CHAPTER 30
Evelyn
“There,” I said, setting my phone down on the dinner table. After a series of long, and by long I mean long conversations, I finally gave up my phone. My parents wouldn't stop calling to voice their disappointment, and Hannah kept leaving messages threatening to tell them about my relationship with Nathan.
Nathan and Carter had insisted that in order for me to relax and actually rest I needed to tune out the rest of the world. Listening to my mom's voicemail proved them right.
“It smells delicious,” I said with a smile.
“Thank the small Chinese place around the corner.” He winked.
That was the happiest I'd seen him since Nana passed. I studied the old man while Nathan and he served the food on disposable plates. He'd spent most of his life working with my family, most of the time raising my sister and me since my parents had never been around. He was the closest thing to a father I knew.
And I was glad.
Somewhere along the lines the values Carter and Nana had instilled stuck, and for that I was thankful. I was different from my family but that difference was good.
Nate set a plate in front of me, the one with the most food, and I glared.
“I'm not going to finish all this,” I said with a shriek.
“Yes, you are,” he countered with a smile. “Go on, start.”
It took the first bite for me to realize how hungry I truly was. Nathan and Carter made conversation while we ate, but I was so focused on the food that I could hardly listen to what they said. That was until the word divorce came up.
“What?” I asked, eyes widening when I heard the word.
Nathan took my hand, squeezing it gently. “Hannah is being served divorce papers now.”
“What?” I asked once again. “Now?”
Nathan nodded with a smile. I laughed happily, it seemed like it was all coming to an end.
“It's almost over,” Nathan comforted, leaning in and pressing a kiss on my cheek. I giggled, leaning into his touch. He turned his attention to Carter, smiling at the man who'd been a lot like a father to him for the past years. “We're leaving Pennsylvania,” he stated.
Carter's eyes widened in alarm and though he tried to mask it, the sadness was still visible. “Oh. When will that be?”
“As soon as the divorce papers are signed,” Nathan said. He glanced my way, seeking my approval and I gave him a single nod, eager to see Carter's reaction. “We want you to come with us,” Nathan stated.
I thought it impossible, but his eyes widened even more, this time with pure joy.
“What about this house? And your grandma's?”
“Keep it,” I said. “Everything will stay as is in case we come to visit. Or you can sell your house. Whatever you want, Carter. But I don't want you to be alone.”
I stood up and sat next to him, taking his hand in mine; hands that had worked hard to make an honest living, hands that had held me when I was just a child, comforted me when I'd scraped a knee.
“Evelyn, you don't have to do that,” he said with a warm smile. “I'm an old man and your life with Nathan is just now starting. I've lived, it's only fair I let you two live in peace.”
Shaking my head, I looked back at the man staring at me with tear-filled eyes. “You've done a lot for me, Carter,” I replied. “It's only fair that now I do something for you.”
“I won't be a bother?” Carter asked, this time asking Nathan.
“Not at all, Carter. We'd be honored to have you with us.”
Carter sniffled, eyes shining with tears of happiness.
“So, where are we going?”