Page 117 of Pink and Country

“It was his wish, dear. We’ve learned to accept it. It took us a long time. Don’t blame yourself anymore. We’ve made our peace with it. You should too.” Mrs. Benson took my hand in hers.

An hour later, we parted ways, and my heart felt lighter.

I wheeled out the driveway, my only wish being to lose myself in Carter’s arms. To let his strength wash over me. To feel his love. And to love him back.

What was I doing here?

Why did I refuse to go with him to Seattle? Every reason seemed futile now.

Taylor had the night off. When I offered at first, he declined. I insisted. Then I promised to call him after dinner to soothe his worries. I didn’t need a twenty-four-seven security detail following me around. He finally agreed.

“Go out. Have dinner or something. Reed told me he has the night off in case you want to hang out with him.” I hated the idea Taylor had to put his life on the back burner to babysit me.

He answered on the first ring.

When I got home, Taylor waited for me, his back against the front door, his hands linked in front of him, seriousness in his gaze. I fought a smile at the image he made, of some sort of Secret Service agent, on my front porch.

“Never thought I’d have 007 waiting for me at home,” I joked the moment I eased out of my car. Taylor kept his composure, but I noticed a small twitch of his lips and a glint in his eyes. Whether or not he wanted it, we’d be good friends soon. I could tell. Taylor opened the door and stepped aside so I’d get in first. I turned around as soon as he shut the door to face him, tilting my head back to meet his eyes. Beside him, I looked like a child as he towered over me by more than a foot and was about twice my width. “Listen, I’ve got a plan. And I need to know if you’re on board.”

Seated in the kitchen, we indulged in chocolate chip cookies over tea. “The first flight to Seattle tomorrow morning is at seven. You’re in?”

“Absolutely.”

With my credit card in hand, I purchased two tickets online. I was done waiting for my life to happen. Time to woman up. Nana would be proud. Tonight something shifted in me. In some twisted way, Mr. and Mrs. Benson granted me permission to start living again. Their approval to fall in love again had set me free.

Taylor sent a text message to Ed about our surprise arrival the next day and asked him to keep quiet about it. We needed an insider for my perfect plan to unfold as I imagined.

“I know you’re not used to flying coach, but I don’t own a private jet,” I teased with a wink.

“You know I could’ve chartered you a private plane or got first-class tickets, April.”

“No, I want to do this on my own.”

“You’re a special one, April. Carter is lucky to have you in his life. And don’t worry about me, I love remembering where I come from. I always choose to fly economy when I travel on my own.”

Taylor’s words had made their way to my heart and brought a smile to my lips.

26

Carter

“U ncle Carter, why are you smiling so much?” Tristan asked. He tugged at my shirt, and I snapped back to reality.

“Sorry, buddy.”

“Why are you smiling so much? You look like a crazy person. You never smile like that. Are you sick? Did you tell Mommy? She cares for me when I’m sick.” I shook my head and laughed my heart out.

“It’s okay. I’m just very, very happy. That’s all. I haven’t been happy in a long time.” I shrugged. “Now I’m smiling all the time. Even if I do end up looking like a lunatic.”

“What’s a lunatic?”

My jaw worked back and forth. I repeated his own words. “A crazy person.”

The image of April’s friend rolling her lips over her teeth when we came back downstairs after we had our “talk” two days ago flashed through my mind. No doubt she heard us professing our love to each other. Taylor and Ed too. I offered Saunders a lopsided smile, the glint in my eyes probably visible from space, when I left her house, April in tow, walking me to the car, flustered and light on her feet.

With April, I was back to being a teenager all over again.

Last night, I gave a concert to a sold-out stadium, and I barely remember singing a verse. My head and heart stayed on the East Coast. Only my body made it back here.