Her phone rang. She didn’t expect it to be Dawson this late at night. He usually called her in the morning, but if he was as lonely as her on this Friday night, she understood his need to connect with her. This time, she’d start the conversation.
The phone rang and vibrated across the bedside table. She picked it up, checked caller ID expecting to see Dawson’s name, but another King showed up.
Heart thrashing in her chest she accepted the call. “Is he okay? Did he get hurt? Shot? What’s happened?” Every unimaginable nightmare flashed in her mind with the ultimate horrible thought, I’m too late.
“No. Uh, no, he’s fine.” The deep voice was nearly identical to Dawson’s. “I’m sorry to alarm you, Cara.”
“He’s okay.” Relieved, she raked her fingers through her long hair and sighed, trying to slow her racing heart.
“Yes and no.”
“What? What’s wrong with him?”
“He misses you.”
She sighed out her relief that it wasn’t something worse. “I miss him, too,” she whispered.
“Okay, then. You’ve probably guessed this is his father. I took a page from his DEA book and memorized your number after he showed me the picture you sent to his phone.”
“Clever. Now I know he gets that from you.”
“He’s worried sick about you. I am, too. He says you won’t talk to him. After all you’ve been through, you need to talk to someone. Running off alone doesn’t solve anything.”
“There’s nothing to solve, only to grieve. I couldn’t put that added weight on Dawson, not after he was the one who shot my uncle to keep me safe.”
“He’d bear the weight of your grief along with his guilt. He loves you, Cara. He’d do anything for you. It’s the not knowing if you can ever stop blaming him for what happened that eats at him.”
“Wait. What? I don’t blame him for what happened. Why would he think that?”
“Because you won’t talk to him. You haven’t shared how you’re feeling about your father’s and uncle’s deaths, the betrayal he uncovered from your friend. He’s left to wonder if, worse than losing you, he made you hate him.”
“I don’t hate him. It’s nothing like that at all. He knows how I feel about him, how hard it is for me to believe in good things happening, but he’s the best thing that ever happened in my life.”
“If that’s how you feel, then his mother and I would like to invite you to dinner as soon as possible with the family.”
She didn’t know what to say. She never expected them to accept her. “Sir, I almost got your son killed. My family was drug dealers, the very people your son fights against. I’m the niece of the man who tried to kill him. And you want me to come to dinner?”
“As soon as possible,” he emphasized. “You’re the woman he loves and wants to spend the rest of his life with. You’re what he wants. You make him happy. That’s all his mother and I want for him. I can’t stand to see my son hurting this way. I’m asking you to give him a chance. Please, come home.”
Like father, like son. “Tomorrow night. I’m already on my way.” She’d been headed in that direction the last few days.
The huge sigh of relief came through the line along with his anticipation that soon everything would be all right.
She felt the same way.
He rattled off the address and what time to arrive. “You don’t know how much we appreciate this, Cara. His mother and I are so sorry for your loss and all you’ve been through. It’s our hope that you and Dawson will find something truly good now that all the bad is done.”
In her stormy life, she’d never found a rainbow, let alone a pot of gold.
But it did feel like the storm had passed with her father and uncle out of her life. Maybe that’s why she felt so out of sorts and adrift. She wasn’t used to facing a bright future.
And that’s exactly what it looked like with Dawson by her side.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Cara tossed her backpack in the front seat of her truck and dug a hoodie sweatshirt out of one of the bags stacked behind the seat. The fog of grief and uncertainty about her life had lifted these last days and she wondered how she’d ever thought it a good idea to toss all her possessions in her truck and just drive away. It seemed silly, stupid, and self-indulgent now.
She’d spent most of her life trying to help others, and here she was ignoring the one man she would never want to hurt. Yes, she’d needed the time and self-imposed isolation. Without it, she’d have been worthless to Dawson and probably would have made things worse between them, taking out her anger and grief on him. Now that she’d had time to think and gain perspective, she could face him without slinging all her wild emotions at him.
She slid behind the wheel. Running low on funds, she needed to find an ATM and buy something appropriate to wear to a family dinner. She’d never been to one, so wasn’t sure if that meant jeans or a dress. Something in between. She wanted to make a good impression, and knock Dawson’s socks off.
The long drive would give her time to figure out just how to take the first step to truly being a part of Dawson’s real life.
She pulled out of the lot and headed home. Her belly trembled with anticipation, though she had hours left before she’d be with him again.
This time, she called him to say good-morning.
He picked up on the first ring. “Are you okay? Did something happen? Are you hurt?”
She didn’t expect so much concern from making a simple call to him, but after weeks of silence from her, he expected the worst when she called him. Just like how she felt when his father called her.
“Good morning, Dawson.”
“Say it again.”
“Good morning.”
“No, my name.”
Tears filled her eyes. She pulled off the main road to the highway and into a strip mall parking lot and let the truck idle.
