With This Ring (20 page)

"Come. I don't believe you've ever met Armand," Isabel said, referring to her most current husband.

Armand Cardosa was at least fifteen years younger than his wife, who was pushing sixty. He might even be twenty years younger, Amy thought as she studied him. Slickly handsome with brilliant dark eyes, he reminded Amy of the kind of dark, smoldering actors found in silent movies.

"So young, so innocent," he murmured, "so beautiful." He raised Amy's hand to his lips and kissed it, letting his lips linger a tad too long.

Lark bit back a grin as she saw how her mother's eyes hardened and how she slipped her arm possessively through her husband's arm.

"Let's let the youngsters amuse themselves with people their own age," she purred.

Armand took the not-so-subtle rebuke well, letting his wife lead him off and Amy and Lark were left to their own devices.

"C'mon, let's hit the buffet table," Lark said. "That's one thing about Mommy dearest's parties—you sure can't fault the food."

"Lead the way," Amy said.

Lark had certainly been right about the food, Amy thought as she selected stuffed mushrooms, fried calimari, and grilled shrimp.

"How much longer do you think Armand will last?" Lark said, spearing several slices of rare roast beef and adding it to the other items on her plate. "I mean, he's now making eyes at other women in front of my mother. Can you imagine what he does when she's not around?"

Amy shrugged. "Some men are just like that. You know, they flirt, but they don't mean anything by it."

Lark snorted. "Yeah, sure."

A few minutes later, after they'd found a place to sit and eat, Lark said, "What is wrong with women like my mother? Why does she always have to have a man? Does she have so little sense of self-worth that she feels she has no value unless she's got a lap dog?"

"Not everyone is as sure of themselves as you are, Lark."

"
Me?
I'm as full of self-doubts as anyone. It's just that I . . . " She broke off. "Aw, hell, forget it. My mother is my mother, and she's never going to change. I don't know why I let her get to me."

And even though they started talking about something else, Amy continued to think about Lark's question. Later, as they were driving to Steven Malone's house, Amy said, "Lark?"

"Hmm?" Lark flipped on her right turn signal in preparation for exiting the Katy Freeway.

"You know, that thing you said about your mother needing a man to feel complete?"

"Yeah?"

"Well, in some ways, I understand. I . . . without Sam, I feel . . . disconnected . . . as if part of me is gone. I-I know I'm not explaining it very well."

"The two situations are not the same, Amy."

Amy nodded.

"I mean, my mother goes from man to man. She cannot be alone. You were alone for a long time. You weren't willing to settle for just
any
man, like my mother is."

"You're terribly hard on her, Lark."

"Yeah, maybe."

By now they'd reached Briar Forest Drive and the entrance to Stonehenge, an upscale west side complex of patio homes and townhomes. It only took a few minutes to find Steven's house. Lark had to park the Amigo a few doors down, and the two women walked slowly back to the festively decorated house.

The door was opened by a fresh-faced girl of about nineteen. "Hi," she said. "I'm Katie."

Amy smiled. She should have known. Katie had the Malone eyes. "Hi. I'm Amy Carpenter. And this is Lark DeWitt."

Katie's smile faded, and her big eyes got bigger. "Amy! Oh, I'm so glad to finally meet you. I've heard so much about you. I've been wanting to tell you . . . I'm so sorry about Sam. We all loved him so much."

Her sweetness touched Amy. She could see why Sam had liked her so much. "Thank you."

Belatedly, Katy turned to Lark. "And Lark . . . hi. I'm glad y'all could make it. I'll go get Justin."

But Justin had already seen them and was headed in their direction. "Hey," he said. "You made it."

His smile included them both, but Lark couldn't help but notice how his eyes lingered on Amy.

"C'mon," he said, "I'll introduce you to everybody."

For the next twenty minutes, they met dozens of Malones and their friends. Lark liked all of Justin's siblings, but his mother and Katie were her favorites, she decided some time later. All in all, they were one terrific family, though. She wondered what it would have been like to grow up the way they had—surrounded by brothers and sisters, all of whom seemed to really like one another—and with a mother you could count on to be there when you needed her. Lark had always had to count on herself.

