Mindy stopped typing and lifted her eyebrows, no judgment on her face, only curiosity. “You couldn’t go with him?”
Clara’s heart panged as Sullivan gave a pained expression. She simply gave a smile she hoped reassured him. Done with the pain and all that was stolen from them, she spoke the truth. “He didn’t want me to go.”
“Is that why you never told him about your son?”
“That’s a complicated answer,” Clara said in all honesty. “First, Sullivan had just left to play for the Red Sox, and I was sad and confused. I wanted to tell him, but I also wanted him to achieve his dream of playing professional baseball. Ultimately, I suspected if I told Sullivan, he would have come home. But I think his father would have sucked every bit of life out of Sullivan until there was nothing left. I chose to keep Mason’s identity a secret to protect Mason…”
“From me,” Sullivan finished.
Mindy’s gaze cut to him. “Because emotionally, you weren’t well?”
Sullivan sighed dejectedly then answered with a small nod. “I haven’t been well for a very long time, and my latest suspension clearly shows that, but I’m working on dealing with the trauma from my past and am doing well.”
“You’re doing amazingly well,” Clara said before Mindy could respond. “And we’re immensely proud of him. Facing the past is hard. Especially when that past is filled with abuse.”
“Thank you.” He smiled a smile just for Clara, soft and sweet that spread warmth between them. Obviously not caring Mindy was with them, he cupped her face before planting a gentle kiss on her mouth.
Clara lost herself in the kiss, feeling every bit of his affection he put into it, as well as the cold void when he leaned away. Wanting to melt into him and get wrapped up in his arms, but also needing to finish what she’d started here, she said to Mindy, “Life is messy. It’s good and bad and sometimes really ugly. Sadly for us, we had to deal with really ugly when we weren’t old enough or mature enough to deal with that. We made choices. Hard ones. And we’ve lived with those choices, but now I know, we did what we thought was best, and all those choices came from love.”
“Deep love,” Sullivan agreed, his soft features implying a calmness she’d never seen before on his face.
For that alone, Clara would have told this story a thousand times over to a thousand reporters. Now she knew that Sullivan needed to face his story completely, as much as she needed to not let him run. The damage his father had placed on Sullivan was melting away before her eyes, slowly replaced by only the warm love his mother gave him.
“Wow,” Mindy breathed slowly, leaning back in her seat and wiping a tear off her face. Her gaze flicked between Clara and Sullivan before she shook her head. “Just wow.” She looked at her laptop’s screen for a moment, cleared away a few more tears.
Confused, Clara glanced at Sullivan. He just shrugged.
The ding of the cash registered followed the shuttering sound of the till tape paper printing before Mindy finally closed her laptop and set it aside. “I’m not this horrible paparazzi reporter who wants to ruin either of your lives. I’m just out of school, needed a job and some writing experience, and this is where I ended up.”
“Okay,” said Clara, having no idea where Mindy was going with this.
She pressed her hand against her chest, her fingers splayed out. “Your story is really touching. Complicated and emotional, but even I can see all the love in there. So, I promise I’ll write just what you told me and make sure to keep your son’s best interests in mind.”
Sullivan lifted an eyebrow. “And your editor will agree to that?”
“I’ll get her to agree,” Mindy said, speaking into the recorder like she had nothing to hide. “Because some stories need to be told, and yours is one of them.”
Heat radiated through Clara’s chest as she turned to Sullivan and smiled. “She’s right, you know, our story does need to be told.”
The noise, the customers, even Mindy disappeared as Sullivan cupped her face, moving closer. “No more hiding. No more pretending. We protect Mason the best we can, but let’s move forward. We’ll do this, together.”
She brought her mouth close to his and promised, “Together.”
16
One week had gone by since Sullivan sat next to Clara as she told a version of their story to the reporter in the coffee shop, who later printed the article. An article that bled the truth in all its rawness and had showed all the love between the hard times. The past days had been good ones. Clara and her sisters had decided to sign with Ronnie after getting the exact terms she asked for. And Ronnie had joined in the celebratory dinner, including meeting his nephew for the first time. In the coming months, Foxy Diva would find its way into stores and restaurants throughout North America, and Sullivan had no doubt the success would only continue from there. He’d requested another couple of weeks off from his coach to get things settled in River Rock before returning to Fort Myers, and the request had been granted. In a surprise that he had never seen coming, he received kindness not scrutiny from the article and the press, and the truth was, with Sullivan becoming an instant-family man, the focus had shifted off him and moved on to the next hottest bachelor in baseball who they could get their claws into. But that new family of his was the reason he and Clara were bringing Mason to Sullivan’s old childhood home.
After he unlocked the front door, he let Clara and Mason enter the house first.
“I’m checking out back,” Mason yelled, running through the house.
“Be careful,” Clara called after him.
Sullivan stepped farther in, and just the smell, a little dusty but familiar, brought Sullivan back to good memories with his mother and his father before everything changed. He tried hard to think of the before, remembering the good, not the bad, as Elizabeth had taught him. He decided to stay in therapy, and when he couldn’t see her at her office in River Rock, they planned to talk over Zoom. He moved down the hallway where shattered family pictures and memories once lay. Now all of that was gone. He entered the living room with the big bay window on the front that had once displayed flowered curtains, but now lay empty. The only thing left was the old brown carpet. And even that needed to go.
