Ding-dong!
She jumps to the floor, eyes wide, already running out of my room. “Daddy!”
“Look outside before you open it! We’ve been getting a lot of salespeople lately.”
“Okay!”
I’m not sure she’ll remember between running downstairs and the excitement of answering the door. In her world, there isn’t much more that’s as exciting as opening the front door.
I race after, but by the time I get to the bottom of the stairs, Kady already has the door wide open. Luckily, it’s Anchor at the door. He’s wearing a V-neck that clings to his muscular frame and his dark hair hangs just to the sides of his eyes. His whole look makes my knees go weak. I lean against the railing and regain my balance before walking over to him.
He spins Kady around, then smiles at me with a glimmer in his eyes.
I’m going to need knee-replacement surgery.
Anchor sets Kady down and wraps his arms around me before my legs give out. “Hello, gorgeous.” He presses his lips on mine and I melt into his arms, barely aware of Kady dancing around, singing about us sitting in a tree.
My life is seriously perfect.
Except for the fact that we start classes tomorrow. But I shove that thought from my mind. For now, life couldn’t get any better.
Anchor glances at his fitness watch. “We should get going. Your mom, Rogan, and Kenna will beat us to the restaurant.”
“Let’s go!” Kady tugs on us, pulling toward the door.
“I wish I had that kind of energy.” Anchor shakes his head.
“You and me both.” I grab my purse from the coatrack and lock the door once we’re outside.
As soon as we’re settled into Anchor’s car, he puts his hand in the air. “I have a surprise for someone in this car.”
I arch a brow, not sure I can take any more surprises. I’m still trying to take in the fact that we’re really engaged.
“Who’s it for?” Kady squeals.
Anchor scrunches his face like he’s deep in thought. “I think it’s for a certain little lady.”
Kady claps. “That’s me! It’s me!”
He smiles, then turns back to look at her. “Are you sure?”
“Yes! I’m the little lady!”
I hold back a laugh, loving the fact that she’s so excited and he’s clearly enjoying this so much.
Anchor nods, obviously trying to look serious but having as much trouble not laughing as I am. “I think you’re right.”
“What is it? What’d you get me?”
I can hear her bouncing in her car seat.
“It’s the brand new album of your favorite singing band.”
Kady gasps. “Captain Silly and His Band of Pirates?”
“That would be the one.” Anchor turns on the music, blaring an over-the-top peppy tune.
She claps. “Yay! Thank you!”
We do our best to sing along with the songs we don’t know yet, drawing attention from people in other cars. Kady’s having a great time, so I don’t care what anyone else thinks.
When we pull into the parking lot, my mom, brother, and sister-in-law are climbing out of Mom’s car. Once Anchor unbuckles Kady, she runs over to them, telling them about the new album.
I put my arm around Anchor and kiss him. “I think you made her day.”
“You sure? I couldn’t tell if she liked it or not.” He snickers.
I tickle his side.
“Hey!” He laughs and pokes my side.
I jump, then tickle him back until he gets me again.
“That looks like fun!” Rogan pokes Kenna.
“Stop!” She laughs and swipes at him. “Careful, remember?”
“Remember what?” Kady asks.
“Nothing,” Kenna replies. “Let’s see that rock on your mommy’s finger.”
Kady’s eyes widen. “You mean the ring?” She pulls Kenna over and grabs my arm to show her my engagement ring. “Daddy gave it to her. They’re getting married!”
Kenna takes my hand and gushes. “That’s so beautiful!”
Rogan comes over, and his eyes widen as he turns to Anchor. “Whoa! Way to make everyone else look bad.”
Anchor chuckles.
“Just kidding.” Rogan gives him a hug. “Congratulations, and welcome to the family!”
Kady leans against Anchor. “He’s already part of the family.”
“Now it’s official.”
We head into the restaurant and Kenna turns to Rogan. “I hope the wait isn’t long. I’m famished.”
