Finding You

Chapter 7

Carter followed Darcy into the house. He had been relieved to see her when she came out to the deck, not only because he liked

her, but also because she was a familiar face. He felt like a fish out of water at Derek’s place, surrounded by successful

young professionals. It reminded him of why he and Derek had drifted apart after high school. While Derek had gone on to college

and a professional career, Carter was a blue-collar mechanic who felt frozen in time due to his financial situation.

“This is the kitchen.” She pointed toward the sink before stepping into the den, which was adorned with a large gray sectional,

a huge flat-screen television, a couple of armchairs, a coffee table, and end tables. “And here’s the family room.”

She walked down a hallway. “There’s a half bath here, a laundry room, and an office.” She pointed toward a doorway. “That

leads to the two-car garage.”

Darcy started up the stairs, and when Carter followed her, he caught a whiff of her perfume or possibly her shampoo. She looked

stunning again tonight. The color of her shirt seemed to bring out the green in her eyes, and he longed to touch her braid

to feel how soft her hair was.

Although she smiled at him, she seemed more aloof than she’d been in the past. Perhaps she wasn’t as thrilled to see him as

he was to see her. Had she already met someone?

“And up here, there are three bedrooms and two bathrooms.”

When he touched her hand, she stilled, and her eyes widened. “How have you been?” he asked.

“Fine. Great.” Her manufactured smile didn’t reach her eyes. Something was off. “You?”

He tilted his head and tried to interpret her unspoken mannerisms. “Have you talked to Mason since the car show?”

“Is that a joke?” She laughed, and relief filtered through Carter as she visibly relaxed. “Of course I haven’t, and I really

hope he doesn’t come tonight.” Then she scrunched her nose. “Oh, that was so snotty of me.”

“Not snotty, just honest.”

She leaned on the pony wall at the top of the stairs. “I’m glad Haven and Derek finally got the message that I’m not interested

in any more horrendous blind dates.” She studied him as if she were trying to figure out an intricate puzzle. “Are you seeing

anyone?”

Surely that couldn’t be hope he found in her gorgeous green eyes. “I’ve been single for a long time.”

“Why?”

His brow crinkled, and his lips quirked. “Why am I single?”

“I’m so sorry.” Her cheeks reddened, and she spun away from him. “That’s really nosy of me. I’m... I’m just surprised you

don’t have a girlfriend.” She moved down the hallway. “So the master bedroom is over here.”

“Hold on.” He touched her arm. “ Why are you surprised?”

“Ah. Well.” She seemed to search for the words as the sound of footfalls on the stairs filled the hallway. Then her eyes focused

on something behind her, and she looked relieved. “Haven. Hi.”

Haven stood at the top of the stairs and leaned on the banister. “I thought you two got lost. The kabobs are ready.”

A knowing look passed between the friends, and curiosity gnawed at him.

“Great.” Darcy pivoted toward him. “Let’s get something to eat.”

Back out on the deck, Carter and Darcy made their way down the food table. They filled their plates with kabobs, corn on the

cob, pasta salad, and chips before picking up glasses of sweet tea.

“Would you like to find a quiet place to sit and talk?” he asked.

She nodded. “Yes.”

They walked down a pathway through the yard that led to a fence lined with flowering dogwood trees. Balancing his plate and

cup of tea in one hand, Carter opened the gate for her and then followed her to a bench at the edge of a pond. Other homes

in the neighborhood surrounded the pond and enjoyed similar views. A prick of envy twisted through him as he took in the lovely

two-story houses. He doubted he would ever be able to afford a home like the ones in this neighborhood.

“This place is incredible,” he muttered as they sank down onto the bench together.

“I know. Derek got a great deal on it too.”

Carter took a bite of a beef kabob and then craned his neck over his shoulder. The other guests of the party were sitting

at tables throughout the yard and eating their food. Conversations wafted over them, along with the quacks from a group of

ducks swimming in the pond.

“Do you know all of the people here?” He wondered if she felt as awkward as he did with the strangers.

She shook her head and swallowed. “Only a few, but I think some of them are Derek’s and Haven’s coworkers.” She seemed to

survey him for a moment. “So you’re the same age as Derek?”

He nodded. “Yeah, we graduated together. I’ll be thirty next month. How about you?”

“Twenty-seven.”