She thought about her earlier conversation with Amy. How Amy, in saying that Lark didn't have self-doubts, was really suggesting that Lark was strong enough that she didn't need to lean on other people. Maybe that was true. Okay, it
was
true, but the reason Lark was strong was that she'd had to be. And maybe, once in awhile, she'd
like
to lean on someone else.

She sipped at a glass of Chardonnay and watched as Justin, with a protective hand at Amy's waist, introduced her to a late-comer.

Something painful squeezed at Lark's heart. Someone would always want to take care of Amy.

"Are you having a good time?"

Lark nearly spilled her drink.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Claire Malone said, "I startled you."

Lark gave a forced chuckle. "No, it's my fault. I was daydreaming."

Claire nodded, her gaze moving to Justin and Amy, then back to Lark. "Amy seems to be doing better."

"Yes, I think she is." Lark still felt a bit rattled. Claire was altogether too astute.

"Justin tells me she's gone back to work this year."

"Yes."

"That's good. There's nothing like work to keep the mind occupied. I know after Sean died, my job kept me sane. Of course, I had all the kids, too." Then she laughed. "But half the time they drove me
insane.
"

Lark chuckled. "I can imagine. That must have been hard. Raising all those kids alone."

"It was, but when I look back now, I realize I was awfully lucky. I had Sean for fourteen years, and he gave me five wonderful children." Her gaze returned to Amy. "She only had Sam a few months, and she lost her child."

"Yes." Guilt nudged at Lark, because for a moment there, watching Justin and Amy, she'd felt the long, green arm of envy.

They fell silent. The party noises surrounded them: people talking and laughing, Eric Clapton and his band coming from the C.D. player, dishes clinking from the kitchen.

"Justin's in love with her," Claire said.

Lark was proud of herself. She didn't flinch. She didn't jerk. And she didn't allow any inner emotion to color her voice. "Yes, I can see that."

"I wonder if she can."

Lark shrugged. "I don't know. She's never said anything." And Lark had certainly never encouraged the subject. Today, she had finally realized why. "I think, though, for the past year, she's been so wrapped up in her own emotions, it's been hard for her to see anyone else's."

"I'm afraid he'll get hurt."

"It's possible."

Claire sighed. "Well, there's nothing much I can do about it if he does. I learned a long time ago that as much as I love my children, I can't protect them from hard knocks."

Lark nodded.

"And no one can help who they fall in love with, either."

How true, Lark thought. How sadly true. Suddenly, she wished she hadn't come tonight. It was too hard to be there. Too hard to see Justin's wonderful family and talk to his terrific mother and see, so plainly, just exactly what it was she might have had if circumstances had been different.

She wondered if there was any way she could leave. She thought about it for a few minutes, then decided, why not? She would tell Amy she had cramps. It wouldn't be much of a lie, because Lark figured she'd have them tomorrow. Yes, that's what she'd do. If Amy wanted to stay at the party, Justin would probably jump at the chance to see her home.

Once Claire had drifted away, Lark moved in Amy's direction.

* * *

Justin said he would be happy to take Amy home.

"But Lark, it's not even midnight yet," Amy said.

"I know." Lark looked at Justin. "Do you mind, Justin? This is girl talk."

He grinned, then leaned over to kiss Lark's cheek. "I'm going. Happy New Year, Lark."

"Happy New Year, Justin."

Amy watched, thinking how at one time she'd fantasized about maybe getting Lark and Justin together. But that was another lifetime ago.
Before Justin told you he was in love with you.
The thought disturbed Amy. Normally she managed to keep that knowledge at a distance. She wondered if Justin still felt that way. Since that day in May, he had been true to his word and not brought up the subject again. Tonight, for some reason, this disturbed her, too.

After Justin walked off, Lark said, "Listen, Amy, I'm sorry. I know it's not midnight yet, but you know how I am when I start getting cramps. Nothing is going to help except Motrin and my bed."

Amy studied Lark's face and wondered why she didn't believe her. Yet why would Lark lie? If she was having an awful time, she'd say so. "Well, if you're going, I'll go, too."

"No, you stay. You're having fun. I can tell."