“Tell me about it. I wish I’d eaten on the plane.”
As we wait for our seats, Anchor and I tell them all about the engagement. Then they ask about the wedding, and I pretend not to have a secret inspiration board full of ideas that I’ve been working on for the last two years. I’m going to show it to Anchor before anyone else.
Once seated, we devour the complimentary bread as we pick our food. Then Rogan and Kenna tell us all about their recent European tour.
Anchor puts his arm around me. “Makes our lives sound so boring.”
I kiss his cheek. “Never. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
“Aww.” Kenna rests her chin in her palm. “You two are the cutest. I’m so happy for you.” She smiles at me and gives me a knowing look.
Anchor arches a brow, but doesn’t say anything. I’m not about to tell him that years earlier, before Kade and I ever gave each other a second glance, I’d confided in Kenna about having a string of bad luck with guys. Really bad—to the point where I had been ready to give up on men forever.
Hank and his two daughters arrive. “Sorry we’re late. Traffic was stopped because of construction.”
Mom kisses him. “No worries. We haven’t ordered yet.”
Then the waitress takes our orders then delivers more bread.
Kady fills my stepdad and stepsisters in on Rogan and Kenna’s adventures across the globe. It warms my heart to see the table so full. For so long, it was Mom, Rogan, and me haunted by Dad’s abandonment and new family. But now we’re all happily married or engaged and a few extra kids have been added to the group. It’s hard to believe that out of so much heartache could come such a full and rich family. I used to hate Dad for what he did to us, but now I almost feel the urge to thank him, except that we aren’t talking. Not after what he did to me when I was pregnant with Kady and mourning Kade.
And he never once expressed an apology.
The waitress arrives with our food, then silence settles over the table as we practically inhale the meal.
Kady gasps. I look around to see what she’s reacting to. When I see nothing, I turn to her. Her eyes are wide and her face is pale.
Fear grips me. “Are you choking?”
She shakes her head no and grasps her temples, then moves her hands all over her head. “It hurts!”
“What does?” I reach for her.
“Make it stop!”
I turn to Anchor, my heart thundering.
He jumps up and helps her out of her booster seat. “Come over here.”
Rogan and I follow them.
“My head!” Kady wails.
“Does anything else hurt?” Rogan asks.
“No.” Kady leans against Anchor.
“Did it just start now?” I squat to her level.
“Yeah. Make it stop!”
Rogan looks at me. “Do you have any headache medicine?”
“Not on me!”
He looks at Kady. “Let’s try some water, okay? Sometimes that helps me when I have a headache.”
She turns to him and blinks a few times. “It does?”
Rogan nods. “Yeah. My doctor says a lot of headaches are from being dehydrated.”
“Being what?”
“Not having enough water.”
“I had a root beer.” She sniffles.
“That’s not water.”
“Uncle Rogan is probably right.” Anchor lifts her up and carries her back to the tab
le.
I hate feeling this helpless. It brings me right back to the night of the accident. I couldn’t do anything to help Kade. Sometimes I tell myself that being there for him in those last moments gave him comfort, but it didn’t save him.
Someone rests a hand on my shoulder. It’s my brother, concern filling his eyes. “Are you okay?”
I take a deep breath. This isn’t the accident. It’s just a headache. People get them all the time. Kady’s going to be fine. I glance over at her in Anchor’s lap, drinking from his water. Her coloring already looks better. I think.
“Sutton?”
“Yeah. I’m fine. She just scared me.”
“Me too, but she’s already doing better. I saw a convenience store down the road. I’m going to run over there and grab some medicine for her. Is there a brand you prefer?”
My chest tightens. “No, just make sure it’s for kids. Something liquid.”
He nods and stands. “Kids’ liquid headache medicine. Got it.”
Kady turns our way. “Bubble gum flavor.”
Rogan kisses her forehead. “You got it. Keep drinking the water. You can have mine if you drink all of Daddy’s.”
Kady nods, her eyes distant.
