“Blake Kensington wired George, and we decided on the spur of the moment. Isn’t it glorious? Oh, Jackie, I saw such sights. Cities and farms and cattle and little towns and streetlights at night and—oh, I can’t tell you everything.”
Stunned, Jack realized his sister reveled in what he’d taken for granted. She glowed, alive with excitement.
“But that’s not the best of all,” she said mysteriously, a conspiratorial smile on her face.
Carrman stepped forward. The man was actually shaking. “M-Mr. Hunter, I’d like to ask your permission to marry Cecelia.”
Jack’s jaw dropped.
“It’s fine with Dad,” Sissy said.
Jack tensed. “Our father has no right to grant permission.” He glanced at the crowd, looking for the bum.
“He’s not here. I saw him in Buffalo when he came to visit.”
Jack’s joy twisted into pain. “I don’t know why you still see him, after all he’s done.”
“He took care of me, Jackie,” she said quietly. “Long ago, he set up a trust for my care and your schooling. Yes, he stumbled. We all do at one time or another, but God will forgive us if we can forgive others. Dad’s hurting, Jack. He’s confused and lost and doesn’t know where to turn. Mom was his rock, and without her he fell. But I still believe that somehow, someday, he’ll find his way. God hasn’t given up on him, and I won’t either.”
Deep down, Jack knew what she said was true. After all, God hadn’t given up on him after years of denial. Jack had lost his way, and the combination of Darcy’s faith and a little forest miracle brought him around.
“Do we have your blessing?” Sissy squeezed Carrman’s hand and smiled at the man with such joy that Jack couldn’t break her heart.
“I will love and care for your sister all her life,” Carrman said. “She will want for nothing. I’ll treat her like the angel she is.”
He gazed at Sissy with a love that Jack recognized. It was the way he felt about Darcy.
Sissy laughed. “Oh, do stop being so formal, George. We love each other, and that’s all that matters.”
That was all that mattered. For Sissy and for Jack.
“Of course,” Jack said after clearing the clot from his throat. He shook George’s hand. “I’ll hold you to that promise.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Call me Jack.” He gazed at his sister. She’d never looked happier or lovelier. “There’s someone I want you to meet.”
Sissy’s smile widened. “Darcy. You’re going to marry her, aren’t you?”
Jack blinked. “You know?”
“Oh, Jackie, it’s been written all over you for months.”
Jack didn’t realize he’d been so transparent. “I hope you don’t want Grandmother’s ring.”
“You gave it to her?” she squealed in delight. “Oh, Jack, when? How? Tell me everything. Maybe we can have a double ceremony.”
“A double ceremony?” said Darcy, joining them.
“A double ceremony?” echoed her father.
Jack’s gut wound tighter than a locked propeller. Why was doing the right thing so difficult? “Sir. Mr. Shea. We, that is, I would like to ask your blessing to marry your daughter Darcy. She’s accepted.”
Mr. Shea’s eyebrows rose. “Is that so?”
“Yes, Papa, I love him.”
Her father looked at her a long moment. “He hasn’t even come to supper.”
Jack swallowed. He couldn’t let Darcy take the brunt of this. “I’d be pleased to join you. Any time.” He was bungling this. What on earth had happened to the cool, charming Jack Hunter? He was acting like a schoolboy.
Darcy threaded her fingers through his, giving him strength.
Mr. Shea stared at him. “And how do you plan to support her?”
“Jack is going to run the Buffalo flight school,” Darcy said before Jack could open his mouth, “and I’ll help.”
“You will?” Jack didn’t remember agreeing to that.
“I see.” Mr. Shea tapped a finger to his lips. “I don’t suppose I have much choice in the matter. Darcy tends to do exactly as she pleases. I hope you know what you’re getting into, young man.”
Darcy hopped up and down. “Then we have your blessing? Thank you, Papa.” She threw her arms around her father.
Mr. Shea extricated himself with a few pats to her back and “there now”s. He then stuck out his hand. “Welcome to the family, son.” Son. No one had called him son in almost twenty years. He could have burst from happiness. Not only did the Sheas welcome him, but Darcy soon fell into conversation with Sissy. He supposed it was odd that the two women in his life had been battered up a bit, but both were strong. Both had survived and were the better for it.
After George took Sissy back to the Kensingtons and Jack accepted the Sheas’ dinner invitation, Jack asked Darcy what she thought of his sister marrying George Carrman.
“He’s a good, honorable man, and perfectly suited to her,” Darcy said. “She’s wonderful, Jack.”
“Yes, she is,” Jack said. “Just like you.”
Darcy cocked her head. “You’re silly with love. In a year you’ll feel differently.”
“Never,” he professed. “But we do have something to discuss.”
Her grip tightened on his arm. “What is it?”