Page 39 of An Endless Memory

Cali kicked her feet and grinned. “He makes the best pancakes.”

A divot formed between Mom’s eyebrows. “Does he now?”

Why’d I feel like a teenager caught with a boy in my room?

Dad tapped his fingers against his knee. “He’s good with kids?”

“He has nieces and nephews.”

“Call him,” Mom said.

“I’m sure he won’t mind if we call him later.” How embarrassing though.

“Now,” she said. “While we’re still parked.”

I shot her an incredulous look in the rearview mirror. A grown woman does not simply ask how high when her parents tell her to jump. My former mother-in-law was a bitch, but she wasn’t wrong.

But my parents were worried. Rightfully so, after the way Carter treated me. I’d had a month to get used to the idea, and then a few days after announcing Eliot’s name. Mom and Dad hadn’t processed for a day yet.

“Call him up.” Dad pointed to the radio. “You can put him on the car speaker, right?”

They’d continue insisting, and if I didn’t, Dad might track down Cody at his house and ask for Eliot’s contact info. Calling Eliot was the least I could do to ease their nerves.

I grabbed my phone and groaned.

Violet: Why wouldn’t you tell us?!

Alder: Lily. Call me.

Poppy: WTF WTF WTF Is he at least hot?

Clover: Way to lock it down.

Jasper: Call me if you need me to beat him up.

That was the same thing Jasper said when I told him I was getting a divorce.

I let out a sigh. “I was going to let everyone know.”

“I thought you might’ve told them of your crazy-fast marriage. Or that they’d been invited,” Mom said pointedly.

I had only thought they’d disapprove and try to talk me out of it. Were they hurt I didn’t include them? Of course they were. Hurt, confused, and concerned.

“The timeline was escalated, I’ll admit. I hope you understand.”

Mom let out a heavy breath. “It’s your grandmother I’m upset with. And Linda. You shouldn’t have been put in that position. Not after—” She cut her gaze to Cali and snapped her mouth shut. “You should’ve called us.”

“I know, but you guys have done so much.” And that was all I could say. They’d have saved me in a heartbeat, just like they moved me to college. Just like they moved me again when I got into vet school. They’d moved me after a different quick wedding because I insisted I was in love with Carter and everything would be fine. Then they’d moved me back to Billings. Then to Crocus Valley.

At least this way, I was the only one inconvenienced. Me and my new husband. I dialed Eliot.

When he answered, wind blasted over the phone. “Lily pad. I was going to call later this evening.”

The way his deep voice boomed through the car was all kinds of soothing. He’d used a nickname and he didn’t know my parents were in the car. “You’re on speaker and my parents are very interested in talking to you. Is this a bad time?”

Another gust of wind came over the line. “Nah, I’ve got a few minutes. I’m on my way to get an escapee. She’s having a good time at the neighbor’s, but I don’t need her running into a bull quite yet.”

“Hi, Eliot!” Cali called.

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