I turn to Rogan. “Thank you so much.”
He squeezes my shoulder. “I’d do anything for that kid. And for you.” He gives Kenna a quick kiss, then leaves.
Everyone is asking Kady if she’s okay. Everyone except me. I can’t find my voice. Sharp pains in my chest make it hard to breathe. I know it’s only stress, but I feel like I’m going to pass out.
This isn’t the accident. Nobody’s dying.
It’s just a headache. I’ve probably had hundreds of them over the years. It’s no big deal.
But I can’t get the look on Kady’s face from my mind—pained, terrified.
And nothing I could do for her. Anchor was the one to hold her, and even now is the one helping her drink his water. My brother is the one getting her medicine.
The rest of the meal goes by in a blur. I don’t touch the rest of my food, and Kady remains on Anchor’s lap, even after drinking the pink syrup.
Somehow we end up back in Anchor’s car, then home. I hate how shaken I am. I’d thought I’d really made progress after Kade’s death, but something so small has sent me over the edge.
At home, Kady reaches for me while in Anchor’s arms. “Can I sleep in your bed tonight?”
“Of course.” That way I can monitor her breathing. It’s an excessive reaction, and I know it, but I’ll need to know she’s okay throughout the night.
I take her from Anchor, head upstairs, and get her ready for bed even though it’s early. The dark lines under her eyes tell me she needs sleep. He follows us up, telling her a goofy made-up story as he helps me with her.
Anchor pulls the covers from my bed and helps Kady in, tucking them around her.
“You too.” She reaches for both of us.
I climb in next to her, despite the fact that I’m still dressed. She snuggles next to me and draws in a deep breath.
“Hold on.” Anchor leaves the room, then returns with an armload of books and Kady’s favorite doll. He hands it to her, then climbs in and starts reading a story about a lost gingerbread girl as he puts his arm around both of us. We snuggle together, and during the fifth story, Anchor stops reading mid-sentence.
I glance over to see both him and Kady fast asleep, propped up by my lilac pillows. The sight warms my heart, and the sharp pains finally disappear. I reach for my purse on my nightstand and snap a picture. It’s such a sweet sight, I never want to forget the moment.
Sutton
I stifle a yawn as I pull my car into the Jones’s driveway. It has been three days since Kady’s sudden-onset headache, and I’m only now starting to relax. I’m back to classes, and I’ve had to force myself to focus. She bounced back the next day, jumping around and practicing her ballet routines. But I can’t. I’ve been having nightmares about Kade again.
Self-condemnation crushes me from all sides when I wake. I’m happily engaged to Anchor, thrilled about starting our life together. But that doesn’t stop me from having the nightmares reliving the horror of losing Kade. I feel guilty for missing him when I love Anchor, and guilty for being happy with Anchor when Kade will never get to experience anything ever again. No love, no joy, nothing.
I cut the engine and take a deep breath. My courses are already brutal, giving me hours of homework for each class. I glance at Anchor’s car, a little joy filling my heart at the thought of seeing him and Kady. With the schedule reverting back to classes, I’m back to hardly seeing anyone. I don’t know how Anchor does it while also working full-time.
My eyes start to close, but I fight them and get out of the car. I’ll just have to resist the urge to study late and get to sleep at a reasonable hour. If I can get a decent night’s sleep without nightmares or waking several times, everything will be better. That’s what really makes it hard for me to stay awake during the day.
I force myself out of the car and trudge to the front door, each step growing heavier than the last. I hate this so much. Kady needs me to be awake, happy, and strong. Right now, I’m none of those things. Even if I had a jumbo-sized coffee, it wouldn’t help. I tried earlier.
Before I ring the doorbell, the front door flings open.
“Mommy!” Kady grins and throws herself against me.
I pick her up and hug her. “That’s quite the greeting. Thank you!”
“I missed you.” She nestles her face at the base of my neck.