Clara sidled up next to him, wrapping her arms around his waist. He gathered her in his arms as she said, “After your dad passed away, I sold all the furniture in an estate auction. I figured, even if you came back, you wouldn’t want the money, so I put it all in Mason’s education fund.”
He kissed the top of her head. “That was exactly the right thing to do with the money.”
“But I did keep some of your mother’s things. We can pull those boxes from the attic.”
“I’d like that.” He scanned the space, finding the living room much smaller than he remembered, but a little paint and new hardwood floors would help brighten up the space.
Clara tipped her head back, hitting him with those warm eyes. “Is it weird being back here?”
“No, not weird,” he said, releasing the breath he hadn’t known he was holding. “It’s just a house now.” He glanced around the dirty walls with peeling wallpaper. “But there are memories here, and many of those memories are good.” Christmas mornings. Easter dinners. So much happiness when his mother had been with them. Her smile was what he remembered the most.
“It’s good you have those memories,” Clara said, offering her captivating smile. “I have so many good memories in this house too.”
“I’m glad you do,” he said, dropping his mouth to hers.
The kiss didn’t last. Mason came barreling back into the living room. Before he took off again, Sullivan kept Clara close but said to Mason, “So, buddy, we’ve got a question for you.” When Mason stopped bouncing around the room, he set those clever eyes on Sullivan. “What would you think about moving in here, with me, after we fix it up? You can even help paint your bedroom.”
Mason’s eyes widened, a big smile filling his face. Until he frowned. “What
about Auntie Amelia?”
“She’ll be okay,” Clara said, stepping out of Sullivan’s hold. “She’s getting married soon, to Luka, remember? They’re going to want their own space, and Luka will move in with her at the brewery.” When she went to Mason and knelt in front of him, his forehead wrinkled. Clara took both his hands. “This is your choice, sweetie. If you don’t like it here or it doesn’t make you happy, we can stay with Auntie Amelia and figure out the rest later.”
Sullivan would live with Amelia and Luka if he had to, all to make Mason adjust to this new life with Sullivan in it.
Mason nibbled his bottom lip then glanced at Sullivan. “You’ll live here too, with me and Mama?”
Following Clara’s lead, Sullivan joined Clara and took a knee next to Mason, cupping his shoulder. “I’d like to, if that’s okay with you.”
Mason looked between Sullivan and Clara. A couple of times. He rocked back on his heels, and his smile beamed. “That’s okay with me.”
“Good stuff,” Sullivan said, giving Mason a quick high five. But that was only half the reason Sullivan brought Mason and Clara here today. He gave Mason a little nudge on his arm. “Remember, just like we talked about.” When Clara looked on with confusion, Sullivan explained, “Mason and I were talking earlier today, and we both decided our family should be a little more official than it is.”
Mason took the ring box from his pocket, and as he held it up, he exclaimed, “Mama, let’s get married!”
Clara jumped to her feet, her hands covering her mouth, tears welling in her eyes.
Determined to get this next step in his life right, Sullivan took the ring from the box and held it up to her. “I loved you the day I met you, Slugger. It took a few years, but I finally found my way back to you. Nothing would make me happier than for you to be my wife. Will you marry me, Clara?”
“Yes,” she cried, dropping her hands. “Yes, of course.”
His wife. Sullivan felt a new purpose wash over him—one to always make her happy—as she slid the princess-cut diamond ring on her finger, a perfect fit. “I love you, Clara,” he told her, his voice rough to his own ears.
She smiled through the tears. “I love you, too.”
Overwhelmed by this life she’d given him, he gathered her in his arms, and his lips sealed over hers.
“Ew,” Mason said, proceeding to make gagging noises.
Sullivan laughed against Clara’s mouth then reached out to tickle Mason’s side, sending him into a fit of laughter.
When that laughter ceased, Mason looked up between Clara and Sullivan, swaying from side to side. “So, does this mean I can call you Dad now?”
Sullivan froze.
Clara laughed softly at whatever crossed Sullivan’s expression and wrapped her arm around Mason, pulling him into her. “Sweetie, you can call Sullivan whatever makes you happy.”
Mason wiggled out from Clara’s hold. His clever eyes searched Sullivan’s and then he said, “I like Dad. I’ll call you that.”
Sullivan felt his throat tighten. He gathered Mason—his son—in his arms and hugged him tightly, even if he was obviously too big for hugs from parents. “I’d like that too, buddy.”
Mason withstood the hug for a couple of seconds before tearing away and took off, running down the hallway. “What room is mine?” he called.
“The one on the left,” Sullivan answered. His old bedroom.
Mason ducked inside the room. A moment later, “Cool,” came from inside.
Clara’s eyes were laughing as she looked Sullivan’s way. “Isn’t it amazing how kids deal with things adults would have a breakdown over?”
Sullivan nodded. “He’s a good kid, and all credit goes to his incredible mother.” He grabbed Clara by the belt loop of her jeans and pulled her into him, holding her close. This time, he kissed her with the deep love that only came from two souls who’d gone through hard times and found their way back to each other.
