One kind touch, p.23
One Kind Touch, page 23
Dakota shook his head. “I’d never assume that one of my own kids would want to be handed the place. I didn’t want to work at the sawmill when my dad asked me.”
“Which worked out great for Jacy and me,” Dena said. “I could crunch numbers for any business, but I love doing it for the sawmill.”
“And that’s why you’re Dad’s favorite child.” Dakota picked up a set of snowshoes he had leaning against the building and held them out to Dena.
“I really am the favorite.”
“Let’s see how long you’re Carter’s favorite,” Dakota said, passing snowshoes to Carter. “I heard you asked her to move in with you.”
“You heard correctly. Any tips?” Carter asked.
“Yeah, don’t let her outlaw man night. The guys and I need a place to get our video game fill.”
“Man night can continue,” Dena said as she gave Rohen his snowshoes. “As long as I can have girl night where we watch romantic comedies and eat chocolate.”
Carter held out his gloved hand. “Deal.”
“See, this is going to work out fine.” Dena shook his hand and beamed a smile up at him.
They spent the rest of the morning wandering around the woods. Snow crunched softly under their snowshoes as Dakota pointed out various tree species and wildlife to Rohen who appeared to eat those facts as if he’d been starving for such information. The boy had his own information about California wildlife to share as well and Carter may have learned a thing or two himself.
Everywhere they explored, Rohen took pictures with Carter’s phone. “I like to use photos as inspiration for drawings,” he explained.
Carter promised to upload the pictures and loan Rohen a spare laptop he had back home. “It’s gathering dust. You’re welcome to it.”
“You’re too nice to me,” Rohen said.
“No such thing.” Carter clapped the kid on the back and Rohen’s smile made him want to do as much as he could for the boy. What would it take to get him out of that group home? What were the requirements? Did he have what it took to oversee the upbringing of a teenager?
Would Dena be on board?
Carter made a mental note to research this tonight and talk it over with Dena. He’d never felt so compelled to take action for someone as he did for Rohen. It was almost as if he’d known the kid in a previous life or something.
“That was a blast,” Rohen said when they returned to Carter’s house. Well, his and Dena’s house by the end of the day hopefully. “Though I miss California, Vermont is kind of beautiful.”
“That’s how I felt when I came here too,” Carter said. “I thought I was strictly a city guy, but the tranquility of the woods can’t be beat.”
“Do you ever miss the city?” Dena asked.
“Not really, no,” Carter said. “So maybe I was never a city guy.”
Dena slid her arms around Carter’s waist. “Maybe you’re right where you’re supposed to be now.” She glanced over her shoulder at Rohen. “You too.”
“Maybe,” Rohen said. “There had to be an easier way to get here though.” He jiggled his car keys. “Okay, I have to go so I’m ready for work. Thanks again, people.”
“No problem,” Dena said. “We should chat about what other stuff you might like to do. Dakota’s got a million adventures we can go on.”
“That would be cool.” Rohen gave them both a wave and turned to go to his car. Halfway there, he swiveled back to face them again and pointed to Dena. “Good luck with your moving.”
“Thanks. He’s the one that will need the luck.” She arrowed a thumb to Carter. “I don’t think he’s remembering how much stuff I have.”
“Only the essentials come here,” Carter said. “The rest we torch.”
Dena swatted his chest. “We’re not torching any of my stuff!”
Carter shrugged. “I tried.”
Rohen’s laugh wafted up to them as he got into his piece of shit car. Again, the engine made all manner of sickly noises as he started it and thundered down the street.
“Good God,” Dena said. “That car has to go.”
“Far, far away.” Carter pushed his key into the knob at his front door. “I have a feeling, however, that astronauts on the International Space Station can hear that car.” He tugged Dena into the house. “Now, first order of business is to make room for you.”
“Fortunately, you don’t have a ton of stuff,” Dena said after turning in a circle in the living room.
“Most of my stuff is in my office. That’s the junk I really need.”
