Chapter 6
Darcy sipped a glass of sweet tea while she sat on her parents’ enormous back deck the following afternoon. She breathed in
the fresh, warm, late-April air. Birds sang in the large trees lining her parents’ property, and bees buzzed among her mother’s
colorful flowers. She looked out over the spacious backyard that included a large in-ground pool; a cabana house; her father’s
detached, three-bay garage with the apartment above it; and a shed—all surrounded by a privacy fence.
She shifted toward her parents beside her, and a familiar feeling overtook her. Not for the first time, she contemplated how
she’d never felt like she fit into the family. She didn’t resemble either of them. Both of her parents were tall—much taller
than she was. At the age of sixty-eight, her mother still had gorgeous, creamy skin, along with glossy dark hair and deep-blue
eyes. Very few wrinkles marked her complexion, and she had the warmest smile Darcy had ever known. Josephine Larsen stood
at five feet ten, and while Darcy had always hoped she’d reach her mother’s height, she had stopped growing when she’d reached
five feet, six inches.
Dad had had salt-and-pepper hair and a matching goatee for as long as Darcy could remember. With broad shoulders and dark-brown
eyes, Ross Larsen was still fit at the age of seventy. He was so kind and gave the best hugs. And Darcy would always consider
him, at six feet tall, larger than life.
Darcy ran her fingers over the condensation on her glass as thoughts of her biological mother filled her mind. Had Darcy inherited her blonde hair and green eyes from her? If or when she found a photo of her biological mother, would she recognize her? Would her birth mother recognize her if they ever met?
Her lungs squeezed, and she tried to abandon those thoughts before turning toward her mother. “What is your book club reading
this month?”
Mom’s blue eyes lit with excitement. “Oh, it’s the newest Kathleen Fuller book. Darcy, it’s so good. Would you like to borrow
it after I finish it?”
“Of course.” She enjoyed talking about books with her mom. She still remembered curling up on her mom’s lap every night as
she listened to her read her favorite childhood stories.
Will Mom forgive me if I go looking for my biological mother?
Darcy turned her attention to her father. “Are you planning to take your truck to any car shows this year?”
Dad lifted a bushy eyebrow. “You haven’t gone to a car show with me since you were in high school. Why the sudden interest
now?”
Because of Carter. “I actually went to one in Flowering Grove last night.”
“Is that right?” Dad grinned. “Did you go on purpose or stumble upon it?”
Darcy immediately regretted bringing up the subject since it would force her to talk about another failed blind date, but
she pushed on. “Derek decided to set me up with another one of his friends. The date was a disaster, but the car show was
fun.”
“How was it a disaster?” Mom asked.
Darcy summarized how Mason spent the entire night on the phone with his ex-girlfriend. “But I still had a good time with Haven and Derek.” She clutched her glass and then decided to share more details. “And I ran into Carter Donovan, the mechanic who rescued me when my car broke down.”
“Oh, so there’s the truth.” Mom pointed a perfectly manicured finger at her. “You’ve met someone.”
Ugh. “No, not exactly. We’re just friends.”
“Your dad and I started out as friends in dental school. Right, Ross?”
Dad gave Mom a sweet smile. “Yes, we did.”
“So you and Carter could turn into more than friends,” Mom sang.
Darcy shook her head. “I’m not ready for that.”
“But you need to get to know some new people, Darcy,” Mom continued. “You’re too young to be alone.”
“Josie,” Dad began, “let’s not push her. She’s been through a lot for someone her age...”
Dad’s words trailed off, but Darcy knew he was thinking of Jace. She swallowed as the familiar guilt and grief rose inside
of her.
He placed his hand on Darcy’s shoulder. “Take your time, sweetie. But if you feel like your friendship may lead to something
special, then follow your heart.”
Darcy smiled. Her dad always knew how to calm her. “Thanks. But back to the earlier question: Would you please let me know
if you’re taking your truck to any shows?”
“Yes, I will.” The corners of his mouth lifted. “Are you asking me so you can invite Carter to join you?”
A flush overtook her cheeks. “Apparently, I’m pretty transparent.”
“Only to us,” Dad said.