When she eventually leaned away, she smiled up at him. “What are you thinking about?”
“How much I love you,” he said.
She smiled big. “I love you too, but there’s something more. I can see the wheels in your mind turning.”
He held her tightly, staring down at this woman who gave him a life he hadn’t known he needed. “Oh, I was just thinking about how I left this house, never intending to return. But I want to make this home a happy place again, something I think my father wished for when he left the house to you.”
“I think so too,” Clara said.
“That would make my mom very happy too,” he said, no longer keeping those thoughts to himself. “There’s love in this house again.”
Clara kissed him once more. “And there always will be.”
Epilogue
For as long as Clara could remember, she’d had her wedding planned. From the flowers decorating the barn, to the linens on the tables, to the dance floor, where the guests would laugh and celebrate her marriage. Only, this beautiful wedding she’d dreamed of wasn’t hers.
Amelia wore a gorgeous, fitted mermaid gown with a long veil that was currently covering her face. Just seeing her, Clara’s heart hurt a little that their parents or grandparents weren’t there to see Amelia get married. A week after Sullivan proposed, they were married in a small ceremony with friends and family in the backyard, under the big tree. In the end, she hadn’t wanted a big show. She’d only wanted Sullivan and those who had been there for them through it all. Except Sullivan had invited a few teammates and his agent. The day had been perfect, and somehow, even though their lives had once been very complicated, the last year of their life had been easy. They lived in Fort Myers for the summer months when Mason didn’t have school and Clara worked remotely. When he was in school, Sullivan lived in River Rock as long as he could, and they traveled to see each other as often as possible. Sure, it wasn’t conventional, but it was perfectly theirs. And at some point, Sullivan would retire from baseball and come home for good. When he spoke of his future, it involved a plan to coach for the University of Denver, bringing up new ballplayers into the major leagues.
When the violinist began playing, indicating the ceremony was about to begin, Clara squatted down and said to Mason, who looked cute in his dress shorts, white shirt, and bow tie. “Remember, all you have to do is walk down the aisle with the rings on the pillow, hand them to Luka, then go sit on Dad’s lap, okay?”
“Got it,” Mason said.
This kid amazed her. He’d been more resilient than even Clara thought possible. He seemed so happy to have Sullivan in his life—they really were two peas in a pod—that the whys and hows of why Sullivan hadn’t been there before really didn’t matter to him. Those hard questions would come, but Clara knew she and Sullivan would be ready for them. Together.
She straightened his bow tie. “I’ll be right behind you.”
“Okay,” Mason said.
“Ready?”
He nodded. “Yup.”
She kissed his cheek. “Okay, go on, then.”
“Ew.” He wiped off her kiss before doing nothing she’d told him to do. Instead of walking, he ran nearly the whole way then stopped and talked to a few people before going to sit with Sullivan.
She sighed back at Maisie. “Well, he got down there and the rings are still on the pillow. I guess that’s a win?”
“I thought that was going to go far worse, to be honest,” said Maisie with a laugh, striding by and walking down the aisle in her light purple bridesmaid’s dress.
With Maisie on her way, Clara turned around to Amelia. “Ready?”
Amelia visibly swallowed, looking a little doe-eyed.
Clara had been there. Even with today being the happiest day of Amelia’s life, being the center of attention wasn’t easy for any of the Carter sisters. She took Amelia’s clammy hands in hers and squeezed tight. “You’ve got this. Trust me, the ceremony is the hardest part. After that, we party. Okay?”
Amelia exhaled slowly th
en nodded. “Okay. I’m ready.”
“Yes, you are,” Clara said with a smile. “I’ll see you down there.” And because there wasn’t a father figure to walk her down the aisle and tell Amelia the things a father would say, she added, “You look absolutely beautiful today, Amelia.”
“Thank you, Clara. I love you.” And this time, she looked a little more like herself.
“I love you too.” She gave her sister a tight hug then faced the guests again. Thinking of their family who wasn’t here today, and loving them instead of sadly missing them, Clara made her way down the aisle. Her gaze skipped past everyone to Sullivan sitting in the front row with Mason on his lap. His smile made her heart flutter. Would always make her heart flutter.
The violinist, who was stationed off to the side of the groomsmen, switched to a different song when Clara settled in next to Maisie. When Amelia began walking down the aisle and the guests rose to greet her, Clara spotted the moment when Amelia’s gaze drifted to Beckett, who stood next to Hayes, before she snapped her eyes back on her future husband.
Amelia had gone back and forth about inviting Beckett to the wedding, but in the end, it seemed wrong not to have him there. Even if they had a lot of history between them, they were still friends. Good friends. And, of course, Beckett still loved her madly, only Amelia failed to acknowledge that. But their time had passed, even Clara knew that.
Time slowed a little as Amelia settled into her spot in front of Luka. Clara got a good look at him then, finding Luka a little pale, she had to withhold her snort. Of course he’d be the type to faint. She didn’t like Luka and still thought Amelia deserved better, but this choice wasn’t hers.
The officiant began, “Today, we’re here to celebrate—”
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