Page 2 of A Forever Love

Carter kneels down. “What do you say, new friend? I’ve got movies, colors, and cookies. Would you like to hang out with me while your dad has his meeting?” His eyes remain hidden behind dark sunglasses, but his smile radiates.

I shift my gaze from the cheerful man to Dad, and then we both look toward a corner table with a plate of cookies, a laptop, and art supplies.

“Is that okay with you, Mere?”

At Dad’s words, the fear monster knocks at my heart once again. The thought of him being out of my sight paralyzes my tiny body. But, for the first time, there’s a smile on Dad’s face. Maybe this job will make him happy again.

I nod and return my gaze to Carter, who’s still grinning like a man from a toothpaste commercial.

“I’ll be back soon, honey,” Dad says, but he doesn’t move, standing like a statue in the spot even after I settle on the couch.

When Carter offers me the cookie plate, my chest tightens. Chocolate chip raisin cookies. Mom’s favorite. I grab one, though the thought of tasting it aches my stomach. I ignore the growing pain and wave at Dad.

“Go, Dad. I’ll be good. I promise.”

“You’re the best, sweetheart,” he mouths, a small smile tugging at his lips. It’s not his usual happy smile, but at least he’s not sad.

Once he’s gone through the door on the other side, I place the uneaten cookie back on the plate.

“What happened? You don’t like it?” Carter sits at the other end of the couch, his long legs sprawled before him.

When I turn to face him, he slowly takes off his sunglasses, and I feel like my tiny heart can’t function anymore. His irises are deep green, exactly like my mom’s. I have to close my eyes. I don’t realize tears are racing down my cheeks until I hear Carter’s low voice right in front of me.

“Hey, hey. What happened?” He sounds like my dad when I wake up at night screaming—lost and helpless, as if he doesn’t know what to do with me.

I bite my lip, ensuring I don’t make any noise. I don’t want Dad to hear me, but the tears continue to leak from my eyes.

“What happened, Merida?” Carter asks again, his voice a bit calmer, as if he’s figured out I’m not going to make a scene. “Did I say something wrong?”

I shake my head and wipe my face with the back of my hand. “I just remembered my mom. Your eyes look the same as hers,” I blurt out.

Carter scrunches his face in confusion.

He doesn’t know.

“My mom is dead,” I whisper.

“I’m so sorry, Merida. I didn’t know.”

“It’s okay,” I reply quickly.

As if he can see I don’t want to talk about it, Carter asks, “Do you want me to put my sunglasses back on?”

I think for a second and nod. “I think so.”

He puts them back on and finally turns to me, showing off his dimpled grin. “Better?”

Carter goes back to his spot on the couch and turns on his laptop. “I got this movie after my uncle told me your name. It’s very…different.”

I turn to face him as he shows me the DVD of Brave with Princess Merida’s picture holding her bow and arrow. This was my favorite bedtime story.

“My mom wanted me to be brave.”

Unlike other people, whose expressions quickly morph into confusion or awkwardness, Carter’s smile remains intact. “I think you are a brave person. You’re helping your dad while he’s at a job interview.”

“Do you work here?” I ask, changing the topic. I don’t think I’m helping enough anyway. If that were the case, my dad wouldn’t be so sad all the time.

“Not yet. But I can’t wait to start as soon as I finish school.”

---