type stories. In 2014 she published a non-fiction book about her great-great grandfather's life and service in the American Civil War. You can visit her at www.bertabooks.com.

Other books by Roberta L. Smith.

Novels.

The Secret of Lucianne Dove.

Chapel Playhouse The Accordo.

The Dreamer of Downing Street.

Short Story Collection Distorted Five imaginative tales on the dark side.

Non-Fiction.

A Year in the Life of a Civil War Soldier:.

The 1864 Diary of Frank Steinbaugh.