Why Lie? (Love Riddles #2) (31 page)

My girl can work miracles.

At least she did on me.

Coming unstuck, I join them, one arm around my dad and the other around Sydney. The three of us stand there and miss my mom in our own ways.

My dad pulls back first, lifting his hand to squeeze my arm before doing the same to Sydney’s shoulder. He then turns to his car, opening the back door and pulling what looks like a children’s book from the backseat.

Sydney has moved to my side, one arm around my back, her other hand pressed to my stomach. My dad hesitates before passing me the book. There’s a bear dancing with a child on the cover. I look up, confused.

His eyes are wet but he motions for me to look again.

I do, this time reading the title “Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You” by Nancy Tillman.

“I don’t understand,” I whisper.

“Open it,” he breathes.

I do, and that’s when I hear it, my mom’s voice reading the story.

“Oh my God,” Sydney gasps, her arm tightening around me.

My eyes fill and tears spill over as she reads. When her voice stops, I hurry to turn the page. She reads the next page and I grin in spite of my tears. Page by page, I listen to the entire book.

On the last page it hurts to breathe when I hear the catch in her voice on the last line and know without a doubt she cried when she read it. My mom knew she’d be gone by the time I heard it. When the recording ends, I trace the words she spoke with my finger. Sydney quietly sobs beside me.

Slowly, and carefully, I close the book and hug it to my chest. “When?” I ask.

“The day after you brought Sydney to meet us,” he replies.

I kiss the top of Sydney’s head.

My dad gulps. “She wanted you to have that for her grandbabies.”

That sounds like her. She took one look at Sydney and knew she was it for me.

“You’re coming home from Denmark, right?” I ask, unable to hide the fear in my voice.

My dad’s head jerks in surprise. “Yes, son.”

I don’t pull the book from my chest but I do tug it upward. “Why are you giving this to me now?”

He takes a step forward and lifts his hand to grip my shoulders. “It got mixed in with all of the house stuff during the move. I unpacked it yesterday and didn’t want to wait to give it to you because your mom wanted you to have it.”

My heart stops pounding in my chest and Sydney steps aside as I lean into him. “I miss her.”

He hugs me. “I do, too, son. I do, too.” He breaks the hug first and coughs. “I’m going to take off.” He looks to Sydney. “You take care of him.”

She moves closer to me, her arm going around my waist and nods. He takes the tin of cookies off the roof and sets it on the passenger seat. We watch as he drives away. It doesn’t surprise me when he goes left instead of right. Left will take him to the cemetery. After earlier, he might need to be near her.

“How are you doing?” Sydney asks.

I drop my chin to meet her eyes. “I feel like I got run over by something.”

She shifts to stand in front of me and presses her cheek to my chest. “I’ll bet.”

We get in her SUV and she drives while I continue to hold the book to my chest.

When we get to the apartment, time passes before I’m able to set the book on the little bookshelf Sydney has next to her TV stand.

No matter where I am in the apartment, my eyes drift over to it. She died months ago. I thought I was past the worst of it. Right now, it feels like no time has passed. The pain is as raw or more so, now.

“Want to talk about it?” Sydney asks.

“It’s hard to describe,” I admit.

She leads me to the sofa, tugging me down to sit next to her. “Try.”

My eyes move to the book. “I have a voice mail saved on my phone from her. I’ve listened to it so many times it’s like I’ve become numb to it. Hearing her today in a new way caught me off guard. Since it was her saying things I’ve never heard, it was like she was right there.”

She crawls into my lap, draping her arms around my neck. “It’s such a beautiful gift to have it now.”

I gulp. “So she can read to our kids.”

She might not have my ring on her finger yet but I’ve got it, not the one I gave Kacey, though. There’s no way I could give that ring to Sydney. Nope, the one I bought her is one I designed myself.

The center stone is a red apple ruby surrounded by diamonds set in platinum with a leaf-patterned filigree band. If I can wait, as soon as the house is finished, I’m going to propose to her on our front porch.

She tucks her face into the spot where my shoulder meets my neck and repeats, “Our kids.”

This is my fourteenth book. You’d think by now, writing the acknowledgements would be easy.

It isn’t, but I’ll still try . . .

First and foremost, I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for each and every reader who picked up one of my books and liked it enough to read another, and another, and . . . you get the point. When I wrote my first book, all I wanted was a book written by me, on my bookshelf. I am so grateful that with your support and encouragement, I have met that goal and continue to set new ones.

To my family and friends, I love you all so much. Thank you for caring. Thank you for getting emotionally invested in my words. Thank you for sticking around even when book stuff makes me mental.

This book is dedicated to my kids but I’d like to give a special shout out to one of them here. Zach, the book is done, you can stop breaking bones . . . seriously. Between him and my own jaw surgery, the research for parts of this book was done first hand.

Finally, to Seth, thank you for being my guy and inspiring the romance I write.

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with thirteen books out and many more to come. She was born and raised in Alexandria, Virginia. Ever the mild-mannered citizen, Carey spends her days working in the world of finance, and at night, she retreats into the lives of her fictional characters. Supporting her all the way are her husband, three sometimes-adorable children, and their nine-pound attack Yorkie.

I’d love to hear from you!

[email protected]

www.careyheywood.com

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Did I turn off the stove burner? The question was stuck in a loop the whole drive to work. I glance randomly at my cellphone while I sit at a red light. I could sneak a quick text to Mike. I’m trying to be good about not using my phone at all in the car, no calls, no texts, no random checking of Facebook updates. I turn back and look straight out the windshield. I’ll be at work in less than five minutes.

Mike doesn’t have to leave for another thirty minutes. I can call him and have him check, no big deal. I hate not knowing. The wondering bugs me, the unanswered question of ‘if it’s still on’. That question gives birth to another. What if Mike decided to go into work early today? Then another. If he went in to work early, is our place burning down as we speak?

When I pull into my usual spot at work, the one that sides up to the second mulch island, I grab my phone. I don’t text. I call.

He answers on the second ring. “Hey.”

Just hey. “Hi, honey. Can you check the stovetop for me? I can’t stop thinking I forgot to turn the burner off.”

“Really, Court?”

Shit, he sounds annoyed. “Please, babe.”

He doesn’t answer but I can hear him move from wherever he was in the background. After a minute, he replies, “It’s off. Happy?”

I ignore his shortness. “Did you have to turn it off or was it already off?”

“It was already off. Did you need anything else? I don’t want to be late to work.”

I roll my eyes; he works in sales, and unless he has an actual appointment, he makes his own hours. “Thank you for checking. I hope you have a good day. I love you.”

“Thanks, babe.” His tone softens, “I love you, too.”

I smile to myself after we hang up. Tomorrow is Friday, and then it’s the weekend. Maybe we can go out to dinner or go see a movie. Mike has been so grouchy. I know his job stresses him out. He sells heavy machine equipment. He’s always been really good at it. I don’t think he’s ever not hit his monthly goals. Considering the last few years have taken a real hit on the construction industry, that’s saying a lot.