Page 30 of Adoring Delaney

I thought about her easy question but I didn’t have an easy answer. Did I have a nice time? No. But then my trip to the beach wasn’t meant to be. Did I find the peace I’d been after? That was a no, too. Had I come to the realization I’d never be at peace about the loss of my baby? Yes, I’d come to that heartbreaking conclusion.

“Yeah, it was great,” I lied.

“Right,” my mom whispered, knowing I wasn’t telling her the truth.

I heard the front door open and the sound of keys jingling. Before I could get off the phone with my mom Carter came into view holding takeout bags and a six pack of my favorite beer.

This was seriously unfortunate because my mom kept talking.

“I heard Carter went down to talk to you. Your dad said that didn’t go well.”

“Um.”

“He said when he and the guys found Carter he was in a bad way.”

Carter’s body locked and he stared at the phone.

“Um,” I repeated.

“Have you talked to him?”

“Mom, can we talk about this later?”

I stepped toward my phone but Carter had set down the bags and snatched it up before I could. Asshole. We went into a stare down and I gave him my best dirty look. He smiled.

Double asshole.

“No, sweetheart, we can’t. I’ve waited long enough to talk to you about him. I’ve watched and waited and hoped you’d come to me. You haven’t. I’ve given you both privacy and respect to work out what you both needed but that’s over. I know, sweetheart.”

Carter’s eyes held mine but now they were soft and understanding. As I waited to hear what my mother knew, I was statue still.

“I know how hard it is to love someone and know they’re putting up walls. I almost lost your dad because of it. I pushed him and he walked out. Do you know who finally broke through and made your dad realize what he’d thrown away?”

“Mom, maybe we can talk about—”

“Your aunt Lily.”

My eyes widened in shock.

“Mom! Car—”

“Actually,” Mom spoke over me again and I reached for the phone but Carter stepped back. “Lily reminded your dad of something he told her when she left your uncle Lenox. When two people are destined to be together and share the love that you two have, there is no getting over the other person. That was what your dad told Lily and what Lily reminded him of the day he left me. So, sweetheart, I think it’s pertinent that wisdom is passed down to you. I know it hurts. But, sweetie, you have to fight for him. He’s his father’s son. He’s headstrong and stubborn.” Carter shook his head at my mom’s accurate description and I smirked. Take that jerk. “He’s also the man who has loved you your whole life. And if I didn’t truly believe that, I would’ve let your dad loose on him. If I didn’t know the kind of love you have for him, the same love I have for your dad, I would’ve stepped in. All I want is for you to be happy. If that can’t happen with Carter in your life, then move on, and we’ll stand behind you. But before you make that decision, and fair warning, by what your dad said, Carter’s on the war path to get to you. Think about what your dad said, think about the kind of love the two of you share. If your answer is you can live a happy life without him, then kick him out and move on.”

Shit. Shit. Shit. What was I supposed to say to all that?

“And, Carter?” my mom called, making both of us jerk.

“Yeah?” he croaked.

“Do not make a liar out of me.”

My mom disconnected and Carter tossed my phone on the counter.

Before I could recover, Carter did, and he moved toward me. “Take a chance, Laney. Please take a chance on me, on us, on the future you know we were destined to have. Start over with me.”

“I need more than five hours,” I told him.

“No, you don’t. You need to go with your heart.”

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