Page 36 of Under Pressure

“To see Bluebell,” he said. He’d long ago claimed her as his granddaughter and wasn’t about to let this moment slip by.

“I’m coming with you,” Nancy said.

* * *

Don marched into Leather and Lace, his gaze darting around the store, his brain tryingnotto register the leather and lace of it. Nancy, the good friend that she was, white-knuckled the ride over in his golf cart. He tried to tone down his tank-like driving for the sake of her heart, but he couldn’t wait one more minute to see Bluebell.

He’d lost so much over the last few years with Amelia’s memories disappearing like fog over the ocean. He wanted one thing back and Bluebell had been a light in both their lives.

He found her organizing shoes on a shelf. “Bluebell?” he said softly, barely believing she stood in front of him.

She spun, her gaze falling on him in a second. A smile split her face lighting up places inside of him that had been dark for weeks. “Don?”

She looked different than the last time he’d seen her. Her long, dark blond hair was short and light blond now, and she was tanner than before but it was her.

He smiled and opened his arms for a hug. She ran to him, throwing her arms around his middle and squeezed tight at the same time his heart squeezed in his chest.

Sean and Bluebell had only dated nine months, but in that time, she’d become as precious to him as his owngranddaughters. When the two broke up, he and Amelia felt like they’d lost a granddaughter. And now, here she was, so soon after he lost his Amelia.

This had to be Amelia’s doing. An angel’s work.

A wave of emotions fell over him, and his throat tightened up. He swallowed hard to clear the lump forming there.

“Don!” Bluebell pulled back. “It’s so good to see you. You look amazing! Still working out every day I see.” She laughed; the sound lighter than the foam on a wave.

He grabbed her shoulders needing to know she was real and solid. “You live here?” He couldn’t believe it was a coincidence.

She nodded. “Six months now.”

He shook his head. Could hardly believe the luck.

Blinking rapidly, she lifted her hand and showed him the head-sized ring Polly had muttered about. “And I’m engaged.” Her eyes were tight as she said it, her smile forced.

“Congratulations,” Don said on autopilot.

Bluebell glanced toward the door, and Don peeked over his shoulder. Nancy stood there, going through a rack of clothes, pretending not to glance their way. “I guess your friends told you I was here?”

“So glad they did.” He closed his eyes and hugged her again. Gaining Bluebell hit a tender spot.

“Me too.” She swallowed hard. “I heard about Amelia.”

His heart thudded hard, that squeezing sensation returning full force. “Three weeks ago.”

“I’m so sorry, Don.” She pulled back to look up at him, her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “I know how much she meant . . . to your whole family.”

Don shook off the impending doom and noted that she hadn’t used Sean’s name. That meant she felt something for him. Good or bad, at least she wasn’t indifferent. “She wouldn’t want us to be unhappy.”

Bluebell swiped at a tear. “She wouldn’t, would she?” She gave a watery chuckle. “Amelia loved seeing her family happy.”

“Are you?” Don ducked down to catch her eye. “Happy?”

“Well, yeah.” She lifted her ring hand again. “Engaged, remember?”

He scrutinized her, and wasn’t sure he liked what he saw. No real joy in her pronouncement. No light in her eyes. Just a statement of fact that appeared to make her uncomfortable.

She bit her bottom lip and glanced down at the floor. “How’s Sean handling . . . things?”

Okay, so she could say his name. That was . . . a start. “He’s been better,” he said, letting the words settle and watching her. Would she ask for more information about Sean?

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