In Love, Never Say Never

“Are you saying that you’ve never tried to find out what happened to Macy back then?” I asked. My heart ached for Macy. If Jared really cared about her, why didn’t he even try?

The obvious answer was that he didn’t care. Otherwise, Jared wouldn’t have given up just like that. Not only had he never tried to look for Macy, he never even asked after her.

It made me even more fearful of handing Summer over to Jared.

He remained silent, biting his lip.

I’d calmed down. Looking at Jared’s troubled face, I vowed, “No matter what the Crests have planned for Summer, I will never give her up to you.”

I then stalked the rest of the way back to the table.

Ashton had been engaged in casual chit-chat with Joe. When he said me, he reached out in concern and asked, “What took you so long?”

“It’s nothing. Have you finished eating already?” We’d all gathered here today under the pretext of having dinner, but nobody had taken more than a few bites.

Ashton continued looking at me. “You’re not hungry?”

I shook my head vigorously. “Nope.”

Upon hearing this, Ashton pushed back his chair and stood up. Politely, he said to Joe, “It’s getting late. We’ll get going then.”

Obvious displeasure was written all over Joe’s face. He demanded, “Didn’t we agree to this get-together? Are you leaving before we’ve even gotten to say anything?”

along with him. Jared was smoking near the door. We

into the car. “Ashton, do you think it’s right for me

car. In a mellow voice, he

my head. “I just feel that whatever I

at the villa. But what would I tell

would leave

get to acknowledge each other, but she continues to stay with us. They can come over every once in a while to see her. Would you

a bigger family and more love

while before replying uncertainly, “Can that

took my hesitation for agreement. “Of course!” he agreed

came running and flew into his

Fuller, I have something for you!” Summer announced,

to contain his laughter, Ashton asked, “What

her hand. It was all very obvious to us, but she was evidently trying her

instructed, “Give

A sweet encased in a shiny wrapper dropped into

often derived

in his hands and carried her over to the sofa. Patiently,

about this for a while, then proclaimed, “This isn’t any old sweet! My friend Dottie from school said that her uncle gave it to her aunt when they got married. It’s a lucky sweet! If you eat it, you can

towards the kitchen. My ears pricked up at her last sentence and halted immediately, turning to look at the

happiness made a lovely