Dena put her hands up. “And I have no intention of spilling into that space at all. That’s yours. You’ve got to have a place to work undisturbed.”
“My, aren’t you considerate?” Carter pulled her into a hug.
“I really am.” She slid her arms under his jacket, her hands rubbing his back. “I do intend, however, to invade every other available space in this cottage. My cows are going to love it here.”
“Have at it, my lady. My cottage is now your cottage.” He squeezed her and got excited all over again that she’d be moving in permanently. That he’d be able to see her every day.
Which made him think about Rohen.
He arched back a little so he could Dena’s face. “Can I ask you something?”
“Always.” She rested her hands on his chest and focused that forest gaze on his face.
“Rohen. What do you think about him?”
Dena sifted out a breath. “I think he’s great. Talented. Smart. Funny, despite everything that’s happened to him. I enjoyed spending time with him today.”
“Yeah, me too.” Carter shed his jacket and hat. “I hate that he has to go back to the group home after work tonight though.”
“He deserves better.”
“That’s what I was thinking.”
Dena smiled a little. “This cottage does have two bedrooms.”
“You noticed that too, huh?” Carter rested his hands on Dena’s shoulders. “Would it be totally crazy if I went to that group home and... you know... made some inquiries?”
“It’d be crazier if you didn’t.” Dena put her hands atop his. “Spending time with him is as natural as breathing. And he’s a good kid. I’m likely to be more trouble for you than he is.”
Carter laughed. “But I like your kind of trouble.” He brushed his lips against hers. “Let’s start getting you set up in here, then maybe we could both make a visit to the group home.”
“I’d like that.”
The question was, would Rohen?
Chapter Sixteen
“You can pitch that, but save that,” Dena said to Jacy as she buzzed around her house, trying to pack in an organized fashion. She never imagined moving out of her house. Sure, she’d wanted to find someone, but she hadn’t ever allowed herself to picture what would happen after she’d met that someone. She loved her house and it had been a real find. Within walking distance of Dakota’s and Jacy’s houses, she’d liked knowing her family was close by.
And they still would be. Carter’s cottage wasn’t far from Birch Peak Adventures or her parents’ house. Actually, nothing was all that far in Maplehaven. A person could walk from one end of the small town to the other in about an hour and pretty much see all there was to see of the area.
Now she’d be sharing space with the man she loved and possibly a teenage boy who fit right in with everybody. Dakota had taken an immediate liking to the kid as she and Carter had. Dena was curious about visiting the group home later today to find out what options there were for... freeing Rohen.
“Tape! Where’s the tape?” Leah called as she folded flaps of the box in front of her.
Jacy hadn’t been kidding about enlisting some moving help. Currently, Jacy, Dakota, Leah, William, Chennie, Kyle’s wife and Leah’s fourth grade colleague Heidi, Noah, Krista, and Krista’s son Luke were all furiously loading boxes. At this rate, Dena would have everything packed in no time.
“Here’s the tape!” Luke ran over to Leah and helped her seal the box.
Noah stepped over to the box and hoisted it onto his hip. “I’ll take it out to my truck. I think I’ve got room for a few more things then I’m full.”
“I still have room in my truck,” Dakota said.
“Thank God for all these men and their trucks,” Heidi said. “What would we do without them?”
“Make too many trips. That’s what you’d do,” William said as he took a box Chennie handed him. “Okay, who’s riding with me to help unload at Carter’s?”
“I will,” Jacy said. “I’ll make sure Carter’s giving you prime space in the closets, Dena.”
“Excellent.” Dena nodded at her sister. “And if he’s struggling over which nerdy T-shirts to throw out to make room for me, tell him anything with The Three Stooges on it can go.”
“Roger that.” Jacy saluted Dena and followed their father out to his truck.
Everyone worked together and in a few hours, the only thing that remained in Dena’s house was her furniture.
“What’s happening with this stuff?” Dakota asked.