“Dawson, honey, I’m sorry for making you worry. I’m sorry for leaving without talking to you. I wasn’t in a good place, but I’m trying to find it now.”
“Are you okay?”
“Not yet, but I will be.” As soon as I get to you. She didn’t know if his parents told him about dinner tonight. Probably not. They wouldn’t want to get his hopes up in case she didn’t show. She wanted to surprise him, too.
“Cara, sweetheart, I can’t tell you what a relief it is to hear your voice.”
“Probably as much of a relief as it was for me every day to hear yours.” Which made her feel worse for not saying anything to him, not one word, in all their phone calls just to let him know she still cared. “It was never my intention to hurt you, but I know that I did, and I’m so sorry.”
“Stop apologizing to me. There’s no reason for you to be sorry. I’m the one who lied. I’m the one who killed your uncle right in front of you. With you inches from him.” The anxiety in his voice told her how much he feared that any mistake or miscalculation could have been dire.
“You did your job. If I’d done the hard thing and stopped my father sooner, maybe it wouldn’t have ended this way.”
“Cara, you did what you could.”
“Sometimes, but other times when I suspected something, I didn’t follow through because I didn’t want to know. Because if I knew, then I’d have to do something about it, and I didn’t want to be responsible for putting my father behind bars because if he was there, how could he ever make things right with me. I wanted him to make a better choice.”
“You wanted him to choose you.”
“He did. He took that bullet to save your life for me.”
“My life, my heart, are yours, sweetheart. I never lied about that.”
“I know.”
“I’ll never lie to you again. I swear. Tell me what it’s going to take to get you to come back and talk to me face-to-face so we can work this out.”
“There’s nothing to work out.”
“Don’t say that. We were good together. I don’t want
to lose you over this. You can’t keep wandering alone.”
“Well, I could, but I don’t want to anymore. And that’s ‘we are good together,’ not were.”
“What?” The surprise and hope in his voice touched her deeply.
“You heard me.”
“Does that mean you’re finally coming home?”
“I’m headed your way.”
She felt his heavy sigh of relief echo through her.
“I’m desperate to see that you’re safe with my own eyes.”
She couldn’t wait to see him, too. “You really love me that much.”
“More. And I’d do a better job of it if you were here.” The tinge of frustration in his voice made her smile.
“Well, I’ve got a long drive ahead of me and plans tonight, but I promise I’ll see you soon. Gotta go.” She hated to do it, but she hung up on him to keep her surprise. With daylight burning, she needed to get a move on or she’d be late for her very first family dinner. And an even better night in Dawson’s arms.
Her phone dinged with a text.
KING: Come home now!!!
So much for patience. She put the truck in Drive and followed that order and her heart right back to Montana and him.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Dawson didn’t know how his father badgered him into attending the family dinner. He’d been here last night, so why the get-together when they just saw him? They probably didn’t want him to spend another night alone.
“Can I get you a beer?” his father asked, glancing at the clock on the mantel for the tenth time in twenty minutes.
“I’m good.” He held up his nearly full bottle.
His brother, Derek, bounced his one-year-old, Amy, on his lap on the couch. His brother-in-law, Marc, sat beside Derek with his three-year-old, Noah. His sister, Emily, and sister-in-law, Grace, were huddled in the kitchen with his mother whispering about something. Their odd behavior and that of the men in the living room around him sparked his suspicions that they knew something he didn’t and this dinner had far greater meaning than just a long overdue gathering of the whole family.
If he didn’t know better, they were stalling. Dinner appeared to be cooked and ready to serve fifteen minutes ago, but his mother and sisters didn’t bring it out to the table, which his mother set with all the good dishes like it was Christmas.
His niece squealed, then smacked her cousin on the nose and grabbed his face when he got too close. Noah fell back in his father’s arms, cupped his face, and pointed a finger at Amy. “No.”
He loved seeing his niece and nephew. He liked to play with them and had to admit Amy had him wrapped around her little finger. She certainly had his brother, Derek, gushing with love for his baby girl.
Seeing his brother and sister settled and happy with their families made the ache in his chest intensify for Cara. He wanted what his brother, sister, and parents had found with their partners. A friend, a lover, children, a life that left a mark on the people you shared it with and lasted after you were gone.
He refrained from checking his phone again for a text or missed call. Though how he’d miss them with the death grip he kept on his phone, he didn’t know.
Plans tonight. What the hell did she mean by that? Plans with who? What could be more important than finally coming home?
He thought their talk this morning meant she was ready to come back and try again.
His mother stepped into the room, gave his father a distressed look, then set her worried gaze on him. “Dinner’s ready. Let’s eat.”
His sisters carried platters and dishes to the dining table. Everyone moved that way and settled in their chairs. He took his seat and noticed the extra place setting beside him.
Noah sat in his high chair next to Amy at the other end of the table by their mothers.
“Noah isn’t sitting at the table?”
