Chapter 17
Darcy yawned the following morning, then turned to face the clock. It was only seven thirty, but she felt refreshed and happy—so
very happy—as the memories of last night filled her mind. Holding hands and walking on the beach with Carter, and then those
kisses... Oh, those kisses! The memory sent a flush of bashful pleasure through her cheeks and made her lightheaded.
She stretched and rolled over, assuming her boyfriend and friends were still asleep, but she was wide awake and ready to take
on the day. When a delicious whiff of coffee drifted into her room, she rose and dressed.
“Good morning,” Mom sang from the counter as Darcy padded into the kitchen. “Would you like a cup of coffee?”
“Yes, please. Are you the only one up?”
“Your dad is in the shower.” Mom retrieved a shell-patterned mug from the nearby cabinet and filled it with coffee, cream,
and sweetener.
Darcy joined her at the table and took a long sip. “This is delicious.”
“I remember how you like it.” Mom smiled across the table at her. “Carter is a very nice young man. I see why you like him.”
Darcy tried to hide her smile by taking another sip of coffee.
“He’s so handsome and friendly.” Mom leaned forward. “It seemed like you were having fun at the beach while we visited on
the deck last night. How are things going?”
Darcy nodded. “He asked if he could be my boyfriend last night.”
“I’m so happy for you, Darcy. And I’m proud of you for taking a chance and moving forward after all you’ve been through.”
Darcy felt her lips flatten. She couldn’t allow herself to think too long about Jace. It was just too painful to let the memories
back into her mind. She pushed herself up from the table. “I need a bite to eat so I can take my medication.” She dropped
a slice of bread into the toaster.
“What are your plans for today?” Mom asked.
Darcy leaned back against the counter. “I thought maybe we’d visit the boardwalk. Haven loves going into the different stores
there.”
“Oh, how fun. Has Carter been to Coral Cove before?”
“Once when he was a kid.”
Mom smiled. “I’m sure this is special for him.”
The toast popped, and Darcy buttered it before sitting at the table once again. She took a bite and drank more coffee. “Do
you think we could make pancakes and bacon for everyone?”
“What a great idea.” Mom stood. “I have pancake mix, and your dad picked up bacon yesterday.”
Darcy took the last bite of toast. “I’ll go take my meds and be right back.” She carried her cup of coffee to her room and
found her pill organizer. She took her pills and returned to the kitchen, where her mother had two large frying pans warming
while she mixed up the batter.
Mom prepared the pancakes, and Darcy began cooking bacon in the microwave. Soon the kitchen was filled with delectable aromas.
“Pancakes and bacon?” Dad rubbed his hands together and kissed Mom on the cheek. “What a wonderful smell. Want me to set the
table?”
Darcy loaded the bacon onto a platter. “Yes, please.”
Dad opened the utensil drawer and counted out forks. The table was set and more coffee was brewing by the time Haven and Derek wandered in.
“I can’t think of a better way to wake up than to the smell of bacon and coffee,” Derek said, and everyone agreed.
Haven sidled up to Darcy and snatched a piece of bacon from the platter. “How can I help?”
“Pour the coffee?” Darcy asked.
Derek moved to the cabinet. “I’ll get mugs.”
Darcy carried the platter of bacon to the table and kept checking the doorway for Carter.
“He was in the shower when I came down,” Derek said, answering her unspoken question.
Darcy nodded, then brought the butter and syrup to the table.
Mom plunked two large platters of pancakes in the center of the table. “I think we’re ready.”
“Let’s eat,” Dad announced before they sat down.
With her parents on either end of the long table, Darcy sat down across from Haven and Derek. Footfalls sounded in the family
room. Then Carter appeared in the doorway, looking handsome with his light-brown hair wet and his face clean-shaven.
His expression was full of chagrin as he sat down beside Darcy. “I overslept. I’m sorry.”
“Not at all.” Darcy gave his hand a squeeze. “Good morning.”
