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Angie felt for her wedding ring, twisted it around to hide the diamond. Such a trick wouldnt fool the De-Saria women for long, but hopefully, theyd be too busy with the mass to notice. She took a step forward.
Lauren stopped her with a touch.
"What is it, honey?" There was a look in Laurens eyes that Angie couldnt read. A kind of awe, perhaps, as if going to church with the family was a rare gift. Or maybe it was anxiety. They were all nervous about what would come next. "Here, take my hand. "
"Thanks," Lauren said, looking away quickly, but not before Angie saw the girls sudden tears. Hand in hand, they walked up the concrete steps and into the beautiful old church.
The service seemed to take forever and still not last long enough. Angie concentrated on helping Lauren rise and kneel and rise again.
When Angie got her chance to pray, she knelt on the padded riser, bowed her head, and thought: Dear God, please show us the right way through all of this. Keep us safe. Protect and watch over Lauren. In this I pray, Amen.
After services were over, they all went downstairs to the basement of the church, where dozens of cakes and cookies were set out on the tables. Angie kept her left hand in her pocket as she talked to family and friends.
Finally the kids streamed into the hall, all talking at once, carrying the egg-carton-and-macaroni jewelry boxes theyd made.
The congregation began moving to the doors. They walked out into the cold, bright morning, a crowd of well-dressed people with
something in common. They crossed the street and went into the park.
Angie started at the empty merry-go-round. Sunlight made it glisten like sterling silver.
Conlan came up beside her, slipped an arm around her waist. She knew he was thinking of Sophie, too. How many times had they stood here together, watching other children play and dreaming of their own? Saying quietly to each other: Someday.
Kids jumped onto the merry-go-round, set it spinning.
"Okay, kids," said Father OHoulihan in his lilting Irish brogue, "there are eggs hidden all round here. Go!"
The kids shrieked and set off in search of the hidden eggs.
Lauren went to little Dani, who stood close to Mira.
"Come on," Lauren said, attempting to kneel and then giving up. "Ill help you look. " She took Danis hand and off they went.
Within moments the whole DeSaria clan was standing together. They were like geese, Angie thought. Somehow they just floated into formation. Their conversations sounded vaguely birdlike, too, with so many voices going at once.
Angie cleared her throat.
Conlan squeezed her hand, threw her a go-for-it smile.
"I have two things to say," she said. When no one listened, she said it louder.
Mama whopped Uncle Francis in the back of the head. "Be quiet. Our Angela has something to say. "
"Someday, Maria, Im going to hit you back," Uncle Francis said, rubbing the back of his head.
Mira and Livvy moved in closer.
Angie showed off her ring.
The screams probably shattered windows all through town. The family surged forward like a wave, crashing around Angie and Conlan.
Everyone was talking at once, congratulating them and asking questions and saying they knew it all along.
When the wave receded and they were all on the shore again, it was Mama who remembered.
"What is the second thing?" she asked.
"What?" Angie said, edging toward Conlan.
