Page 39 of Falling for the Forward

Carter’s beside us now, not letting me off that easy. I look up at him, trying to figure out what to say when the doorbell rings.

“I’ll get it!” Hallie runs off, Darling trotting behind her.

Charlotte looks between the two of us, reading the situation well and leaving, too. I stand up and take Carter’s hand.

“Let me handle it. I promise it’ll be okay.”

He looks over his shoulder, making sure Olivia is gone, too. “They have to think we’re madly in love. If they don’t, they’re going to hate me for asking you to marry me so fast.”

“I can--we can convince them. I think.”

“Where is this guy?”

I close my eyes as I hear my stepdad’s deep voice. Tony has always been more like a dad to me than a stepdad since I was a baby when my dad passed away and my mom married Tony three years after that.

Carter gives my hand a little squeeze and releases it, turning toward the family room just as my dad walks into the kitchen.

“Mr. Brennan, it’s great to meet you, sir.” Carter walks over to him and extends his hand. “I’m Carter Stanton.”

Dad ignores his hand, looking at me with an expression that’s a mix of anger and hurt.

“What is this, Suki? You married this man we’ve never even met? Is this a joke?”

My mom is right behind him, and when she sees Carter’s outstretched hand, she comes to the rescue.

“Tony.” She nods at Carter’s hand.

Dad begrudgingly reaches out and shakes Carter’s hand. Carter extends his hand to my mom next.

“Mrs. Brennan, I’m glad to finally meet you, ma’am. Thanks for making the trip to spend Thanksgiving with us.”

She shakes his hand and smiles. “I’m Reina and he’s Tony. Thank you for having us. We’re excited to meet your nieces and spend some time with all of you.” She takes my dad’s arm and looks up at him. “Aren’t we, Tony?”

“Yes,” my dad grates out, his eyes narrowed. “Really excited.”

I go over to my parents, hugging my mom tightly.

“Thank you, I love you,” I whisper in her ear.

Then I hug my dad, who softens. His expression is filled with love when he stands back and looks at me.

“I expected to get a visit from any man who wanted to marry my little girl. I thought I’d walk you down the aisle. Why did you have to rush things?”

I open my mouth to respond, but I can’t think of an answer. Carter jumps in.

“It was my fault, Mr. Brennan. Suki and I are so in love I just couldn’t wait another day to marry her. And you’re right. I should have asked your permission.”

Dad scowls at him. “You wouldn’t have gotten it. I don’t even know you.”

“How about some appetizers?” Harry says brightly. “I thought I’d put some things out on the buffet in the dining room.”

“It smells wonderful in here,” my mom says.

She grabs my dad’s arm and practically drags him from the kitchen. I look through the open doorway and see my brothers, Nate and Sean. Nate is bent down petting Darling and Sean is talking to Charlotte.

I don’t get to see my brothers enough. Nate is a firefighter in Des Moines and Sean is a middle school social studies teacher in Minneapolis.

Carter and I go into the family room together to greet them. They both hug us and congratulate us, but I can see my brothers not so secretly sizing Carter up.

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