Page 35 of The Right Wrong Number

Killian:No thanks necessary. Like I said, I didn’t really do anything. Jilly was super excited that she got to hear the baby’s heartbeat.

Caroline:It was nice to have her there. Emotional, but wonderful at the same time. Which pretty much describes my entire pregnancy, to be honest.

Killian:Have you decided what you’re going to do after the baby comes? I know you’re graduating and living with your parents. But are you staying there?

Caroline:I don’t know. I go back and forth. Part of me wants to move back, you know? I want to be close to Jilly and her dad. I want to see Bent and Cap. I want the baby to be around Dicer’s friends and family. I feel like I need that connection for him.

Killian:Makes sense.

Caroline:I keep waiting for the answer to present itself. Like a sign from the universe or something equally as ridiculous.

Killian:Maybe start with some of the logistics? Where would you live? Who would watch the baby while you work?

Caroline:So all the things that stress me out?

Killian:Unfortunately.

Caroline:My parents have been amazing, and I know staying here is the easiest option. But…

Killian:But easy doesn’t usually mean right.

Caroline:Exactly. To be honest, I don’t even know what right is anymore.

Killian:Forget what I said about logistics then. Sometimes to find the right path, you need to think with your heart not your head.

Caroline:You’re like a fortune cookie in a text message.

Killian:I aim to please.

Caroline:Jilly said as much.

Killian:Whoa. Was that a joke? Are you smiling on the other end of this phone? I don’t think I’ve ever known you to be laughing and happy. I like it.

Caroline:I definitely have more lighter days than heavy ones recently.

Killian:I think that’s called healing.

Caroline:I feel guilty when I’m happy. I lost the love of my life. I shouldn’t ever get to be happy again. People lost a son. Jilly lost a brother. Bent and Cap lost their best friend. How are we allowed to experience joy when Dicer isn’t around to experience it with us?

Killian:You’re allowed because you’re human. You’re still alive, your heart is still beating. You’re allowed because Dicer loved you, each one of you. The last thing he’d want is to watch the people who he most cared about sink into a pit of gloom and nothingness. What if you were gone and he was still here? Live like you’d want him to.

Caroline:Thank you. I never know how badly I need to read your words, until you write them.

Killian:You’re more than welcome, sweetheart.

Bentley + Killian

Bentley:Dinner is in an hour.

Killian:You nervous?

Bentley:Yeah. I want them to like her, and I want her to like them. And, I want them to be happy for me when I tell them I’m moving across the country.

Killian:They will be. They want you to be happy, man, you know that.

Bentley:I don’t want to upset this new delicate normal we’ve got going on.

Killian:You can’t live your life that way. It isn’t fair to you. People fall in love. People move. The world keeps spinning, whether you feel like it should or not.

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