Page 35 of Tangled Trust

"Yes, yes. Give me a second."

I dial Ella’s phone. It rings a few times before she answers.

"Hello, Carter. How’s my little tornado?"

"Great, thanks. Jagger’s good too."

She laughs, and my stomach turns all tingly.

"Jagger wants to say hi," I say, handing the phone over to my impatient little guy.

I listen for the next few minutes as he rattles on about his cousins and what they’ve been up to. I can hear Ella talking excitedly to Jagger. After a while, I tell Jagger that it’s time to hand back my phone. He and Ella say their goodbyes.

"Wow. It sounds like he’s having fun," she says.

"His cousins are running him ragged. Jagger may sleep for a few days once we get back. Or, not."

"Boundless energy. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could bottle their enthusiasm?"

"If only. I’d buy a bottle or two, for sure. How’s your visit with Anna?"

"Wonderful. It’s so good to hear the accent again. Are you enjoying your vacation with your sister?"

"Very much."

"I’m glad. It’s too quiet around here. Dash keeps rushing to the front door when he hears a car in the driveway. He’s missing his master."

"Don’t tell Dash, but I don’t think Jagger’s had time to even think about his sidekick."

"Mum’s the word."

"Enjoy your break. We’ll see you soon."

"Thanks, Carter. Oh, and thanks for the call."

I’m alone on the sundeck, contemplating my current situation. It’s damned if I do, damned if I don’t with Ella. Is Sophie right? Am I the kind of man who can’t be happy without a woman?

Once bitten, twice shy, I guess.

I thought Amanda was right for me, and look how that turned out. Can I really trust myself to choose better the next time around? Oh, who the hell knows?

But right now I’m on vacation. This isn’t something that happens too often, and I’m determined to enjoy Jagger and rest my brain. No immediate decisions for the future with regard to my business or personal life are allowed.

* * *

"You’ll never guess who I ran into this morning," Sophie says when she gets home from the market.

"How about a clue," I suggest.

"Let’s see. Uhm…this person used to semi-stalk you when you were in high school. She had a serious crush on you."

"No! Not Samantha."

"The very same."

"Really? Should I be worried?"

"I think you may be okay. She is wearing a large rock on her ring finger. Looks like she found her Mr. Right after all," Sophie says with a mischievous wink.

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