Chapter 18
When they arrived back at the beach house after sailing, Josie and Ross disappeared into their bedroom on the far side of
the house. Then Carter took Darcy’s hand and pulled her into the family room.
“Could we go for a walk before we leave?” he asked, anxious to get his secret off his chest.
“Sure.” Darcy’s eyes seemed to search his. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I need to talk to you, and I don’t want to do it while I’m driving.”
She nodded slowly. “I’ll let my parents know where we’re going, okay?”
When they reached the boardwalk, Carter was relieved to find their bench empty. They took a seat, and he brushed his sweaty
hands down his shorts.
“Carter, what’s going on?” she asked.
“I, uh... I just need to tell you something.”
“Okay.” She placed her hand on his, and the warmth of her skin gave him strength to move forward.
He looked out toward the waves and tried to find the right words. “I live with my sister.” He snuck a glance at her, but she
only shrugged.
“Okay.”
“There’s more to it. I went through a tough financial period a few years ago. I had some unexpected medical costs come up, and I had to move out of my apartment. My brother-in-law’s parents kept me on the payroll even though I couldn’t do much in the shop. My sister helped me out tremendously.” He paused and considered talking about being on dialysis and having a kidney transplant, but he realized he wasn’t ready to share that piece of himself with her—at least not yet.
She touched his cheek as concern filled her face. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine now, but the medical costs took a toll. I took out a consolidation loan, but it’s taking me longer than expected
to pay it off. I thought I’d be back on my feet by now, but it looks like it will be another two years or so before I can
find my own place again.”
She nodded and smiled. “That’s okay.”
He narrowed his eyes and searched hers for any sign of disapproval. “Okay?”
Her brow puckered. “Why are you looking at me like that? What did you expect me to say?”
“I-I don’t know. I’m afraid of disappointing you.”
She opened her mouth and closed it, then shifted closer to him. “Why would you think I’d be disappointed in you?”
He brushed his hands down his face. “Darcy, you’re amazing, and your parents are amazing. I just can’t give you what they
can. I—”
“Whoa!” She touched his shoulder. “Carter, look at me.”
He lifted his gaze to her, awaiting her admonishment.
“Carter, I care about you— deeply . I’m not concerned about how much money you make or what you have. I care about you .” Her eyes searched his. “Do I give you the impression that I’m materialistic?”
He shook his head. “No, not at all.”
“Then what are you afraid of?”
“That I’m not good enough for you.” He cast his eyes down toward the boardwalk. “Some women may not be as understanding.”
She lifted his chin and captured his lips with hers. He leaned into the kiss, and his thoughts became fuzzy.
When she pulled away, she gave him a mischievous grin. “You passed the test. You are really, really good for me.”
A bark of laughter escaped his mouth.
“Carter, I care about you and want you in my life. I hope I’ve made that clear.”
He shook his head. “Nope, not yet. But one more kiss might do the trick.” Then he kissed her again and felt himself relax.
Darcy was even more amazing than he had realized.
When they pulled apart, she placed her hand flat against his chest. “We’d better get on the road soon. We have a three-and-a-half-hour
drive ahead of us and work tomorrow.”
***
“I wish we could have stayed at the beach for another week,” Darcy said later that evening as Carter carried her backpack
and her suitcase up the steps to her front door. She pulled out her key and unlocked it.
He set her luggage on the small porch. “I agree.” He leaned down, and his lips did things that made her knees feel like cooked
noodles.
“ Now am I invited to your birthday party?” she asked with a grin.
He folded his arms over his wide chest. “Why would I invite my girlfriend to my birthday party?” he teased before kissing
her again. “I’ll text you, and I hope to see you before then.”
“You’d better.”
Carter gathered her in his arms. “Have a good day tomorrow.”
“I’ll miss you until I see you again.” She looked up at him. “One more kiss?”
“Yes, ma’am.” After kissing her one last time, Carter handed her the key fob for her car and then loped down the front steps.
She smiled as he climbed into his truck and started the engine. He waved before backing out of her drive.
