Page 49 of Return By Fire

“Right,” I mutter.

The week we spent at the beach house in Newport, where I dodged Nick’s questions about Maris, passed by in a blur. I was in such a hurry to get back to Florida. To Dean. One thing still lingers with me from that trip though. Other than Brad, none of my friends are in serious relationships.

I ask Jennings if he’s considered it. He hoots, “Are you for real?”

“Very.” I think back to Kara’s honey-colored eyes.

“When would I have time? Furthermore, who would accept me as I am—getting up and going on a moment’s notice?”

“For real, don’t you want to settle down one day? Find the one woman who you’d give up anything to have, who could give you everything you ever wanted?”

Jennings declares bluntly, “She doesn’t exist, buddy.”

My laugh is hollow when I draw up a mental image of Kara beaming down at a grinning Kevin. “Jennings, one day, you’re going to realize everything you ever wanted has been waiting right in front of you, and you never realized you could have had it all.”

“If that’s the case, I give you permission to slap me upside the head to wake me up.”

“I look forward to it,” I tell him honestly.

I hear Lou break through on Jennings’s side. “Buddy, I hate to do this but...”

“You have to go.”

“Yeah. I’ll call you soon?” he promises.

“Sounds good. Hey, Jennings?”

“Yeah?”

“You know I love you guys—all of you. Right?” I tack on anxiously. I don’t know why I feel the need to say it so explicitly; I just do.

I can picture the smile tipping his lips behind his beard, smile lines crinkling the corner of his green eyes—so like his son’s. “Yeah, Jed. Same goes. Love you guys too.”

Then he ends the call.

I feel arms settle in around my waist, pulling me back against a hard body. Dean leans his chin against my shoulder. “Everything okay?”

I manage to nod.

We stand there for a long while before I admit, “It didn’t feel right to tell him—not without Kara knowing. Not without her approval.”

“Can you live with your choice?” His voice holds a wealth of concern, not just for the monumental decision his sister’s keeping but for me. For our love.

Tears burn behind my eyes even as I reconfirm my choice. “Yes.”

My for now is left unspoken between us because Dean likely suspects I will keep pushing this issue with Kara. I want my whole family to be reunited.

Somehow, I’ll figure out a way to make it happen.

Someday.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Seven Years Ago

The oceanfront luxury of our accommodations on the island of Bonaire makes me reminisce to Kara as she fiddles with the collar of my blue guayabera shirt, “It reminds me of Gram and Gramps’s place on Amelia Island.”

“I know. When Maris first sent the site to me to check it out, I had the same reaction.” She fiddles with my collar a bit more, flicking off what I suspect is an imaginary piece of lint.

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