Amy
was
having fun. She liked Justin's family. And it felt good to be dressed up and out among people who weren't constantly watching what they said. Sure, Justin's brother and his sisters all knew about Sam, but the rest of the people here didn't. The conversation wheeled freely, and for once, Amy didn't feel like a road block. "I hate for you to have to drive home alone, though."

"For God's sake, I'm twenty-eight years old. I travel all over the country alone. Besides, I've got my car phone and Mr. Rescue. I'll be just fine."

"Well, okay. But call me tomorrow. Maybe we can go see a movie. If you're feeling better, that is."

"It's a date."

They hugged and wished each other a Happy New Year, and then Lark was gone.

Amy sipped at her glass of champagne and was just about to walk over and talk to Justin's mother when his sister Jessie approached her.

"You having a good time?" Jessie said.

"Yes, surprisingly so," Amy said. Then she laughed. "I didn't mean that the way it sounded. I meant I've been out of circulation for so long—"

"You don't have to explain. I understand."

For a few moments, they stood silently. Then Jessie said, "I've been curious about you for a long time."

Not quite sure what to answer, Amy said nothing.

"I knew if Sam had fallen in love with you, you had to be someone special," Jessie continued.

"What a nice thing to say."

Jessie's smile was bittersweet. "Well, Sam was a pretty special guy."

Suddenly, without knowing how, Amy knew that Jessie had been in love with Sam, too. The realization made her feel a kinship with Justin's sister. "Yes, he was."

"I wanted to call you several times and . . . tell you how sorry I was, but I felt kind of funny about it since I didn't know you."

"Well, we know each other now," Amy said gently.

Their eyes met, and slowly, Jessie smiled. "We do, don't we?"

Smiling back, Amy said, "I hope we can be friends."

"I'd like that."

Just then, Justin walked up, and then several others did, too, and Amy had no more chance to talk to Jessie alone, but she kept thinking about her as the evening progressed. What must it have been like for Jessie, loving Sam, and having to see him fall in love and get engaged to someone else? And then, to lose him without ever having had him. At least Amy'd had Sam's love and now had so many wonderful memories. And maybe, one of these days, she'd be able to remember those happy times without feeling sad.

"Is something the matter?" Justin said. "You seem preoccupied, all of a sudden."

"Oh, no," Amy said, shaking off her thoughts. "I'm fine. I guess I was just daydreaming."

"Well, it's almost midnight. And I see Lisa and Susan passing out hats and noisemakers. Let's go get ours."

Soon the house was filled with noise and laughter, and someone turned on the T.V. set so they could watch the countdown to midnight. And then it was more noise and everyone kissing everyone else and yelling "Happy New Year."

Amy good-naturedly joined in the merry-making, kissing people indiscriminantly. Mostly the kisses were friendly pecks. And then Justin said, "My turn," and put his arms around her. "Happy New Year, Amy," he said.

Amy smiled up into his eyes. "Happy New Year, Justin."

And then he kissed her. This kiss was more than friendly. This kiss said everything that had been unsaid between them for all these long months. This kiss told Amy that he did indeed still love her and that he wasn't going to change his mind.

She was a bit breathless when they finally broke apart, and her pulse was beating harder. She was very glad for the commotion around them and the fact that Justin's brother Steven claimed her next, because she wasn't certain where to look or what to say. She also wasn't sure exactly what it was she was feeling.

After all the kissing, more champagne was poured and everyone toasted everyone else, and someone put more music on the C.D. player and the awkward moments were past.

Shortly after midnight, Katie made the rounds and said her good-byes. She and a bunch of her friends were leaving to go to another party.

"It was
great
to meet you, Amy," she said.

"You, too, Katie."

"Bring her to dinner some Sunday," Katie said to Justin.

He smiled, meeting Amy's gaze. "I will." Then he turned back to his sister. "Now you be careful. There'll be a lot of crazies out there tonight."

Katie's expression was indulgent. "I will, I will, don't worry."

It wasn't long after Katie left that Justin said, "Anytime you're ready to leave, just say so."

"Actually, I'm ready now," Amy said.

So they said their good-byes, and shortly after one o'clock, they reached Amy's.

"Your folks home?" Justin said, looking over at the house, which had lights in several windows.