“It won’t all fit in Carter’s cottage.” Dena angled her head at the couch. “Besides, maybe I want to rent this place out. Seems a shame to get rid of it completely. I could rent it furnished.”
“There’s my practical, financially-minded sister.” Dakota slung an arm around her shoulders. “I knew you wouldn’t be completely consumed by all the romance of moving in with someone.”
“Renting is good business. I’m all about the numbers. Always.” She pointed to the rocking chair in the corner of the living room. “I want that though. Dad made it.”
“Got it.” Dakota grabbed the chair then paused by the front door. “Anything else?”
Dena scanned the kitchen, living room, and dining room of the place she’d lived for the past seven years. While she loved the house, she couldn’t say she’d made a ton of memories inside it. Carter’s cottage would be different.
“Nope. That’s it.” She followed him out and hopped into her SUV which was stuffed with some of the smaller boxes. The rest of her family was at Carter’s and hopefully she could convince them to unpack everything too. She’d bribe them with pizza and booze.
After a short drive—one that would have been shorter if Dakota hadn’t gone like ten miles per hour in front of her to bust her chops—she parked in front of Carter’s cottage.
Which I’ll have to stop calling Carter’s cottage. This was her address now. Well, once she filed all the paperwork to make it official.
She got out of the vehicle and her family and friends were indeed helping unpack. Bless them. Popping the trunk, Dena walked to the back of her SUV as her phone rang. She dug it out of her pocket, but didn’t recognize the number so she stuffed it back into her pocket and proceeded to grab a box from the trunk.
Her phone rang again. She set the box on the little wall by the garage and checked the phone. Same number.
“What the hell?” She swiped the screen. “Hello?”
“Is this Dena Brenton?” an unfamiliar female voice asked.
“Yes. Who is this?”
“This is Shepherd Memorial Hospital. Do you know Rohen Sears?”
Dena immediately sat on the wall, her legs wobbly. “Yes. Is he okay?”
“He’s been brought in due to a car accident. The police think his brakes quit on him. He’s in surgery right now.”
“Surgery!”
“What? Who’s in surgery?” Jacy had suddenly appeared beside her, but Dena held up her finger in a wait-a-minute gesture.
“A logging truck hit him from the side when he didn’t stop at a red light. We’re doing what we can for him. Your business card was found in the pocket of his pants. We didn’t see any other contact information. Are you a relative?”
“No. Rohen lives at the group home in town, but I’ll be right there.”
She hung up before she could be told that only family would be permitted to see him. Between her and her sister, Dena had enough friends at the hospital. She’d get herself in there. She’d be there for Rohen when he woke up.
Because he would wake up. Wouldn’t he?
“Oh, God...”
“What happened to Rohen?” Jacy asked.
“Something happened to Rohen?” Carter nudged Dena around to face him and the rest of her family and friends who had gathered near the driveway. “What’s going on, Dena?”
“We never should have let him leave in that stupid car.” Dena’s hands shook. “What’s wrong with us?”
“Back up,” Carter said, taking her hands in his. “Tell me what happened?”
“He had a car accident. His brakes quit. A logging truck...” She had trouble swallowing. “A logging truck hit him. He’s in surgery.”
Carter marched into the opened garage straight to his car, not uttering a word.
“We’ll finish bringing in the boxes,” William said. “Then we’re right behind you.”
Dena didn’t even have the ability to say thank you to her father. She had no words right now as she got into Carter’s car. Rohen had to be all right. He had to be.
“This feels fucking familiar,” Carter said. “Why do good people always get screwed?” He stepped on the gas and his car bolted out of the garage. “And I keep letting people in here.” He pounded on his chest. “I’ve got to stop doing that. The Universe doesn’t want me to have anyone.”
“You have me.” Dena reached for his arm, but he jerked it away.
“Yeah, for how long?”
Carter’s tone made Dena wince. Though she knew he felt genuine concern for Rohen, anger crackled around him too. His hands strangled the steering wheel and he drove well above the speed limit.