Everyone glanced at the empty spot beside him, then to his mom and dad next to him. He got the very uneasy feeling that after all their threats the last year to set him up with someone they’d finally gone and done it despite their knowing how much he missed Cara.
Maybe, unlike him, they didn’t believe she was coming back.
“Son,” his dad said, but stopped short when the doorbell rang.
His mother whispered, “Oh thank God,” under her breath.
Everyone else at the table seemed to breathe a collective sigh of relief. His father got up to answer the door. No one spoke.
“What is going on?” he asked, then lost his breath when his heart stopped at the sound of her voice.
“I’m so sorry I’m late. I got stuck in Wyoming behind a major traffic accident that took two hours to clear.”
“It’s no trouble, dear. We’re so glad you could make it,” his father said.
It felt like he’d left his body. He rose and walked around the table just as she came around the corner from the living room. He wasn’t fully aware of his father taking a step back and away from her as Dawson wrapped his arms around her, picked her right up off her feet, and held her with his face buried in her soft hair. Tears stung his eyes and he crushed her even harder to his chest.
“I’m home,” she whispered in his ear, the bottle of wine and flowers she held pressed to his back. Someone took them from her and she wrapped her arms around his head and held on for dear life.
“You’re really here,” he choked out past the lump in his throat.
“Right where I belong.”
He kissed her then because he couldn’t wait any longer. His lips met hers and a wave of memories flooded his mind and the connection they’d shared flared to life and wrapped around them. He poured everything he wanted to say into the simple kiss that meant everything he didn’t have the words to say.
Her hand rested on his face. She broke the kiss and pressed her forehead to his and stared into his eyes. “I missed you, too.”
“Turn her loose, son, so she can breathe.”
He put her back on her feet, but kept hold of her hand, afraid if he let her go she’d bolt or disappear right before his eyes. Beautiful in a dress and heels, she took his breath away. “You cut your hair.” It had always been long, but she’d had it trimmed and layered. Soft curls added waves to the silky strands.
“Something new. The old Cara is gone. You get to know the new one while I get to know the real you this time.” She glanced over at his too-silent family. “How about we start with introductions?”
Her hand trembled in his. Nervous and a touch embarrassed by their very public reunion, her cheeks pinked, setting off the sprinkle of freckles he really loved.
She gave his hand a squeeze and he came back to himself, dragged his gaze from her to his family, and brought Cara into his world.
“Everyone, this is my future wife.”
Cara gasped and stared wide-eyed up at him.
“Cara, this is your new family.”
She turned to them and every single one of them smiled back at her, happy for him and her.
He pointed to everyone, giving Cara their names, though she stood beside him shocked and overwhelmed. It didn’t last. His family wouldn’t allow it. They’d invited her here to welcome her into the family, to show her that although she’d lost her own, there was one waiting to take her into their arms.
His mother stood from the table and approached Cara and hugged her. “We’re so glad you made it.”
Yes, Cara had made it out of her father’s world and finally found a place she could be herself and happy.
He’d make sure she never regretted coming back to him. He’d spend the rest of his life making her happy.
His mother set her away and smiled at the flowers and wine his father held up. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I didn’t know what to bring to a family dinner. I’ve never been to one.”
His mother didn’t miss a beat. “Well, this is just the first of many. We like to get together for all the special occasions.”
&nbs
p; “Oh, what are you celebrating? Someone’s birthday?” Cara asked.
His mother touched Cara’s cheek. “Your homecoming.”
Tears slipped past Cara’s lashes and ran down her cheeks. His mother wiped them away with a sweep of her thumbs. “Come sit next to Dawson. Eat. Rest. Relax. You’re among family.”
Cara went right into his arms and rubbed her cheek against his chest as he held her close and guided her around the table and held the chair out for her to take a seat. He took his beside her, filled her wineglass, and gave her another soft kiss as everyone began to pass the food.
“So, Cara,” his big brother, Derek, began. “Did Dawson ever tell you about the time he got locked out of the house buck naked?”
Dawson pointed his fork at his brother down the table. “Don’t go there.”
Derek let loose a mischievous grin and winked at Cara. “Oh, I’m going there.”
And so the night went, one family member after another retelling stories about him they all knew and had told before but this time they did so to show Cara she belonged and let her get to know him through the eyes and hearts of the people who loved him most.
He’d never heard her laugh so hard or so much. He’d never seen her smile and shine with pure happiness the way she did sitting beside him at the table. At times, he caught a flicker of sadness and remorse in her eyes that she didn’t have the kind of life he lived. Her father wouldn’t talk about her accomplishments. Her mother wouldn’t wistfully talk about what she was like when she was little, so full of energy and life she couldn’t be contained. She didn’t have any siblings to laugh about the silly and stupid things she did when she was a kid.
Her family had lived a life on the edge of destruction and died on the wrong side of right. They weren’t the home and hearth kind. No one had a spot saved for her at the table.
True to You Page 27