“Hi.” His warm smile sent a shiver of delight dancing down her back.
Dad picked up the pancakes and piled a few on his plate before passing the platter to Carter. “Here you go, son.”
“Thank you.” Carter added a few onto his plate. “What’s on our agenda today?” he asked as he slid a couple of pancakes onto
Darcy’s plate.
“I thought we could enjoy the boardwalk,” Darcy said.
Haven’s face lit up. “I love those little stores.”
“Does that sound okay?” Darcy asked Carter.
He smothered his pancakes in butter and syrup. “Of course it does.”
Derek swiped a piece of bacon from the platter. “We should have lunch at the delicious pizza place. What’s it called?”
“Yes!” Haven snapped her fingers. “A Slice of Heaven.”
Carter swallowed a piece of pancake and wiped his mouth with a napkin. “I might not be hungry again until tomorrow after these
delicious pancakes.”
Everyone chuckled in agreement, and Darcy shared a smile with her mother. She was so grateful that Carter was officially her
boyfriend and that he seemed to be enjoying his time at her beloved Coral Cove.
***
Later that afternoon Carter carried Darcy’s shopping bags into the house. They had spent the morning at the boardwalk, wandering
through the beachfront stores that sold everything from t-shirts to beach towels to toys to funny little gifts. After a pizza
lunch, they ventured into more stores, including CeCe’s Toy Chest, Beach Reads, and the supermarket. For dinner they had purchased
hamburger patties, buns, chips, and baked beans, along with cupcakes for dessert.
“How was the boardwalk?” Josie asked from the doorway leading to the family room.
Darcy slipped the burger patties into the refrigerator. “Fun. We picked up supper.”
“You didn’t need to do that.” Josie clucked her tongue.
Haven set her bags on the counter. “We wanted to do something for you and Ross since you’ve been so generous to us.”
“That’s thoughtful of you.” Josie rubbed Haven’s shoulder. “What are your plans for the rest of the afternoon?”
Darcy picked up her bag from the bookstore. “The beach, of course.” She rested her hand on Carter’s strong bicep. “Should
we go get changed?”
“Sure.”
“Okay. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
Carter jogged up to his room and changed into his black swimming trunks and flip-flops. Back out on the deck, Darcy’s parents
sat and read books.
“Sit with us, Carter,” Josie said, tapping the chair beside her.
He joined her at the table.
“Darcy said you grew up in Flowering Grove,” Josie said. “I assume you went to school with Derek.”
Carter rested his forearms on the table. “That’s right. We became good friends in high school after suffering through geometry
together.”
Ross chuckled while Josie grinned.
“My older sister and I were pretty much raised by our grandparents.” He shared how his father left when he was young and how
his mother passed away when he was ten.
Josie shook her head. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Thanks. My grandfather taught me everything I know about cars, and I work with my brother-in-law at his parents’ shop in
Flowering Grove.”
“Family is important,” Ross said.
“That’s true.” Carter moved his hands over the smooth tabletop, wishing he could read her parents’ minds. Did they believe
he was good enough to care for their only daughter? If not, would they encourage her to break up with him?
His stomach twisted at the thought of losing Darcy. Guilt filled him as he considered how he wasn’t yet being completely honest with Darcy about his health history or his financial situation. He also wondered in that moment if he should put some emotional distance between himself and her parents. After all, if their relationship didn’t last, he would have to face even more heartache if he got attached to her parents too.
“I’m so glad Darcy met you,” Josie said. “It’s been a long time since we’ve seen her smile so much.” She reached over and
touched his arm. “You are an answer to our prayers.”
“Josie’s right,” Ross chimed in. “Darcy has had a hard time the past couple of years, and we were worried she wouldn’t ever
recover. We’re thankful she found you.”
Carter tried to mask his surprise as more guilt nagged him. He didn’t feel worthy of their praise. “Thank you. She means a
lot to me.”
