by Terri Reed
Reed shook his head. “I never thought you’d be one to hide from the truth.”
Carter stared. “What do you mean, hide from the truth? I’m not hiding from anything.”
Reed rubbed his chin. “Maybe not, but maybe you are hiding from your own truth.”
His friend’s words dug deep inside of Carter, breaking loose something he’d tried so hard to ignore, to deny. Something he’d been hiding. He did love Rachelle.
But the truth was he couldn’t do anything about it. He just couldn’t. He wasn’t brave enough, no matter what Rachelle had written about him.
* * *
Two days later, Carter was finally home. At least to his parents’ apartment. He wouldn’t be able to take the stairs to his, Ellie’s and Noah’s apartment quite yet. His dad had built a wheelchair ramp so that they could wheel him through the front door of their place.
A chorus of “Welcome home” erupted and echoed throughout the house and inside his heart. There was a Welcome Home banner stretched across the wood beam separating the dining room from the living room. There was a cake on the table.
He searched for Rachelle but she wasn’t there. Disappointment lay heavy on his heart even as he smiled and opened his arms for Ellie to climb up onto his lap.
“Hey, munchkin.”
“Welcome home, Daddy. We love you.”
His heart swelled with love for his daughter and those gathered around.
There was a scratch at the back door.
His mother hurried over and opened the door. Frosty, Scotty and Eddie rushed in, followed by the growing bundles of fur that were the puppies. Honestly, they had doubled in size since he’d last seen them. Frosty ran to the side of the wheelchair and propped his paws up on the arm of the wheelchair. Carter leaned over and nuzzled the dog. Frosty licked his face. Everyone laughed.
Carter drew back and looked at Frosty. “What is he wearing?”
Frosty had a black T-shirt with white lettering that read, “I’m the big dog, don’t mess with me.” Scotty had on a T-shirt that read, “I’m the other big dog, don’t mess with me.”
Ellie slipped off his lap and picked up one of the puppies. “Rachelle sent them.”
Ivy picked up the other. “Aren’t they adorable?” Ivy asked.
Each pup had on a navy T-shirt that had gold lettering that read, “K-9 In-Training.”
He looked at the puppies then back at Frosty. He laughed. “That is so thoughtful and funny and so Rachelle.”
His heart ached with missing her.
“Somebody get this man some cake,” his father said.
Later, after the party, Carter sat with Noah and Zach in the living room while Ellie helped his mom clean up in the kitchen and his dad was out back with the dogs.
“We invited Rachelle,” Noah stated.
“Let me guess,” Carter said. “She declined.” His stomach clenched. He couldn’t blame her.
Noah’s jaw tightened. “She did. Citing she had to work. But really I think she was being stubborn.”
“Stubborn?”
“Yes, just like you’re being,” Noah chastised.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Zach punched Carter on the shoulder. “That woman loves you—we all know it.”
Noah sat on the coffee table in front of Carter and placed his elbows on his knees, steepling his fingers, looking like he was settling in for a lecture. “Brother, you know we love you. And so you have to understand this comes with love.”
Uh-oh. Noah was using the L word—this was pretty serious.
Zach nodded. “You’re our brother. We want to see you happy.”
“Like you’re happy?” Carter suggested.
Zach grinned. “Exactly. I am blissfully happy. Violet is the best thing in my life.”
Carter looked at Noah. “Don’t tell me you believe in love.”
“Not for myself, but I can recognize it when I see it. You love Rachelle and she loves you. And you’re both being stubborn and idiotic.” He ran a hand through his hair. “All I’m saying is, you have a chance at something wonderful with a wonderful woman. Don’t blow it.”
Carter’s heart thumped against his rib cage. “Her career is taking off. She’s interviewing with the New York Times. I would only hold her back.”
Zach scoffed. “It’s not like she moved away. She can have her dream job and be with you and Ellie.”
“But what if her career takes her somewhere else?” He knew he was grasping for an excuse not to accept their words.
Zach made a choking noise. “What’s bigger than the New York Times?”
Noah narrowed his gaze on Carter. “You’re afraid.” He nodded his head, satisfied with his assessment. “Yeah, that’s it. Carter is afraid of love.”
Carter gripped the handrails of the wheelchair.
“No. I loved Helen. I love Ellie.”
Zach put his hand over Carter’s. “Brother, what’s holding you back?”
Carter slipped his hand out from under Zach’s and grabbed the wheels and pushed but the wheels wouldn’t budge. He wanted to get away from them, get away from this line of questioning. But the brakes were on the wheelchair. Giving up on rolling away, he tried to push himself to his good foot but his brothers pushed him back down into the chair.
“You’re not going anywhere until you face this,” Noah said in his most commanding tone.
Trapped, Carter spit out, “Fine. I’m afraid.” The confession burst from him. “I’m afraid of losing her. I’m afraid of loving and going through the kind of pain I had when Helen died.”
Zach nodded. “I understand. I really do. When Violet was being threatened, I knew my life would end if something happened to her.”
“But you saved her. You protected her,” Carter said.
“Just like you did for Rachelle,” Noah pointed out. “Just as you would in the future.”
