Page 75 of Right in Front of You

“We’re not there yet?”

“No way.”

I took Molly’s hand and led her around the bend where the small rowboat was waiting for us: except it had an engine. It would have been more romantic if I were physically capable of rowing myself, but my body wasn’t still up to par.

“Let me help you in.” I removed my shoes and rolled up my jeans before picking Molly up in my arms.

“What are you doing? You can’t—”

“I can and I will. No arguments.”

“But your wounds—”

“I said no arguments, Molly.” Her arms were around my neck with her body snuggled against mine. “Otherwise I’ll need to spank you.”

She wiggled in my grip as if getting her ass ready for the sweet threat. Once I set her down in the boat, I hopped in, not as swiftly as I would have liked, and started the engine. Molly sat patiently as I steered around the island in the middle of Pebble Lake, until a small yacht appeared behind it. Okay, so maybe I’d stretched the time on the half hour to our destination. It was more like five minutes.

“Carter? What is this?”

“Your surprise.”

“You got me a yacht?”

“Not exactly. Max actually purchased it last week and was nice enough to lend it to us for the night.”

“That was nice of him.”

“Yes, it was.”

I couldn’t wait until Molly saw the rest of the surprise, and I didn’t have to wait too long because my most favorite girl in the world was already standing at the bow, waving. “Uncle Carter! This way!”

“Is that Mackenzie?” Molly smiled. Her mouth stretched even wider when she saw Joelle and Nick emerge from behind and wave to us as well.

“Hi, Molly!” Nathan yelled out.

“My brother’s here?” she asked, surprised.

I pulled up to the back and Nick helped me tie the boat to the yacht.

“This way, my lady.” I reached for Molly, guiding her onto the deck.

“Congratulations!” Joelle was the first to welcome her friend and squeeze her tightly.

Mackenzie took the opportunity to jump in my arms. “I missed you so much, Uncle Carter.”

“I missed you more.”

She giggled.

“What are the congratulations for?” I heard Molly ask. I gently set Mackenzie down and asked her to bring out the surprise with her father. Not only did Molly not know we’d be on a yacht tonight, but she also didn’t know why. I gently touched her waist from behind and whispered in her ear, “Congratulations on becoming a doctor.”

Right on cue, Nick and Mackenzie rolled out a cake Jo had baked this morning. It was a scrub uniform with a marzipan stethoscope. A dozen or so sparklers flickered on top.

“This is for me?”

“Of course it’s for you. It’s the least we could have done. You’re an actual doctor, Molly! That’s unbelievable.” Joelle hugged her friend again.

“Thank you, guys. You really didn’t have to.”

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