The sliding glass door opened with a whoosh, and Darcy walked out wearing another vintage suit and cover-up. “What are you
three talking about?”
“How amazing you are,” Carter quipped.
“Uh-huh.” She graced him with a beautiful smile. “Are you ready to swim?”
“I’ve been waiting for you,” Carter said.
Darcy held her hand out to him, and together they headed down from the deck and toward the water.
***
Later that evening, Darcy and Haven sat on beach chairs and watched Carter and Derek throw a football back and forth near
the shoreline. After swimming all afternoon, Darcy and her friends had grilled burgers and served supper for her parents on
the deck. They had enjoyed the meal and cupcakes before cleaning up the kitchen and returning to the beach.
Carter threw the ball to Derek, who jumped up in the air only to miss it and fall down on the sand. When Carter bent at his waist to laugh, Darcy admired his golden tan, his muscular legs, his sun-streaked light-brown hair, and his perfect nose. He was the most gorgeous man she’d known... well, since Jace.
Haven leaned over and tapped Darcy’s arm. “Earth to Darce.”
“What, Havey?” Darcy shot her a look.
“From the way you and Carter have been acting today, I take it that you two are official now, huh?”
“Yes, we are.”
“And he kissed you?”
Darcy smiled. “He sure did.”
“And?” Haven pushed her sunglasses farther up on her petite nose.
Darcy bit her lip. “A lady never tells.”
“That good, huh?” She nudged Darcy. “I’m really happy for you.”
Darcy turned toward the water just as Carter threw the ball again. His gray t-shirt lifted and shared enough of his taut stomach
for her to spot a dimple of a scar near his belly button. She had noticed that scar the first day at the beach. What could
have caused the scar? She thought of her own scar from the kidney transplant, but it was lower down on her abdomen. She was
careful to wear modest bathing suits to hide it, and she was grateful that vintage bathing suits were in style.
Could Carter’s scar have been caused by an injury or a surgery? The thought dissolved when Derek threw the ball back to him
and he caught it.
Soon the guys headed over to a blanket spread out on the sand, then dropped down onto it. Carter pulled a bottle of water
from their cooler and took a long drink. Then he stood and pulled off his shirt before taking Darcy’s hand and lifting her
to her feet.
“Swim with me?” he said.
She moved her finger over his jawline. “How can I ever say no to you?”
He lifted his eyebrows before tugging her toward the water, and she laughed.
Darcy let him pull her to the waves, and they ran in together, splashing just beyond where the waves met the shore.
When they came to a stop, he towed her over to him and kissed her until she was breathless. Darcy lost herself in the kisses
that nearly buckled her knees.
When he released her, he splashed her, and she laughed. Then he pulled her against him and kissed her again.
***
Carter spent the following morning with Darcy and her parents on her father’s impressive sailboat. Derek and Haven had left
after breakfast, leaving the four of them to enjoy the day together.
The sky was bright-blue and cloudless, and the air of the Coral Cove bay was warm and sweet. Carter and Darcy talked and laughed
with her folks, but even though her parents clearly went out of their way to make him feel comfortable, he couldn’t escape
the notion that he didn’t belong with her. He also couldn’t stop his secrets from burning his insides. He had to tell her
the truth himself before it ate him alive.
Carter looked out over the bay toward a group of seagulls calling out to each other. He owed Darcy the truth, and if she decided
to break up with him after he told her, he would be left gutted. Yet as much as the idea of losing her scared him, he couldn’t
continue to live this lie. It would be better to get the truth out in the open before he and Darcy got in too deep.
“Hey.” Darcy’s voice was close to his ear. “Are you okay?”
“Everything’s fine.”
Her green eyes were wide with worry. “You don’t look like everything is fine.”
“I promise it is.” He kissed her cheek. “In fact, I’m having the time of my life with you.”
She smiled, and relief filled him. “I am too.” She linked her fingers with his.
He kissed her, and when she rested her head on his shoulder, he hoped she’d still care about him when she found out his truth.