Chapter 24
“What about your ‘something borrowed’?” Darcy asked Haven. It was a Friday evening two weeks later, and they were perusing
a department store in Charlotte. “Are you borrowing something from your mom?”
Haven turned from a display of wedge sandals. “My grandma’s pearls. I guess they count for something old and something borrowed.” Her blue eyes sparkled. “I can’t believe the wedding is only two months away.”
Darcy nodded. “Time is going by so fast.” In fact, it seemed like it was coming too fast. She and Kaylen had three weeks until
the shower, and even though the invitations had been dropped into the mail, they still had details to iron out.
“What do you think of these?” Haven held up a pair of sandals. “Do they look like honeymoon sandals?”
Darcy faltered. “Um, I’m not sure what honeymoon sandals look like, but those are really cute.”
“Then honeymoon sandals they are.” Haven walked over to one of the sales associates. “Excuse me. Could I see these in a nine?”
The young woman took the shoe and disappeared.
“So, Darce.” Haven leaned against the counter. “We haven’t really talked much lately. I’m sorry I’ve been so distracted.”
“Stop it. You’re getting married.”
“I know, but I miss you.” Haven touched her arm. “How’s Carter?”
“He’s fine.” Darcy frowned.
Alarm overtook Haven’s face. “Oh no. Are you two having problems?”
“No, no.” Darcy held her hand up. “It’s not that. I haven’t told you something that happened recently, and I feel really guilty.”
Haven’s strawberry-blonde eyebrows rose. “What?”
“I found my birth mother.”
Haven gasped so loudly that a few customers wandering the shoe department turned and gave her and Darcy curious stares. “When?”
“A couple of weeks ago.” Darcy placed a hand on Haven’s forearm. “Please don’t be angry. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I started
looking for her in May, and I kept it quiet in case nothing came of it. I found her two weeks ago, and we’ve been talking
almost every day since.”
Haven hugged her. “That’s amazing, Darce.”
The sales associate returned with the shoes, and Haven tried them on. After she paid for them, she and Darcy walked out into
the mall.
“Tell me more about her,” Haven said.
Darcy filled her in on Robyn, her stepdad and biological dad, and her half-brothers. “I want to meet my brothers, but Robyn
isn’t ready for that.” She frowned. “And I haven’t told my parents about Robyn yet because I don’t know how.” She sighed.
“I almost told them last weekend, but I couldn’t find the courage.”
“What are you afraid of?”
Darcy looked down at her feet. “I don’t want to hurt them.”
Haven halted. “Darcy, you’ve always been close to your folks. I think they’ll understand.”
Darcy nodded.
“Let’s go into Bath and Body Works. I need some new lotions.” Haven took Darcy’s arm and steered her into the store.
The delicious scents of the store washed over Darcy as they weaved through the crowd to the display of new lotions.
“Does Carter know about your birth mother?” Haven asked.
“Yeah, and he’s been so supportive,” Darcy said. “He came over after midnight the night I first connected with her just to
hold me while I cried.”
Haven clucked her tongue. “That’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.”
“Meanwhile I still haven’t told him about the kidney transplant.”
Haven studied her. “Again, Darce, what are you afraid of?”
“I don’t know. There’s something holding me back. I’m afraid to tell him I love him too.”
Haven shook her head. “Darcy, it’s so obvious you two are in love. He wouldn’t have come over at midnight to hold you if he
didn’t love you. Maybe you need to be brave and take the first step. Be honest with him.”
Darcy nodded. “Maybe I should.” But deep down, as much as she wanted to tell the truth, she worried that honesty with everyone
she loved might come at a cost.
***
Carter sat at the kitchen table the following Tuesday evening, staring at a bank statement. If only he could pay off his loan
early, then he could consider starting a life with Darcy.
Every time he spoke to her on the phone or met her for a date, he longed to be completely honest about his battle with kidney
disease—but his pride held him back. Well, not only pride, but also fear of hurt, rejection, and loss.
The sound of a truck pulling into the driveway drew his attention to the back door. He’d been surprised when Shauna had texted to tell him that she and Gage were going out to dinner on a weeknight.
Lately Shauna had looked exhausted after work. She had dark circles under her eyes, and she seemed to yawn nonstop before
she went to bed early. She also seemed to have an upset stomach nearly every day, and the smell of the chicken Gage had made
last night sent her running out of the room.
Carter was worried about his older sister, but whenever he asked her if she was okay, she insisted she was fine.
He closed his computer and slipped the bank statement back into its envelope as the back door opened and Shauna stepped in
from the garage. She seemed to glow as she laughed at something Gage said.
“What are you up to, Carter?” she asked with a grin.
He shook his head. “Not much. How was dinner?”
“Great.” Shauna and Gage shared a look. “I think we should tell him.”
“Tell me what?” Carter asked.
Gage made a sweeping gesture toward her. “Go ahead.”
“Well.” Shauna clasped her hands together. “Gage and I have been seeing a fertility specialist, and it’s finally happened.”