An easy silence fell over them while they ate for a few moments. He felt himself completely relax for the first time since arriving at Derek’s house.

“How are your folks?” he asked.

She seemed surprised by the question. “Great. How about your sister?”

“She’s fine.”

“You mentioned that she’s been married for six years. Does she have any children?”

He shook his head. “Not yet.”

She lifted an eyebrow.

“They’re hoping to have kids, but she hasn’t discussed it with me much.” He recalled how his sister had mentioned wanting

children, but he also had the impression that she and Gage were struggling. He looked forward to being an uncle someday soon.

He’d love to have a niece or nephew to take to the park and teach how to ride a bike. Maybe Shauna and Gage would have a child

who liked to work on cars too.

“I see.” Understanding seemed to fill her face. “What does she do for a living?”

“She’s a pediatric nurse, so she’s great with kids. She always wanted to go to nursing school, and then she fell in love with

pediatrics.”

Darcy smiled. “I bet she has some great stories.”

“Yes, she does.” He chuckled.

“Is she older than you?”

He nodded. Darcy turned her attention to her food, and as she picked at her plate, she seemed to be working through something

in her mind.

Carter waited a few moments and then leaned closer to her. “Is everything all right?”

“Yeah.” She turned slightly toward him. “But can I ask you something personal?”

“Sure.” He braced himself, unsure of how personal she planned to get. He reminded himself that she had no way of knowing about

his past. About his illness, about his failed relationship, about everything that fell apart. After all, not even Derek knew

about his kidney transplant.

Darcy’s expression became somber. “You said you don’t keep in touch with your father.”

Carter’s back went rigid. “He’s never been around. I don’t even know where he is.”

She stared at the pond for a moment. “Have you ever wanted to find him?”

He blinked, certain he’d misunderstood the question.

Darcy cringed. “Oh no. I made it weird.” She sat up straight and forced a smile. “So what’s your favorite movie?”

On impulse, he put his plate down beside him and took her hand in his. When he moved his thumb over her palm, her eyes widened.

“Darcy,” he began, “I was surprised by the question but not offended. The answer is no, I don’t want to find my father, but

my sister does. We don’t agree on that subject.” He glanced at their clasped hands. He’d meant only to reassure her, but since

she wasn’t letting go, he wasn’t about to either. “As for your movie question, there are too many to list. I’ll bore you to

tears.”

She opened and closed her mouth.

“You look puzzled.” He lifted his eyebrows, awaiting her response, but she remained silent. “Go ahead and say whatever is

on your mind, Darcy. I promise it’s okay.”

“Why do you and your sister disagree about your dad?” Her voice was soft, and her question was hesitant.

He raked his free hand through his hair. “Shauna wants to find him and demand to know why he abandoned our mom and us. I don’t want to know, and I don’t want to see him. It doesn’t matter why he left us. He did, and his excuses won’t mean anything to me. The past is the past, and he can’t do anything to fix that now.”

Darcy nodded. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“I’m not upset.” He managed a half-grin and let go of her hand. “I’m just stating facts.” He settled on the bench. “Now I

have a question for you. Why are you so curious about my dad?”

She placed her plate of food on the bench beside her and then moved her finger along the hem of her shirt. “I’m adopted, and

I want to find my biological mother. At least, I think I do.”

“Oh.” He hadn’t expected that response, but it explained her interest. His lungs squeezed with compassion for her as he took

in her serious expression.

“I hope to have a family someday, and I want to know about my family history. I also have other questions for her.” She worried

her lower lip. “Do you think that’s bad?”

“Why would I think that’s bad?”

“It’s complicated. My parents adopted me in their forties. They had tried fertility treatments for years to have a child.

Nothing worked. So when they adopted me, they were elated. All they ever wanted was a baby.”

Darcy peered out over the pond again. “I adore my parents. I couldn’t have asked for a better set if I had picked them myself.

They’re the most loving, giving, thoughtful, generous, amazing people on the planet.” She rubbed her hands together and faced

him again. “But I’ve always felt like I didn’t fit in with them. I don’t look like them, and I’m not smart like them. I mean,

they graduated at the top of their classes in dental school, but I barely passed high school biology.”

Her posture stiffened. “There’s always been this hole in my heart that I can’t explain. Does that make me sound unappreciative?”