“Let’s keep clear heads here.” She clamped a hand onto the door handle as Carter took a turn.
“My head is clear,” Carter bit back. “Crystal fucking clear. I finally understand how this world works. Good people die and I’m not allowed to love anyone. I need to remember this basic truth. Get it through my goddamn skull.”
“Rohen’s not dead.” Not yet, and if there was any fairness in the cosmos, he would make it out of this alive. He’d already had enough shit in his life. Only good things should be on his path now. “And you’re allowed to love. Me, Rohen, Leah. Anyone you want.”
Carter shook his head. “Not without Fate saying, Sorry, I’m about to kill this person that you love.”
The car’s speed increased and Dena put her hands on the dashboard. “Carter, slow down! You’re not going to have to worry about Fate killing anyone. You’re going to be responsible for it yourself.”
He gave her a wild-eyed look, and for a second she was reminded of how Gary looked right before he sliced her stomach with that knife. If she couldn’t see the hospital a little farther down the street, she would have demanded Carter pull over and let her out of the car.
Instead, she shut up and let him swerve into the hospital parking lot, tires screeching. He took the first spot he found and was out of the car almost before he’d shut off the engine.
“Carter!” Dena jogged to catch up to him. She grabbed his arm and he spun around so fast she squeaked.
“Look, I’m not going to stop you from coming inside. Rohen likes you and he should have someone in his life who isn’t going to bring him bad luck.” Carter slapped his chest with his hands. “I’m bad luck. For him. For you. For everyone. All those boxes you dropped off at the cottage should go back to your house. If you move in with me, how long before something happens to you too? You have to get out of my Circle of Doom.”
He turned back toward the hospital and started walking before Dena could string words together to form an intelligent sentence. Clearly, she wasn’t going to be able to talk any sense into him right now. Not when they didn’t know how Rohen was. Not when he was so upset. Not when he thought all the world’s unfortunate situations were his fault.
She followed him into the hospital. At the front desk, he said Rohen’s name and the receptionist started in on the family-only speech.
“Hey, Marissa,” Dena said, stepping up next to Carter. The nurse standing behind the receptionist turned around and gave Dena a smile.
“Hey, Dena.” Marissa’s smile faded. “Is someone in your family here?”
Dena shook her head. “No, all the Brentons are accounted for, but we know Rohen Sears.”
Marissa tapped the receptionist on the shoulder. “It’s cool. She’s the only contact we have for the kid. He’s from the group home.”
The receptionist nodded. “I see. What about him?” She pointed to Carter.
“This is Carter Bennett. Rohen is his intern from the high school.” And he’s the man I was going to move in with because we are in love. At least that had been the plan. Dena wasn’t sure what was happening anymore.
“How is he?” Carter appeared to have calmed down some since coming in, but the way he gripped the counter between them and the receptionist told Dena he wasn’t ready to be totally rational yet.
“Follow me,” Marissa said as she rounded the front desk and started down a hallway.
Dena walked behind Marissa and let out a breath when Carter fell into step beside her. They turned into a small office to the right and Marissa motioned for them to have seats across from a metal desk. The wall was adorned with diplomas belonging to a Doctor Ethan Bukowski.
“Doctor Bukowski is our best surgeon on staff,” Marissa began, leaning on the edge of the desk and facing Dena and Carter. “Initial assessments showed that Rohen’s left side was damaged from the impact of the logging truck to his vehicle. He was unresponsive at the time of ambulance arrival, was revived on-scene, and brought directly here. The doctor wasn’t sure of the extent of Rohen’s injuries, but suspected internal bleeding so they rushed him right into surgery. We haven’t heard any updates yet, but you will be the first we tell when we know more.”
“Is he...” Carter cleared his throat when his voice came out raspy. “Is he going to be okay?”
“Not enough information to make that call right now, I’m afraid, but be assured Doctor Bukowski will do everything he can for Rohen.” Marissa pushed off the desk. “Can I walk you back to the waiting room?”
