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“And?”
“That’s it.” He spun to face his sister. “Shauna, I want you to stop looking for Dad.”
His sister blinked. “Why?”
“Because we don’t need him in our lives.”
“He needs to answer for why he hurt us.” She swallowed. “I want to know why we didn’t mean more to him. We’re his children.”
“It doesn’t matter. There’s nothing he can say to make up for the past, so let’s leave the past where it belongs—behind us.”
Her eyes narrowed, and she shook her head. “No, that’s not good enough.”
“It has to be, Shauna. I don’t want to see him, and I hope you’ll respect my feelings.” When she didn’t respond, he added, “Please, Shauna. I’m begging you not to do this. Please don’t hurt me this way.”
Shauna swallowed, but then a manufactured smile overtook her lips. “Did you ask Darcy to be your girlfriend?”
“Why are you deflecting?”
“I’m not deflecting, Carter,” she said. “I genuinely want to know. Darcy sounds perfect for you.”
“For once in your life, stop smothering me and treat me like the adult I am. I need you to listen to me. Don’t look for Dad, all right?”
She nodded, but deep down, he knew she wasn’t going to listen to him.
Turning, he headed up the stairs to his room over the garage.
***
“Now, Darcy,” Mom began the following afternoon, “your dad mentioned you have a new friend. His name’s Carter, right?”
Taking a sip of sweet tea, Darcy peered out over the deck toward her parents’ pool while she considered how much to tell her mother. Thanks, Dad.
Mom gave her a knowing smile. “Let me guess. You think your dad already clued me in on everything, and I’m just fishing for info.”
“You said it, not me.” Darcy felt her lips twitch.
Mom laughed. “Now tell me, Darcy. Your dad said he really liked him. He said he was very friendly and respectful. Apparently he looked completely flummoxed when your dad handed him the keys to the Dodge.”
“Yeah, I think Dad likes him.”
“You know he doesn’t give the keys to his truck to just anybody.”
“That’s true.” Darcy set her glass on the table and smiled. “He took me on a picnic yesterday.”
“A picnic? How thoughtful.”
“Yeah, it was, and we had a lot of fun.” Darcy filled her in on their afternoon.
“Do you like him?” Mom asked.
“Yes.” A lot. She paused. “I guess you could say we’re seeing each other.”
Before falling asleep last night, Darcy recalled how they’d poured their hearts out to each other, held hands, sat close together, laughed on the swings... And that hug...
Then she had thought about Jace, and the familiar guilt set in.
Darcy pulled her phone from her pocket and checked it again. Carter still hadn’t texted her.