Darcy laughed. She was beyond grateful for her wonderful parents.
But she still felt that pull toward the past—toward her biological mom and the answers to years’ worth of questions. Darcy just hoped her parents would understand when she finally found the courage to find her.
***
Smoky meowed and rubbed against Carter’s shin before flopping next to the Volkswagen sedan sitting in Carter’s stall.
“I think he’s saying you’re taking too much time on that brake job,” Gage called from the other side of the shop.
“No, he was just telling me I deserved a break.” Carter took a long drink from his bottle of water.
The temperature had risen during the past week. This part of North Carolina usually tried to skip spring and barrel straight
into summer, so even though it was only the second Thursday in May, it already felt more like mid-July. The humidity wrapped
around Carter like a hot, wet blanket. If only the shop had air-conditioning instead of those big fans that only managed to
move the hot air around instead of offering any relief.
Carter’s phone buzzed with a text, and he sauntered over to his toolbox to read a message from Derek McGowan.
He thought back to the night he’d spent with Derek, Darcy, and Haven, then blew out a resigned sigh. It had been almost two
weeks since he’d talked to Darcy. He had picked up his phone at least a dozen times with the intention of texting her, but
such a move felt a bit too bold—and frankly, his skills in the dating department were rusty. Now he just needed to find a
way to push through his thoughts, which seemed impossible since Darcy always seemed to linger at the back of his mind.
He opened Derek’s text message.
Derek: Hey Carter! Are you free Saturday night?
Carter: Sure am. What’s up?
Derek: I’m having a housewarming party at my place. Would love for you to come. Nothing fancy. Just a bunch of friends coming over
to eat.
Carter: Sounds great. What can I bring?
Derek: Just yourself. See you then!
Carter: Can’t wait.
Derek sent Carter the address and the time details for the get-together, then Carter set his phone back on his toolbox. If
Derek was having friends over, then Haven would be there. And if Haven was there, certainly Darcy would come too.
He may have missed his chance with her, but he’d still get to see her. And that would have to be enough.
***
On Saturday night, Darcy opened a bag of chips and poured the contents into a large bowl. She scanned Derek’s spacious kitchen
while Haven flittered around, gathering up a container of pasta salad and setting it on a tray, along with plates, utensils,
and cups.
The delicious smell of the beef and chicken kabobs cooking on the grill wafted in from the deck through the open sliding glass
door just behind the breakfast nook. Voices buzzed from guests milling around outside and in the family room beyond the kitchen.
“I need to find the tablecloth so I can set the table on the deck.” Haven shook her head. “I should have done it earlier,
but I was helping Derek with last-minute cleaning.”
Darcy stepped toward the bar that separated the kitchen from the breakfast nook and spotted the disposable blue tablecloth.
“I got it. I’ll set the table.” She reached for the tray.
“No, I can do it. Would you grab the pitcher of tea in the fridge though?”
“Sure.” Darcy placed the tablecloth on Haven’s tray and then retrieved the pitcher.
“Have you heard from Carter since the car show?”
“No.” Darcy turned toward the counter, the large pitcher teetering in her hand. When she lost her grip, the cold liquid sloshed
and spilled out from the open lid, dripping down her yellow shirt. Groaning, she set the container down, grabbed a paper towel,
and rubbed it down her front. “Just great,” she griped.
Haven clucked her tongue. “I’m sorry! Derek tells me that I always overfill containers.” She rested her hand on Darcy’s shoulder.
“I have an extra top upstairs in the master bathroom. I was planning to change, but I ran out of time. Go get cleaned up,
and I’ll finish setting out the food.”
“It’s fine. It’ll dry.”
Haven shook her head. “You should get changed.”
“Why?”
Haven smirked. “Carter is coming tonight.”
Darcy’s nerves jangled. “He is?” Then she studied her best friend. “Did you set this up like a date?”
“Just go freshen up. Feel free to use my makeup.”
Darcy didn’t move. For two weeks she’d hoped to hear from him, but his silence only proved what she’d presumed: that he wasn’t
available or interested in her. If he had been interested, he would have texted or called her.