“And I definitely missed you.” I want to add that I’m glad she’s feeling better, but I don’t want to bring up the headache again. She hasn’t mentioned any more of them, and if she’s half as traumatized as I am, I don’t want to remind her. “What did you do today?”
“Uncle Lincoln took me to the park then out for ice cream!”
“Wow, I need to get myself an Uncle Lincoln.”
Kady giggles. “Can we stay for dinner? Nana’s making fish and chips with homemade sauce. I got to help with the sauce!”
“You did? I need to try that sauce.”
“So, we can stay?”
I nod. “I’ll just have to send Grandma a text to let her know we won’t be eating at home.”
“Yay!” She squirms out of my hold and runs inside. I dig out my phone and text my mom as I walk inside.
As I pass the kitchen, Greer waves at me. “Are you two staying for dinner?”
“I can’t say no when Kady helped.”
“Wonderful! I’ll set two extra places.”
I stick my phone in my purse. “I can help.”
“Nonsense. You haven’t seen your daughter or fiancé all day. Go find them.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Go.” She waves me away.
I laugh. “If you insist.”
“I do.” She turns back to the stove and stirs something.
Kady isn’t in the playroom, so I make my way to the living room, where I find Lincoln sprawled across one of the couches, texting and watching something on his tablet. The TV is blaring a cartoon about a magical rainbow-colored unicorn—one of Kady’s favorites.
I sink into the couch next to Lincoln. “Don’t tell me you’re addicted to Sparkle’s Magical Land too.”
“Huh?” He glances up from his phone, then at the TV and chuckles. “Right. I’m dying to know if Sparkle and her best friend will make up from their argument.”
“It’s pretty riveting.” I lean back. “Thanks for taking her out today.”
Lincoln sets his phone down. “She’s a fun kid. I like being an uncle, though it’s still weird to think about. I’m in high school, you know.”
“I get it, but you’re a great uncle. You don’t have to spend your day chasing after a little girl, but you do. You could be at the lake with your friends or whatever. Summer before your senior year and all that.”
He shrugs and looks away.
> “Everything okay?”
Lincoln glances around. “If I tell you, you can’t tell anyone else. Not even Anchor.”
I pretend to zip my lips.
He turns off the video playing on his tablet. “I’m not really getting along with anyone right now.”
“Why not?”
“I’m going to sound like a loser if I tell you.”
I shake my head. “Not possible.”
Lincoln stares out the window and sighs. “My girlfriend—I mean my ex-girlfriend—hooked up with my best friend. They both hate me, and they’ve basically turned everyone else against me too.”
“Ouch. Everyone?”
He nods, still not looking at me. “Yep.”
I lean over and pat his arm. “I went through something similar.”
Lincoln turns to me, eyes wide. “You did?”
“Not exactly the same, but nobody wanted anything to do with me for a while.”
“What happened?”
“It was before Kade and I got together. I was dating this one guy who started controlling everything I did. It was subtle, so I didn’t notice at first. Basically, I thought he was just trying to spend more time with me, not that he was getting me to push everyone else away. Then he started getting harsh, and I finally saw the light. But by the time I ditched him, which wasn’t easy, all my friends were furious with me.”
“They didn’t care that he was a jerk?”
“Nobody saw it. Only that I’d ditched all my friends for some guy.”
“So, what’d you do?” Lincoln studies me like I hold all of life’s answers.
“I apologized for pushing them away, then told them all about what my ex did. Then suddenly, he was the one on the outs.”
Lincoln frowns. “Not really sure that applies to my situation.”
“Maybe just try talking to people. Obviously not your ex or your best friend, but your other friends. If you give your side, they’ll probably see the situation for what it is. They only know one side now, but they need to hear yours.”
“I don’t know.”
“Trust me.”
He shrugs. “People at work like me. That’s good enough for now.”
“What about when you go back to school? Is that really how you want to start your senior year?”
“Maybe it’ll work itself out by then.”
The Only Things You Can Take (Wildflower Romance #2) Page 14
