Identity

She opened the door. “Could I speak with you a minute? I have a meeting with Nell coming up, but I wanted to speak to you first if you have time.”

“All right, come in, sit. It gives me a chance to tell you Mick and I are very pleased.”

“Thank you, thank you for that. But more, I want to thank you … I had a very coherent and heartfelt speech. I practiced. But it’s just gone. I can’t tell you what it means to me that you’d trust me with the ring Mick gave you. The one you’ve worn all this time. I promise you I’ll cherish it, and I’ll do everything I can to be a good partner to Miles.”

“He wouldn’t have asked me for the ring if I couldn’t trust you. I wouldn’t have given it so willingly if I didn’t know you’d cherish him.”

“I will. I do. The ring’s magic. That sounds silly, but—”

“It doesn’t.” Lydia’s signature red lips curved in a warm, warm smile. “Not to me. And it makes me very happy knowing you’ll wear it, since you feel that, too. The Nashes and the Jamesons. I find I’m not surprised. Your grandmother and I are going to have a great deal of fun harassing you and Miles over your wedding plans. I asked, and he told me you plan to stay, managing Après.”

“Yes.”

“Then you’ll be expected at the September family meeting, with a report. Nell can help you with the basic procedure.”

“I’ll be there.” She rose. “Thank you, for everything.”

“Come see me once the ring’s sized. I’d like to see it on you.”

“I will.”

“Oh, and Morgan, I liked that you brought out the Fiestaware, and the clever folds of the napkins. Little details make a home. You’ve already started.”





Chapter Twenty-nine



When Morgan walked into Après, Nick greeted her with a bone-crushing hug.

“Congratulations, best wishes, whatever the hell it’s supposed to be. I’m so happy for you!”

“Thanks. I’m so happy for me.”

“Let’s see it. Let’s— Hey, where’s the ring?” Those deep brown eyes reflected bafflement and insult. “WTAF! He didn’t give you a ring?”

“It’s being sized.”

“Oh.” His face ran the gamut from relief to approval to disappointment. “I guess I have to wait till it is to catch the sparkle.”

“I have a picture on my phone.”

“Show! Wait.” He shot a mile-wide grin to a stool sitter who’d cleared his throat. “Sorry. What can I get you?”

“We’ll try two of the special cocktails.”

“Coming right up! My friend—she’s my boss, too—just got engaged. We’re pretty excited.”

“So did we!” The woman on the next stool shot out her left hand and the ring on it. “He surprised me with this at dinner last night.”

“Congratulations. It’s gorgeous. Drinks on me, Nick,” Morgan told him as he made them.

“That’s really nice of you.”

“Solidarity.”

“Her ring’s getting sized,” Nick tossed out. “But she has a picture.”

“Oh, we’d love to see. Wouldn’t we, Trent?”

“Sure.” He looked a lot more interested in the drink, but did his duty and looked at Morgan’s phone. But his fiancée gasped.

“It’s stunning! It looks like an heirloom.”

“His grandmother’s.”

“Holy sh … sparkle.” Nick set the drinks down. “We’ll talk later. Nell reserved a table outside for your meeting.”

“I’d better get to it. Congratulations again. Enjoy your drinks.”

On her way outside, servers waylaid her with more congratulations, more hugs. It felt, Morgan thought, very much like family. She’d barely taken a seat when Nell rushed over.

“Late. I hate to be late, but it happens.”

“It’s, like, two minutes.”

“Late is late. I need caffeine. Can Nick do an iced cappuccino as good as you?”

“Of course he can.”

“Great. Hey, Barry, iced cappuccino. Two?” she asked Morgan.

“Why not?”

“And I missed lunch. How about we split a cheese plate? I need something, since I’m going to sample your potential fall specialty cocktail for approval.”

“I like cheese.”

“Great. Thanks, Barry. Now,” she began immediately, “we’ll get to the business portion, but first I want to hear everything.”

“About what?”

Nell gave Morgan a long, hooded look. “Please. All I got from Miles was yeah, yeah, he gave you the ring, and it’s getting sized. I want details. How did he ask you?”

“He didn’t really. He more told me.”

Nell sat back, face covered with the unsurprised disgust only a sibling can manage. “Of course he did, the romantic fool.”

“But that was after he told me he loved me. He did that part really well.”

“Okay.” Willing to withhold judgment, Nell picked up the sparkling water Barry had already served. “Start at the beginning.”

“Well, the beginning really began when my ladies and I tested out the three finalists for the fall cocktail. Enthusiastically.”

“Oh boy, I’m going to enjoy this.”

And she did, laughing her way through half an iced cappuccino and a portion of a cheese plate.

“All right, he gets some points. And you’re happy. We’re all happy. I hope you know that.”

“I am, and I do.”

“So when and where? Have you decided?”

“In broad terms. I asked for spring and he said fine, as long as I move in with him by the New Year. He wants to end and begin the year with me.”

“Okay.” Cracker in one hand, Nell held up the other. “Major points for that. On Miles’s scale, that’s virtually sloppy romance. Spring. The where?”

“I know we could get married here, and it would be wonderful, but—”

“It’s not business, but it edges that way.”

“A little, but more, I’d like to get married at his house.”

“Your house,” Nell reminded her. “It would be your house, too. And I think that’s perfect, if my opinion counts. A spring garden wedding. What does Miles think?”

“He said, ‘Whatever you want is fine.’”

“You don’t actually believe that? Say you wanted him to wear a lilac morning coat to coordinate with the lilacs you carry.”

“I’m writing that down just to see his face. He doesn’t want to be poked by every detail. I’d say as long as I don’t want that morning coat or horse-drawn carriages—and I don’t—all good.”

“It’s good you know who you’re marrying. You should also know Mom’s going to want to get her hand in. So am I.”

“I’d be crazy to toss away experts, especially when I know I’m going to want and need help.”

“Say that again.” Nell tapped her phone. “So I can record it for the future.”

“I want and need help planning the wedding,” Morgan obliged. “Signed, Morgan Nash.”

“Okay, that’s on the record.”

“Knowing Miles, he’ll want Jake and Liam to stand up with him. In fact, that’s the one clear answer on all this he gave me. Nell, would you stand up for me?”

Reaching out, Nell gripped Morgan’s hand. “God, I was hoping you’d ask. I’d love to.”

“I’m so glad. How do you feel about puce? Kidding,” she said when Nell’s mouth fell open. “I expect to see a replica of that expression if I test Miles with lilac morning coats. I know I have to pick colors, but I swear whatever they are, flattering is key. Do you think it’s weird I’d like to ask Jen to be an attendant, to balance it out?”