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“Was your transplant at the main hospital in Charlotte?” he asked.
She nodded.
“Mine was too.” He turned toward the main road and rubbed his eyes. “Did you receive a kidney from a man who donated for his daughter?” His words were gravelly as if he were trying to hold his swelling emotions back.
“Yes.” She squinted in confusion. “How’d you know that?”
She waited for him to continue, but when he remained quiet, irritation wafted over her. “Carter? What aren’t you telling me?”
“My donor was a man who was my age, twenty-seven. And he gave in exchange for his fiancée.” His voice was strained.
The pieces began to fall into place, and Darcy clapped her hands over her mouth. She took a step back from him and felt as if the ground was crumbling beneath her and tilting the world.
“Darcy, do you understand what I’m saying?” His voice vibrated.
She was frozen, unable to respond.
“Shauna gave a kidney to a sixteen-year-old girl. You received a kidney from that girl’s father.” He sniffed again as his eyes became puffy.
She took another step away from him. Her thoughts were foggy.
“Darcy, we were part of the same kidney swap. My donor... my donor must have been Jace.”
“No, no, no. That can’t be.” Her temples began to throb.
He shoved his hands into his pockets and remained silent.
“Are... are you sure?”
Carter took a shaky breath. “Who was Jace told he donated to?”
“A man who was his age.”
“Right.” He swiped tears off his cheeks. “I’m sorry, Darcy, but there’s no doubt that person was me.”
Darcy tried to mask the pain as her hands shook. “It’s not possible...” But the truth stood between them like a chasm, waiting to swallow them whole.
Darcy rested her hand on her forehead. This was a nightmare. This couldn’t be true, but it was true.
Another truth hit her. “You knew this last night but didn’t tell me?”
“I didn’t figure it out until after I called you and apologized. I was trying to fall asleep when I tied the threads together. I wanted to tell you in person.” He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.
She studied Carter as his words wrapped around her heart. Jace had been Carter’s donor. He was walking around with a piece of Jace—the last piece of Jace—inside his body.
Darcy’s chest felt as if it might implode. There was no way she could be with Carter and live in peace. Being with him would remind her of Jace’s death every day, reopening the wound she thought Carter’s love had healed.
Tears burned her eyelids.
“I’m sorry, Carter, but I can’t see you anymore,” she said, her words raspy.
“I know.” His voice hitched as he swiped at his red eyes. “You’ll always be reminded of Jace.”
Tears poured down her face.
“I’m truly sorry, Darcy.”
Carter pulled her into his arms, and his lips met hers. She held on to his shoulders as his mouth explored hers with a hunger and intensity she’d never felt before. Every cell in her body stirred to life, and with their tears mingling, they continued to share the most passionate kiss Darcy had ever experienced.
