George nodded again, slowly. “I told her all I knew when she came to get me out of the hospital. She was born early because there was some kind of accident. She was six weeks early. Had a hard go of it there for a spell.” He pursed his lips. “They told us the mom died.” He shrugged. “I don’t know anything about the daddy.”

“I think that put her at ease.”

“Good.” George sat up straight in his chair and set his feet on the ground. “So, you want to ask her to marry you?”

“Yes.” Ed reached into his pocket and pulled out the box that had been making him uncomfortable for more than one reason. “I’ve had this made for her.”

He handed the small box to George, who opened it slowly. “Lord, have mercy.”

Ed watched as George moved the box around so the ring would catch the light, but he never touched it, as if it might burn him.

“You had this made for my Darcy Ann?”

“Yes, sir.”

“She’s sure going to like it.”

Those few words put a peace into Ed’s chest that he hadn’t felt in days. “I hope she will.”

George closed the lid and handed it back to Ed. “She says you come from a big family. A good family.”

Pride swelled in Ed’s chest. “We are a very tight-knit group.”

“From what she’s told me, ya’ll have taken really good care of her.”

“My family loves her, sir.”

George McCary gave Ed another long nod of consideration. “She loves you.”

“I know she does, sir.”

“You’ll take care of her? She has a temper, and if she hasn’t shown it to you yet, she will.”

Ed laughed. “I won’t run from it.”

“She’s always thought a lot about having a family.”

“I welcome that.”

“She’s all I have in the world,” he said, and his voice had softened.

“Mr. McCary, I love her. I will never let anything, or anyone, hurt her.”

George McCary leaned in and rested his arms on his knees. “I believe you will take good care of my little girl.” A smile formed on the corner of his mouth. “I give you my blessing.”

Chapter Seventeen

Darcy filled the ice bag again. It was a wonder people had children. One injured grown man was enough work for three grown women.

Since Christian had been released from the hospital he had done nothing but whine about the pain. It must have been the medication that made him so annoying. Darcy was sure he couldn’t feel any pain, but he complained anyway.

His mother had run to the store to buy him something that he could keep down. There was nothing pretty about seeing a grown man get sick to his stomach.

Clara had tried to help out, but he’d gotten on her last nerve rather quickly. She’d bolted out the front door, and Darcy was fairly sure she’d flipped him the bird when she’d done so, though she’d never have done it so that her mother could see it.

Madeline opened the back door quietly and stepped in. “Is he still awake?”

“He was five minutes ago, but I haven’t heard any groaning.”

Madeline smiled. “He can deal with the surgery. It’s always the pain meds that get him. And when he comes down off of them, he’ll be sappy and apologetic.”

“Really?” Darcy tightened the cap on the blue ice bag. “How many times has he had this surgery?”

“This is his second knee surgery. He had the other knee done a few years ago. There have been plenty of stitches and a broken wrist. That one was the worst. I suppose he’d have already made it to the major leagues if he hadn’t had so many injuries.”

Darcy looked out into the living room. It appeared Christian was sleeping peacefully. “Does it bother him to not be in the major leagues?”

Madeline shrugged. “He’d never say so, to me anyway. But I think that’s every player’s dream. Christian, however, will make one amazing coach someday. I think that will be his finest hour.”

What a beautiful thing to say about your child. Darcy’s mother always told her she’d have a house full of little boys. Why boys, she wasn’t sure, but being around the Kellers and the absolute number of them, she was sure her mother was right. It seemed just the thing she would want to do—have a house full sons—in a few years.

“His follow-up appointment is Tuesday,” Madeline mentioned as she put away the few items she’d purchased at the grocery store. “I make a mean chocolate cake, and I do believe I have boxes of unused candles, if I can convince you to have dinner with us on Tuesday after his appointment.”

Darcy turned and could only smile. A moment later, when the emotions of the invitation settled, she was able to say, “I can’t think of a better way to celebrate my twenty-fifth birthday.”

Madeline gave her a nod and went out to check on Christian.

Madeline had been right. The moment Christian’s medication wore off, he was all kinds of apologetic and sappy. He hugged his mother, and Darcy was sure he cried. Then when Madeline left him in Darcy’s care, he did cry.

“I’m so mean when they give me those drugs. I’ll bet I was horrible to you.”

“You were fine. You seem to be getting back to yourself rather quickly.”

He adjusted on the couch. “Sure. I’m great at this crash and burn stuff. This sucks.” Now anger teetered in his voice. “I want to play damn ball. I don’t want to keep being laid up like this.”

“You’ll recover very soon. Doesn’t the team do physical therapy for you?”

That made him smile. “You know who is my therapist? Tori.”

“Tori?”

“Yeah, you met her at the fundraiser.” The anger had certainly drained from his face. “I think we have a future.”

Darcy laughed. “Does she know this?”

He shrugged. “We’ve gone out a few times. She’s the sister-in-law to the pitcher. He says she likes me, but I’m a slow and easy kind of guy. No need to hurry things.”

Darcy thought of Ed and how that statement didn’t carry over to him. If he knew what he wanted, he went after it. Darcy was just lucky enough to be the one thing Eduardo Keller seemed to want.

It was nearly seven o’clock when the front door opened. Darcy jumped awake in her chair. She hadn’t realized she’d fallen asleep sitting there talking to Christian, who didn’t seem to be lying on the couch anymore.