Page 134 of Gracefully Yours

His jawline was defined as I traced it with my fingers, feeling the slight roughness of his unshaved skin. I thought I liked it like that, even though he had always been clean-shaven before.

“You don’t have to say it back,” I murmured. “But I’m here. I’m in this for the long haul. Okay?”

Continuing to hold on to his face, I felt him nod in acknowledgement.

My phone rang, breaking the silence, ruining the moment.

But I didn’t move.

“Charlotte.”

“Hm?”

“Your phone.”

“Right.”

I picked it up.Mom.Our eyes connected, and that sinking feeling told me something waswrong.When was the last time she’d called me? Before my wedding, that was sure.

“Hi, Mom,” I said, sucking in a breath as I picked up the phone.

“Charlotte.” That was it. No hello. No preamble. Just myname.

“What’s going on?”

“Your sister needs you. I—she’s not due for another two weeks, and her husband is busy with a case, but—”

“Mom.” I frowned, interrupting her. “She can call me herself, you know.”

My mother sighed. “Lavender doesn’t want to bother you. She knows you just got married.”

“Okay?” I raised an eyebrow, even though I knew she couldn’t see me.

“She’s in labor. They’re worried that there will be complications, and—” My mother choked out a sob.

My eyes widened as I listened to her explain what was happening, and when I hung up the phone, I promised I’d be there soon.

“What’s wrong?” He asked me, his face full of worry. Forme.

It broke my heart a little, knowing what I had to say next.

“I have to go.”

CHAPTER32

Daniel

Ihave to go?She had just confessed her love for me when the phone rang, cutting off any chance of my reply.

Fuck, I had the worst timing on the planet. But she looked panicked, and I knew something had happened with her sister. Her mom might have been an overbearing helicopter parent who didn’t know quite when to step out of her daughter’s lives, but Charlotte still cared.

“Is everything okay?”

She shook her headno.

“What?”

“I have to go to California. Home.” The word made me wince. “My sister’s gone into labor. She…” Charlotte squeezed her eyes shut. “She needs me. There’s complications, and…” she said, and I could sense the weight of responsibility in her words. She trailed off, her voice fading as she shrugged her arms.

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