“But what if something happens that I can’t control?” Carter’s voice broke. He hadn’t been able to protect or save his wife. Her death had been out of his control.
Zach and Noah looked at each other. Then back at Carter.
“You know what Mom says,” Noah stated.
“Only God’s in control,” Zach finished.
Carter had heard his mother and others say this his whole life. But accepting the words took faith and he wasn’t sure he had enough faith for a second time.
He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up at his mother. Beside her, Ellie clutched her hand. “Son, we love you. We all love you and we know Helen would want you to be happy.”
His dad had said the same thing. But was it true?
Ellie climbed up into his lap and took his face between her little hands and stared into his eyes. “Daddy, do you love Rachelle?”
He could never lie to his child. Emotion swelled in his throat. He swallowed convulsively before he could speak. “Yes, honey, I do.” The admission allowed peace to flow through him. No more hiding from the truth.
A beaming grin broke out on his daughter’s face and she let out a loud whoop before she slipped her arms around his neck and hugged him.
“I do, too,” Ellie whispered into his ear. He could feel her wet tears on his neck.
The back door opened and his father walked in, along with five curious dogs.
Frosty sat next to him and whined; clearly the dog sensed that Carter was upset. Carter patted Frosty reassuringly.
“What’s going on in here?” Alex demanded.
Noah stood up and clapped his dad on the back. “I’ll let them explain. I need to get back to the command center.” He whistled for Scotty, who followed at his heels as Noah strode out the door.
Zach rose, and his dog, Eddie, a floppy-eared beagle, hurried to his side. “Violet’s upstairs with Katie. I’m goi
ng to go see the ladies.” As he and Eddie passed by Carter, Zach squeezed his shoulder. “Proud of you, man.”
While Ivy filled in Alex, the puppies barked and raced around the room, a cute distraction.
“Daddy?”
Carter looked into his daughter’s serious gaze. “Yes, sweet pea?”
“Don’t you think we ought to go tell Rachelle?”
He chuckled. Leave it to his daughter to point out the obvious. “Yes, I think we should.”
Ivy clapped her hands. “We’ll drive you.”
“Now?” Carter questioned with a laugh.
“No time like the present,” Alex interjected, grabbing the back of the wheelchair and unlocking the wheels.
“Can the dogs come, too?” Ellie asked as she climbed off her father’s lap.
“Sure, why not?” Carter said. “Let’s make this a family affair.”
They loaded him up into the wheelchair-accessible van that his father had rented.
“Do you mind if we stop at a store on the way?” Carter asked.
Ivy beamed at him. “Flowers! Good thinking, son.”
That hadn’t occurred to him. But flowers would be good, too.
But he had something else in mind, as well.
* * *
Rachelle completed the finishing touches on the article about the zoos in the five boroughs, then hit Submit, and off the document went to her editor at NYC Weekly.
She hoped and prayed at some point she’d be able to write a story about how the NYC K-9 Command Unit finally closed the case on Jordan Jameson’s death and captured the villain who’d taken their chief, friend and family member’s life.
Maybe even for the New York Times if they called her back for a second interview. She thought the first one went well. She’d had other news sources calling, showing interest, but she quickly realized they only wanted insider information on the K-9 Unit and the Jameson family specifically. She shut down those inquires fast and hard.
A knock at the door startled her. She wasn’t expecting anyone. She opened the door to find Carter sitting in a wheelchair, a brown paper bag in his lap and a bouquet of flowers in his hand. Ellie stood on one side of him, her sweet little face beaming, and Frosty on the other side of Carter while Ivy and Alex stood behind him, each holding a puppy.
The dogs were wearing the T-shirts she’d sent them. Her heart raced. Happiness to see the Jamesons had her pulse tripping over itself. “This is an unexpected surprise.”
Frosty trotted in and sniffed around.
“May we come in?” Carter asked.
Where were her manners? “Of course, please.”
She stood back. Alex handed off his pup to Ivy, then pushed Carter into the middle of the living room. Ellie rushed forward to wrap her arms around Rachelle.
Heart thumping, Rachelle bent and picked her up in a tight hug. Fighting back tears, she set Ellie down as Alex gave Rachelle a quick hug before taking Ellie by the hand and backing out of the apartment to stand next to his wife in the doorway.
“We’ll be out here in the hall,” Ivy said, and she grabbed the door handle and shut the door.
Surprised and a bit wary, Rachelle turned to Carter. “I don’t understand? Why are they not coming in?”
For a long moment, Carter just stared at her. There was a look in his eyes that made her both nervous and thrilled at the same time.
He thrust out the bouquet of gerbera daisies. “These are for you. I didn’t know what kind of flower you like. But these were the brightest and prettiest. Ellie thought that you would like them.”
She took the flowers and hugged them to her chest. “I love them. Gerbera daisies are actually one of my favorite flowers. And you’re right, so vivid. All the pinks and oranges and yellows. They can brighten any gloomy day.”
Carter frowned. “Are you having a gloomy day?”
She didn’t want to tell him she’d been having many gloomy days lately. Ever since he’d been shot.
“It’s my fault,” he said.
