Page 86 of A Forever Love

My heart first thuds and then lurches. I squeal in equal parts shock and fear. “Find a guy? What era do you think we’re living in?”

This time, Dad erupts into full-blown laughter, and I cherish every laugh line etched into his face. When he finally composes himself, he takes the picture from the box, and I open my locket. We swap the pictures, with Dad placing the older one of him, me, and Clem into the box. “I’ll keep it safe, don’t worry.”

I smile at his ability to read my thoughts. The locket remains open in my hands, and before I close it, Dad spots the other picture of me and Carter.

“Ah, Carter King is still living there, I see.”

“Did someone mention my name?” Carter stands near the door, holding a glass of clear soda. He looks incredibly handsome in a black suit paired with a sharp red tie.

“Why don’t I see a real drink in your hand?” Dad asks, rising from the swing.

I lock the locket and slip it into my skirt pocket.

“Because I’m driving your daughter back to Cherrywood,” Carter replies with a grin.

“Good answer, King.” Dad chuckles, patting Carter’s back. “She’s still the most precious cargo in the airplane of my life. Take the best care of her.”

My throat tightens. “Stop it, Dad. You’ll make me cry with all this sweetness.”

But he just grins. “Not a chance, Merry Belle. Come inside. I’ll pack both of you some leftovers.” Dad heads into the house.

Before I can follow him, Carter gently tugs my arm at the threshold. “You okay?” he asks.

I nod and smile. “It was a happy day.”

“You deserve it, mittens.”

* * *

It’s late by the time Carter and I leave Dad’s house. Instead of taking the highway to Cherrywood, he steers the car to the other side of the city. But I don’t mind. I’d go anywhere with this man. His hand rests on the steering wheel, the other holding mine, while Eric Clapton’s “You Look Wonderful Tonight” serenades us. Every so often, Carter brings my hand closer to his mouth, kissing it. If I weren’t afraid he’d think I’m a total dork, I’d have purred like a contented cat instead of trapping the sound inside.

He eventually stops outside the cemetery, and my chest warms.

“It’s been too long. I thought you might want to visit your mom and maybe even reintroduce me to her.”

“Reintroduce?” I raise an eyebrow.

“I’m not just your friend anymore, mittens.”

“No, you definitely aren’t.” My giggle is still lingering in the air as we exit the car. A driver from one of the parked cars approaches us, and it doesn’t take me long to recognize him as a member of the Kings Security staff. He hands Carter a pink paper bag—from Franny’s—and a bouquet of tulips, my mom’s favorite flowers.

“You’ve thought of everything.”

“When it comes to you, always.”

The cemetery air is calm and warm, as always. Holding Carter’s hand, I approach my mom’s gravestone.

There are fresh flowers, as if someone placed them today. “Clem must have been here.”

I’ve never quite understood Clem’s relationship with my mom. Even though they’ve never met, Clem’s knowledge of my mom’s preferences and dislikes is surreal, as if they were the closest of friends.

“Let’s sit.” Carter’s words interrupt my train of thought, and he eases onto the grass before helping me.

I slide in next to him, and he drapes his arm around me. Each movement is practiced, something we’ve done countless times before.

“Hi, Mom,” I whisper, closing my eyes. “How are you doing? I’m sorry I haven’t visited in the past four years, but I needed time to sort out my heart. Now, I wonder if I was just being a foolish teenager. Dad worries every moment that I might slip back into that darkness.” Lost in my emotions, I completely forget about Carter until he tenses behind me.

My eyes snap open, and I glance over my shoulder to find his jaw clenched. He keeps his gaze fixed on the ground but forces his words out. “If only you’d tell me what happened, Mere. I’d—”

---