“Cody’s not a threat,” I explain to my mom. “I don’t need protection from the man I love.”
“Love?” she smiles more fully. “Are you in love?”
“I’ve loved him for years. Or maybe I didn’t. Whatever feelings I had all that time, it’s so much more now. And he loves me,” I choke out a sob. “He loves me, Mom. So much.”
Her eyes fill with tears too.
“We didn’t want it to leak this way. We planned to wait ‘til after farrowing and the wedding. Then we were going to tell everyone.”
Mom puts her hand on top of mine. “I understand why you snuck around, Carli. That doesn’t make it right.”
“I know.”
“You didn’t mean to drop the bomb today. But any day you dropped it would have hurt McKenna. You’ve never hid anything from one another. She’s probably not as upset about you dating her brother as she is that you kept it from her.”
“You’re right. I know you are.”
Mom smiles softly at me.
McKenna.Tomorrow’s her wedding day.
“I’ve gotta go,” I say, standing.
The dogs look up at me.
“I’ve gotta see her. I have to try to make this right before tomorrow.”
Mom stands and pulls me into a hug. “You two will work through this. Maybe not today, but eventually.”
“I hope you’re right.”
I run out the front door and climb back into my truck. One glance in the rearview makes me suck in a breath. My face is red and splotchy from crying. My hair’s a bit wild. My mascara is smudged. I swipe at the black smears with my pointer finger as I drive toward McKenna’s.
I pass the main house and drive back to her place, parking out front and jumping out of my truck. I’ve got no plan. I just know she needs something from me and I’ll give whatever that is.
I knock and she opens the door, looking forlorn. Her shoulders sag slightly. She brings her arms up and wraps herself in a protective hug.
“Hey,” I say. “Can I come in?”
She stares at me, not saying anything.
“I thought you might want to talk or ask me questions or yell …” I offer.
“Come in,” she says softly.
My gut feels hollow. She’s the buoyant adventurer, always carving her own path in life and bringing joy wherever she goes. Seeing her like this wrecks me.
“I’ve had a few hours,” she says. “You know, to think about everything.”
I nod.
“Sit down.” She waves toward the couch. “This is so awkward.”
“I know. That’s on me.”
“Yeah. It is.”
“I’m so sorry, Mac. I didn’t want it to go this way.”
