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Carter nods. “Yeah. Same.”
What isheoverwhelmed by? Is he just saying that to make me feel better?
A shriek cuts into our conversation, my attention immediately flying over to Sadie. She’s running toward us, panic on her face.
“It’s chasing me!” she cries.
It’s then that I see the duck running after her. I gasp, but then Carter bursts out laughing, and immediately the mood of the moment lightens.
“Bella, leave our guests alone!” Carter bellows at the duck.
The duck stops, lets out a quack, and then turns and waddles back to the lake.
4
CARTER
Ican picture it so easily.
Our future life together, I mean. Before, it was a vague and hopeful fantasy. But ever since Andrea and Sadie arrived, it’s become a clearer and clearer vision in my mind. I can easily imagine what it will be like for the two of them to live here on the ranch with me. I can imagine waking up every day next to Andrea, eating meals together as a family of three, decorating a Christmas tree together during the holidays…shit, I can even imagine what one of the spare bedrooms would look like converted into a nursery.
I wonder how many babies we’ll have together. Many, I hope.
I peer over the top of the playing cards I’m holding, stealing a glance across the table at Andrea. She’s concentrating on the cards in her own hand, trying to decide which ones to pass to Sadie. This is our third round of playing Hearts. It’s been a nice way to spend the evening, especially after the hearty dinner we had, but I’m also looking forward to getting some one-on-one time with Andrea soon.
Does the idea of opening up and finally telling her everything scare me? Hell, yeah. Of course it does. But I’m going to do it anyway. Letting her go home without hearing the whole truth isn’t even an option.
“All right. Here you go, Sadie,” says Andrea, passing three cards to her daughter. Then Sadie passes three cards to me. When I see the cards she’s passed to me—three high hearts—I can’t help but shoot her a dismal look.
Sadie giggles, covering her mouth with her cards.
Twenty minutes later, Sadie is celebrating a well-earned win. I shake my head, impressed at how quickly she picked up the strategies that she did.
“You’ve got a smart one here, you know that?” I say to Andrea as I give the cards a thorough shuffle.
Andrea smiles and reaches out to smooth Sadie’s hair. “Did you have fun today, sweetie?”
Sadie nods, then lets out a big yawn.
“Okay, I think it’s time to get you into bed,” Andrea says.
“But I want to play more,” Sadie protests.
“There will be plenty of time for that tomorrow. I promise.”
Sadie sighs. “Okay. Are you going to bed, too, Mom?”
“Not quite. But I won’t be up that much longer.”
Sadie nods, then slides out of her chair and comes over to give me an unexpected hug. “Goodnight, Carter.”
“Goodnight, Sadie,” I say. “Sweet dreams.”
Andrea tells me she’ll be back soon, and takes her daughter’s hand as she goes off to put her to bed. While they’re gone, I clear off the table and then go out to the patio to get the fire pit going. As the flames grow and lap at the night air, I reposition my two Adirondack chairs a little closer together.
I’m back inside, pouring wine into two glasses, when Andrea comes into the kitchen.
“Is that bedroom all right for her?” I ask.
