When There Is Nothing Left But Love

“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?”

was smoking near the door.

the car. “Ashton, do you think

mellow voice, he asked,

just feel that whatever I do for her won’t be good

considered if I should tell Summer everything, all those times that Jared had visited her at the villa. But what would I

everyone else was right. Summer would leave someday, eventually.

about this? Let Summer and the Crests get to acknowledge each other, but she continues to stay with

bigger family and more love showered upon her. She had nothing to lose from this

for a while before replying uncertainly,

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

back. When she saw Ashton and me enter, she came

for you!” Summer announced, putting on an

contain his laughter, Ashton asked, “What

hiding it in the palm of her hand. It was all very obvious to

instructed, “Give

nodded and obediently did so. A sweet encased in a shiny wrapper dropped

spite of myself. Children often derived joy from the most curious

the sofa. Patiently, he asked, “Why did you suddenly want to give me

“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

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

happiness made a lovely