“No, Darcy. I can’t begin to comprehend how you feel, but from what I do know about you, you’re not unappreciative.”

“I have questions they can’t answer,” she said. “I want to know what my biological mother looks like. I know she was young

when she had me—younger than eighteen. Do I look like her? Do I sound like her? Did she want to keep me? Did she have a choice?

Do I have any siblings? Does she think about me? Does she worry about me?”

He nodded, encouraging her to continue.

“Someone told me about an organization that can help me find her. It’s a nonprofit. I’ve thought so much about it, but I haven’t

even looked at the website yet.”

“Sounds like you’re afraid.”

“Yeah. I think I am.” Her lower lip trembled. “I don’t want to hurt my parents.” She sniffed, and the tears glistening in

her eyes nearly tore him apart. “But I also want to know where I came from. I feel so torn.” She shielded her face with her

hands. “I don’t know why I’m unloading all of this on you. You’re the only person I’ve told about this. I haven’t even told

Haven.”

Carter was so honored that he couldn’t speak for a moment. Somehow, he had earned her trust. Perhaps Darcy liked him as much

as he liked her. “Maybe you should talk to your parents about this. They sound like terrific people, so I’m sure they’d understand.”

He wanted to reach out and touch her again, but he held back.

Her hands dropped onto her lap. “I don’t know if they will. They told me about my adoption when I was twelve years old, but we’ve never discussed looking for my biological mother. I only recently realized that yearning to know who I am is causing this emptiness deep inside of me.” She shook her head. “I just feel like something is missing, and I can’t explain it otherwise.” Her eyes seemed to search his face. “You don’t feel that way about your dad?”

He blew out a deep breath as he considered how much to share with her. Clearly, she was baring her soul to him. She deserved

the same honesty she was giving him. “No, I don’t. He threw away our family. He didn’t want us, and I don’t want him.”

“I’m sorry he hurt you so deeply.”

Carter was astounded by how compassionate and understanding Darcy was. She was such a stark contrast to Gabrielle, who only

cared about herself.

But what shocked him even more was the connection he felt to Darcy. In an odd way, it felt like a deeper connection than any

he had ever felt with anyone in his life. It was as if she was already a kindred spirit. He couldn’t quite fathom the thought.

Then her beautiful smile returned. “Enough about family stuff. Let’s talk about something fun. Now about those movies. You

could never bore me to tears talking about them.”

He laughed, glad for the change of subject. “My sister and I were raised by movie buffs.”

“Tell me more.” She pivoted toward him, folding her legs under her cutoff jean shorts.

“Saturday night was movie night when I was a kid. We watched all of the classics with our grandparents.”

“Such as?”

“Oh, I don’t know.” He looked up at the puffy white clouds dotting the bright-blue sky as if they held the answers.

“Just tell me your favorites.”

“Okay then... Gone in 60 Seconds , Vanishing Point , Smokey and the Bandit , and possibly American Graffiti . Oh, and you can’t forget The Fast and the Furious .”

“I see a pattern here—cars, cars, cars, cars, and cars.” She counted off on her fingers. “Makes sense.”

“You’ve got me figured out.” He touched her shoulder. “How about you?”

She rested her elbow on the back of the bench. “My mom loves John Hughes’s movies, and that has rubbed off on me. My favorite

is Pretty in Pink .”

“That’s a good movie.”

Her eyes narrowed with a mock dirty look. “You’re just teasing me.”

“I’m not,” he insisted. “My sister loves it too.”

Darcy placed a hand over her heart. “The best movie kiss is when he kisses her in the headlights of his Beamer.” She sighed.

“It gets me every time.”

His gaze locked on her pink lips, and he leaned forward as if an invisible cord connected them. While she stared up at him,

his mouth yearned to taste hers.

“Did you two want to join us for dessert?”

Carter sat back and turned to see Derek leaning over the gate, smirking at him.

“Yeah. Sounds good.” Carter hopped up from the bench and balanced their plates and cups in one hand. Then he held his free

hand out to Darcy.

She took it, and as he lifted her up from the bench, he thought he saw disappointment reflected in her eyes. Maybe it was

the same disappointment he felt.

As they started toward the gate, Carter knew one thing for sure: He wasn’t going to be able to stay away from Darcy Larsen

now.