“It would have been your mother’s sixtieth birthday next month.”
His change of subject surprised her. “Er, yes it would have been.”
“I was thinking me and you could do something to mark it, perhaps a trip to San Fran. Go to her favorite restaurant, you know, the one in Fisherman’s Warf.”
“Just the two of us?”
“Yes, just us. What do you think?”
“I’d love that.” And she really would. The way he was speaking to her was different, refreshing, as though he was seeing her anew.
“Good, I’ll add it to my calendar. And I’ll leave these flowers with your neighbor. You can pick them up when you get home. Tomorrow, did you say? I’m guessing you’re in the office on Monday, or court.”
She stared out to sea. Enough had been said. There was more to discuss, but that could wait for San Fran.
“Thanks, Pops, I’m sure the flowers are lovely. Say hi to Ellen for me.”
“Sure will. And you take care. I do love you, you know.” He ended the call.
For a moment, she stared at the screen. Ellen had had her claws so deep into her father these last couple of years that she’d barely gotten the chance to see who he used to be. The kind, gentle man her mother had fallen for. The guy the people of Pierce had voted to represent them.
Maybe he hadn’t gone anywhere? Perhaps Leah had just stopped seeing him. But that was going to change, she was sure of it.
She kept hold of her cell, clutching it as she stared out to sea. It was mesmerizing, the way the waves rose, crested, and crashed, over and over, for all of history, for all of the future.
A lovely, sunny image of Carter on his board came to her mind. Her, sitting astride the front, watching him as he checked out the swells rushing to shore. He’d been so free, so perfect at that moment. A far cry from the man she’d seen pushed and crushed to the floor by cops earlier that day.
Her heart twisted.
Was she really never going to see him again?
The one man who’d truly made her feel alive?
A sudden gush of impulsiveness came over her. She unlocked her phone, hit Carter’s number, and pressed the cell to her ear.
She had no clue what she was going to say, how her voice would sound, or even the way she wanted the call to end. But what she did know was that she had to speak to him.
Now.
Strangely, as she heard to ring tone in her ear, she also heard it coming from the dunes.
She looked up, squinting in the sunshine.
Walking toward her was Carter, holding his ringing phone.
When he saw her, he ended the call.
“You’re… What are you doing here?” Her heart did a weird flip. His eye was still a mess, but other than that, he was perfection.
He didn’t answer. Instead, he stomped up the steps onto the deck. He came to a halt in front of her. “You really think I’m going to let the only woman I’ve ever loved walk away from me?”
She stared up at him. “Love?”
“Yeah, love, damn it, and you know that, Leah.” He reached for her face, cupped her cheeks. “You feel it, too, I know you do.”
“Carter.” She gasped.
“You just called me. There’s my proof.” He lowered his face to hers.