Page 11 of Tangled Passion

“What is this on your face?” were the first words out of her mouth.

Carter threw his head back and laughed. “The beard is easier to take care of.”

“But I can’t see your handsome face.”

He rolled his eyes and chuckled when she finally greeted him with her usual scream. He’d been waiting for it.

“Oh my God. Wait. Why are you here today? Not that I’m complaining, but what a wonderful surprise.”

“I was signed up for a conference, and I need to be back early for the day after tomorrow, so I decided to come today. I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to see you.”

“How did I get so lucky to have such great kids?”

He pulled her into his arms again. “Because we had the best mom in the world.”

She sniffed and then laughed. She stepped back and wiped her eyes. “Stop, or you’ll make me cry.”

He rolled his eyes. “Everything makes you cry.”

She gasped softly and smacked his arm. “That is not true.”

“You cried on the first day of school every year. Even in my senior year of high school and college.”

“Because I enjoyed being with you guys so much. I always hated the end of summer.”

“Most parents were sick of their children and celebrated the first day of school.” He shook his head, chuckled, went back to his SUV, and grabbed his overnight bag. He wrapped his free arm around his mom’s shoulders, and they talked as they walked up to the lodge.

“Daisy, here’s my son, Carter, I was telling you about.”

“Ooh, the bigwig doctor.”

Carter snorted.

“I’ve never seen a mother so proud of her children before.”

Carter chuckled and glanced at his mom. “Oh, Lord. Is she driving you crazy?”

“Hey!” Madelyn exclaimed.

The two young people chuckled.

“Not at all. It’s actually very sweet.”

Madelyn turned to her son. “You’re going to have to bunk with me, Baby. There are no extra rooms at the moment. I’ve got a king-size bed, but if you’d rather, Daisy said we could bring in a fold-a-bed.”

“No, the bed’s great. It won’t be the first or last time we share a bed.”

Madelyn chuckled. “That’s true.” She laughed and turned to Daisy. “Does he have to sign in?”

“Yes.” Daisy nodded and pushed the sheet toward him. “Just sign here,” she said and pointed. She grinned when he finished. “Dinner is ready if you guys want to go in now. I can have Matt take your bag up.”

“Just put it on my bill.”

Carter patted his stomach. “That would be great. I’m starving.”

Madelyn snorted. “You’re always hungry.”

“Hey, I’m a growing boy.”

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