Apparently she had imagined their mutual attraction. Darcy had tried to convince herself this was a good thing, since she
wasn’t ready for a relationship anyway. Still, she couldn’t get Carter Donovan’s handsome face, radiant smile, and delightful
sense of humor out of her mind.
Haven exhaled a frustrated noise. “Will you go get changed already?” She gave Darcy a gentle push toward the stairs. “He’ll
be here any minute if he isn’t already.”
“But I don’t think he—”
“Just go, Darcy,” Haven interrupted with another nudge.
Stumbling forward, Darcy hurried up the stairs, which led to three bedrooms and two bathrooms. She jogged into the master
bedroom past a queen-size bed, two dressers, a few unpacked boxes, and two closets.
She slipped into the bathroom, where a light-green peasant blouse hung on a hook on the back of the door. She pulled on the
top and then scrutinized her reflection. She had applied minimal makeup and pulled her hair up in a ponytail. But now that
she knew Carter was coming, she felt conflicted.
On one hand, she was tempted to braid her hair and add eyeliner. But why should she bother when Carter hadn’t contacted her
in two weeks? She thought they had bonded at the car show when he had spent the evening with her, but then again, he hadn’t
texted her even after she’d asked him to.
She felt a strange connection to Carter—something she hadn’t experienced since Jace. And as much as she knew getting into
a relationship would be a mistake, she couldn’t deny that her heart seemed to come alive when she was with Carter.
Then it hit her. What if Carter was bringing a date? Just because Carter had attended the car show alone didn’t mean he was
single. For all Darcy knew, his girlfriend could have been busy or just not interested in cars.
Darcy frowned as she imagined Carter arriving at Derek’s house with a gorgeous brunette on his arm. Then she shook her head.
She had already developed a crush on a man she had spoken to three times. She really needed to grow up.
Still, Darcy located Haven’s brush and quickly fixed her hair in a French braid before adding eyeliner and blush. She finished off her makeup with a little bit of lip gloss. Then she frowned as she took in her reflection.
“Well, here goes nothing,” she whispered before ambling down the stairs and following the hum of conversations to the kitchen.
Darcy stopped by the kitchen counter and stared out toward the deck. There was Carter, standing beside Derek at the grill
and laughing at something Derek said. Her stare raked over him, taking in the faded jeans settled on his hips and the blue
t-shirt hugging his muscular chest and arms. His chiseled jaw was clean-shaven, and the sound of his laughter sent warmth
stirring deep within her.
She had missed him, which was crazy. She hardly knew this man.
She scanned the deck, looking for a pretty woman who might be his date, but she didn’t see anyone who would’ve fit the bill.
Instead, groups of guests were spread out on the deck and in the yard by the tables and chairs.
“Instead of staring at him, why don’t you go talk to him?” Haven appeared at Darcy’s side and handed her a stack of napkins.
“Here’s your excuse for going out to the deck.” Then she grinned. “You look gorgeous, by the way. Keep the top. It looks better
on you.”
Darcy chortled. “As if anything could look better on me than you.”
“Whatever. Go talk to him.” Haven nodded toward the open sliding glass door.
Squaring her shoulders, Darcy strode out onto the deck. When Carter’s gaze swung to hers, his face lit up with a bright smile
that nearly took her breath away.
“Hi, Carter.” She hoped she sounded calmer than she felt. “Fancy meeting you here.” Oh, that was so uncool. She inwardly cringed but forced her lips into a smile as she set the napkins beside the platters of food.
“Hi, Darcy.” He gulped. “You look great.”
“Thanks.” Darcy’s cheeks flushed in response to the compliment. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Haven watching her.
Derek turned the kabobs on the grill and then closed the lid. “They’re almost done,” he called out to Haven. “Thanks for setting
everything up.”
“You’re welcome, but Darcy helped.” Haven grinned at Darcy. “Why don’t you give Carter the twenty-five-cent tour?”
Darcy gestured toward the house. “Would you like to go inside?” she asked him.
“I’d love to.”
As Darcy led Carter into the kitchen, she held her head high. Even if he was dating someone else, she’d do her best to keep
her wits about her. At the very least, maybe she could have a friendship with him. She didn’t dare wish for anything more.