“What? What are you talking about?”
“Your gloomy days,” he said as if he’d somehow read her thoughts. “I’m sorry, Rachelle. I have to confess something to you.”
The wariness turned to dread. “Should I be sitting down?”
He gave her a wry smile. “No, this isn’t anything earth-shattering. I’m sure it’s something you already suspect.”
Wanting to stall whatever he had to tell her, she moved into the kitchen to grab a vase. Her hands shook as she filled the vase with water and put the flowers in and carried the vase to the dining room table. Finally, she bolstered her courage and turned around. “Okay. Tell me.”
Carter licked his lips. He looked at the bag he was holding. He held the bag out to her. “Oh, this is for you, too.”
Curious what he’d bring her in a brown paper bag, she took the bag and peeked inside. Surprised pleasure spread through her as she lifted out the almond-based ice cream.
“How did you know?”
“You didn’t think I noticed that you don’t drink or eat dairy. But, Rachelle, I notice everything about you.” His voice turned husky with emotion. “I see you for who you are. A kind, compassionate and loving woman.”
Tears gathered in her eyes as she stared at him. “This is the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me.”
His eyebrows rose. “Aw, Rachelle. That breaks my heart to hear that giving you ice cream is the nicest thing anybody’s ever done. If you let me, I will do so much more for you, for us.”
She blinked as tears fell down her cheek. “Carter, what are you saying?”
“I’m saying I’ve been afraid. Too afraid to allow my heart to open up to anyone except my family. I realize that isolating myself wasn’t being fair to Ellie or to the memory of Helen.”
Rachelle sucked in a breath. “You still love your wife.”
“Yes,” he said. “I always will. But I know Helen would want me to make room in my heart for more love. She would want me to be happy.” He held out his hand. “You make me happy, Rachelle.”
She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Words she’d longed to hear her whole life.
Carter let his hand rest back on the wheelchair arm. “I would understand if you don’t feel the same. But I just need you to know that I love you.”
Her feet felt rooted to the spot. All the love she felt for him welled up until her throat closed and she felt like she would pass out from the lack of oxygen. A gentle nudge at her knees drew her attention away from Carter. Frosty pushed her gently toward his partner. It was all the encouragement she needed.
She closed the distance between her and Carter and went down on her knees next to his wheelchair. Setting the ice cream aside, she looked at him with all the love and joy she possessed. “I love you, too, Carter.”
He breathed out a breath and smiled as he framed her face with his hands and leaned in to kiss her. His lips molded exquisitely against hers.
For a long moment, she lost herself in the sensations rocketing over her and through her, heart beating with joy and love.
Frosty let out a single bark.
The tiniest squeak of the front door alerted her before there was an eruption of clapping and whooping as Ellie, Ivy, Alex and the puppies charged inside the apartment.
Reluctantly, Rachelle drew away from Carter with a bemused smile.
He stared at his family. “Were you listening at the door?”
Alex pointed to Ivy. She shrugged, totally unrepentant.
“Does this mean you’re going to get married?” Ellie asked as she squeezed in between Rachelle and Carter, wrapping an arm around each of them.
Rachelle met Carter’s gaze, her breath caught in her lungs as she waited for his response.
“If she’ll have me,” he said.
“Yes. Yes, a thousand times over,” she answered.
Ivy clapped her hands again. “Another wedding. I’m so excited.”
“We’re going to have to wait, though,” Carter said. “I want to be able to stand at the altar. Without crutches.”
Remembering something Katie had said about wishing she and Jordan had had more time to get to know each other, Rachelle nodded. “I don’t mind waiting. It’ll give us an opportunity to get to know each other better without all the drama and danger.”
Carter frowned. “It won’t be that long. I’ll double my PT regimen and do whatever I can. Maybe in a month or two?”
“That’s perfect,” Ivy said, pulling Rachelle to her feet for a hug. “We’ll have to go dress shopping right away.”
Overwhelmed with joy, Rachelle felt like she was going to burst.
Carter captured her hand. “You won’t just be marrying me,” he said, his gaze intent and serious. “You will be joining our family, which includes the NYC K-9 Command Unit.”
She touched his cheek. “I couldn’t ask for more.”
Carter turned his head and kissed the palm of her hand.
* * *
If you enjoyed Seeking the Truth, look for Reed Branson’s story, Trail of Danger, coming up next, and the rest of the True Blue K-9 Unit series from Love Inspired Suspense.
True Blue K-9 Unit: These police officers fight for justice with the help of their brave canine partners
Justice Mission by Lynette Eason, April 2019
Act of Valor by Dana Mentink, May 2019
Blind Trust by Laura Scott, June 2019
Deep Undercover by Lenora Worth, July 2019
Seeking the Truth by Terri Reed, August 2019
Trail of Danger by Valerie Hansen, September 2019
Courage Under Fire by Sharon Dunn, October 2019
Sworn to Protect by Shirlee McCoy, November 2019
True Blue K-9 Unit Christmas by Laura Scott and Maggie K. Black, December 2019
Keep reading for an excerpt from The Cradle Conspiracy by Christy Barritt.