She sucked in a breath. “You’re going to be an uncle!”
Carter jumped up from his chair, and excitement rushed through him. “That’s fantastic!” He pulled his sister in for a hug
and then shook Gage’s hand. “Congratulations!”
“But that’s not all of our news.” She took a deep breath. “We’re having twins!”
Carter’s mouth dropped open. “Twins? That’s amazing!” He hugged his sister again and patted Gage’s back.
“Thanks.” Gage pulled Shauna against him. “We’ve been praying for this for a long time.”
Shauna nodded. “I was beginning to think it wouldn’t happen. We wanted to wait until we were sure before telling anyone. Today I had a checkup, and we confirmed everything is looking good. We’re due at the end of March, but twins usually come early.”
“I’m so excited for you,” Carter said, certain his joy would bubble over.
She hugged him. “Thank you. I couldn’t wait to tell you, but our appointment was late, so we decided to grab something to
eat first.” She started through the kitchen. “And now I’m exhausted again. I’m going to take a shower.”
Gage grabbed a can of Coke from the refrigerator and held it out to Carter. “Want one?”
“Sure.” Carter accepted the can and sat down on his chair.
“I’ve been dying to tell you, but Shauna wanted confirmation first. We’ve had some heartbreaks in the past, so we didn’t want
to get our family excited only to have to tell everyone that something went wrong.” He sat down across from Carter. “How was
the shop this afternoon after I left?”
“Fine.” Carter’s mind spun as he considered what it would mean for Shauna and Gage to become parents. Carter couldn’t wait
to be an uncle, but surely he’d be in the way—especially when they brought home twins. Now he truly had to find a way to move
out—and within six months.
Gage took a drink and studied Carter. “What’s on your mind?”
“Just excitement.”
Gage’s smile was wide. “This has been such a long journey.” His smile wobbled. “Seeing Shauna so distraught over it has been
tough. I’m thankful it’s finally happening for us.”
Carter popped open his can. “When you came in, I was trying to figure out a way to pay off my loan early. Once I get my act together, I’ll find my own place. That way you and Shauna won’t have an extra person around while you’re taking care of babies.”
His brother-in-law gave him a look of disbelief. “Please, Carter. You’ve never been in the way. I don’t know why you think
you are.”
“It’s not just that.” Carter took a drink from the can. “I want a future with Darcy, but I don’t know how to get out from
under this debt.”
Gage’s expression brightened. “So things are going well with her.”
“They are.” Carter considered his options. “I was thinking maybe I should sell the Road Runner. I could get more for it with
a rebuilt engine, but the car body is in excellent shape. I’m sure there’s a collector out there—”
Gage held his hand up. “Whoa, Carter,” he interrupted. “I know how much that car means to you. I’d hate to see you sell it.”
“If it meant rebuilding my life, then I’d do it.”
“I know you care for Darcy. I can tell by the way you talk about her, and it’s obvious she makes you happy. You deserve to
be happy, Carter.” He paused as if working through something in his mind. “But if you let that car go, you’ll regret it. I
know how much your grandparents meant to you, and that car was a big part of your memories of your grandfather.”
Carter nodded. “Right.”
“Would you consider something else first?” Gage paused. “There might be another way for you to get back on your feet, but
you need to listen.”
“I’m listening.”
“You know that Shauna found your father.”
Carter felt every muscle in his body stiffen.
“Just hear me out, Carter. She’s been talking to him. At first I think she wanted to find him because she needed him to acknowledge what he did to you, her, and your mom.” He pressed his lips together. “Now that we’re expecting twins, it’s more than that. I think she wants him to learn how to be a grandfather so our children can have more family around.”
Carter shook his head as frustration surged through him. “She’s just going to get her heart broken if she’s expecting our
father to step up.”
“Well, he wants to visit.”
“I hope she tells him no.”
Gage took a drink of his soda as if avoiding the response.
“You’ve got to be kidding me, Gage.” He pushed his chair back and stood as his frustration morphed into fury. “You’d better
tell me when he’s coming so I can make sure I’m not here. I’ll crash on Darcy’s sofa until he’s gone.”
“I’m not done. There’s more.” Gage’s expression seemed to plead with him. “Sit, Carter. Please.”
He slowly lowered himself down onto the chair.
“How would you feel if your father wanted to do something to try to make it up to you?”
“Like what?”
Gage tapped the tabletop. “What if your dad wanted to help you financially?”
“I don’t want anything from him.” Carter nearly ground out the words.
“I don’t think you should be so dead set on telling him no. You might be surprised by what he has to offer.”
“There’s nothing he can do to make it up to me. He can keep his money.” Carter picked up his can of soda, his laptop, and
the statement from the bank. “I’m going to bed. Congratulations again. I’m really happy for you and Shauna.”
As Carter climbed the stairs to his room, his mind spiraled with thoughts of his father and the possibility of a visit from him. He had to figure out a way to move out of Shauna’s house before coming face-to-face with him. Carter would never let that man back into his life, and no amount of money could change the past.