As she entered her house, Darcy contemplated their conversation on the boardwalk before they’d left Coral Cove. When he’d
mentioned an unexpected medical problem, she’d been worried he would tell her he was still ill. She was relieved he was well
now, but curiosity nipped at her.
She wondered what the medical issue was, but she also understood wanting to keep that information private. She would never
pry or ask him questions he wasn’t ready to answer. Even so, she hoped one day he would feel comfortable enough to tell her
what he’d been through. Just like she hoped to share her own past one day.
Darcy placed her luggage on the bench by her door while she reconsidered Carter’s worries about his self-worth. She hoped
she could find a way to prove to him that she cared for him and didn’t care about his financial situation.
As she locked the door behind her and picked up her luggage, Darcy knew one thing for sure: Carter had carved out a piece
of her heart, and she trusted him to hold it.
***
Carter whistled a Montgomery Gentry tune as he walked into the house. He was still thinking about kissing Darcy when he entered
the family room, where Shauna was watching a movie and Gage was clicking through car videos on his laptop. He waved on his
way to the stairs, but when Shauna paused the movie, he stopped moving forward and turned toward them.
“How was the beach?” Gage asked.
Carter nodded. “Great.”
“Sit for a minute,” Shauna said.
Carter pointed toward the stairs. “I really need a shower. I’ll come back down after I’m changed.” He started toward the stairs
and then jogged up them.
“Wait, Carter.” His sister trailed after him.
He set his bag on his bed and then turned toward her standing in the doorway. “What’s up?”
“I want to hear more about your weekend.”
Carter described Darcy’s parents’ beautiful house and boat, and he filled her in on the high points of their time there. “It
was great to get away and relax,” he said.
Shauna tapped the doorframe. “Are you and Darcy official now?”
He nodded.
“So I’ll get to meet her on your birthday?”
“Yup.”
Shauna lingered in the doorway, seemingly hesitant about something.
Dread pooled in his gut as he dropped onto the edge of his bed and pointed to a chair. “You look like you want to talk. Have
a seat.”
She sat down on the chair by his desk, and her serious expression sent a flare of worry through him.
“What is it, Shauna?”
She huffed a breath. “I think I found Dad.”
“What?” His eyes narrowed. “I asked you not to look for him,” he snapped. “Did you do this just to spite me?”
“Of course not, Carter,” Shauna said.
“Why would you want to find him, Shauna? He was never there for us when we needed him most. What could you possibly hope to
gain from talking to him?”
“Just calm down, okay?” Her voice implored him. “I haven’t spoken to Dad yet, but I think he might be in Tennessee. I remember Mom mentioning he had an uncle there. I’ve been searching social media, and then I found someone who is starting a private investigator business. He said he’d give me a discount if I let him help me.”
“That’s great,” he deadpanned. His hands trembled, and he looked for something to keep them busy. He opened his bag and carried
his toiletries to his small bathroom, where he set some on the counter and others on the shelf in his medicine cabinet.
Shauna appeared in the bathroom doorway, and he glared at her.
“If our so-called father cared about us, then he would have been here a long time ago,” Carter seethed. “He knew where Nana
and Grandpa lived. He could have come at any time. Why are you insisting on finding him after what he did to us? What he did
to Mom ?” He swallowed as his eyes stung. “Don’t you remember how much he hurt her?”
“I remember all of it.” Tears glistened in her dark eyes. “You’re right that he doesn’t care, but I need to talk to him. I want to know why
he abandoned Mom and us, and I want him to know what you went through with your kidney disease.”
He shook his head. “Don’t bother, Shauna. All he’s going to do is hurt you again. You’re wasting your time. If you talk to
him, don’t even mention me. If he asks how I am, tell him it’s none of his business because he doesn’t have a son. I don’t
want or need him in my life.”
She shoved her hands in the pockets of her jean shorts and gave him a withering glare. “Then that’s what I’ll do.” She backed
out of his bathroom. A few moments later, he heard the door to his bedroom click shut.
Carter dropped down onto the lid of the commode and rubbed his hands down his face. Why hadn’t Shauna respected his feelings
and abandoned this ridiculous plan? If Carter came face-to-face with his father, he would turn and walk the other way—but
if his father came looking for him, he would have to face Carter’s fury.