Harlequin Romantic Suspense April 2021 by Karen Whiddon (interesting books to read for teens TXT) 📕

And yes, he’d also missed his parents, his family. He’d even missed that damned dairy farm.

In fact, he’d made a carving of his parents, standing with their arms around each other, and with their family dog at their feet. He thought of that now and went to get it, running his thumb over the smooth and polished wood.

Hands shaking, he pulled up the recent call list and hit Redial to call back the same number he remembered from his childhood, the landline that his parents had clearly hung on to.

His mother answered, sounding so much older he caught his breath and could barely get out the word “Hello.”

“Micha,” she said, recognizing his voice. She started to cry. “I’m so glad you called.”

“It’s good to hear from you, Mom,” he said cautiously. “What’s going on with Dad?”

She told him about his father and the stubborn man’s refusal to go to a doctor for regular checkups. As a result, she’d walked into the kitchen one morning and found him nonresponsive. He’d had a stroke. Only her panicked phone call to 911 and their quick response had saved his life. He’d spent ten days in the hospital and had just been moved to a rehabilitation facility. She’d spent much of that time trying to track Micha down.

“Is he going to be all right?” Micha asked, stunned.

“He’s got a long road ahead of him,” she replied. “He’s relearning how to walk, and his speech was also affected. The doctors have been cautiously optimistic about his recovery, but he won’t ever be the same man he was before.”

Micha wasn’t sure how to respond. He was still trying to process the unexpected swell of emotion he’d felt upon hearing the news. His father had always seemed larger than life, invincible.

“Will you come visit?” his mother asked. “Please. I know he’d love to see you, as would I.”

Though his first instinct was to hold on to his pride and refuse, the trials he’d been through had made him rethink many things. Holding grudges served no purpose other than to deepen the hurt and bitterness. “Would he want me there?” he asked, even though he wasn’t sure he was ready for the answer.

Though she could have lied, Micha’s mother gave him the truth. “Though I’d like to think he would, I’m not sure. He has no clue that I called you. But know this, ever since he said what he did at Brian’s funeral, he’s regretted those words. He deserves a second chance. We both do.”

“I’ll come,” he said, making an instant decision. “But I’ll be bringing someone with me. I’d really like you to meet her.”

“I’d love that,” she said instantly. “I figured there was someone special when she answered the phone. In fact, I’d be honored to meet her. Please tell me about her, where you met and how long you two have been together.”

Micha took a deep breath. He allowed the love he felt to show in his voice as he spoke about Carly. He went back to the beginning, to his initial proposal, their plans to marry and then what had happened to him in Afghanistan.

She gasped when he told her about being captured and then went quiet when he talked about his burns, the scars, and the years of physical therapy and recovery.

“We learned when they told us you were alive that you’d been hurt,” she said softly. “We just didn’t know the extent of it. I called, but because you hadn’t put me on the list of people authorized to receive information, they wouldn’t tell me anything.”

“Wait,” he interrupted. “They told you that I was alive?”

“Yes, of course. They’d sent two men in uniform to announce your death. Those same two came back to let us know there’d been a terrible mistake.”

Stunned, he shook his head. “They didn’t correct the misinformation with Carly,” he said, bemused. “All this time, she truly believed I was dead. She was furious with me for not reaching out and letting her know.”

“I can’t say I blame her,” she agreed, a hint of reproach in her voice. “That must have been very painful. I know it was for me.”

He swallowed back the urge to remind her that she’d stood by his father when they’d said Micha was dead to him. Even now, that hurt. He’d had lots of time to reflect on those words, both while captive and while in the hospital and rehab. He’d finally thought he’d managed to forgive, but he’d known he’d never forget.

“I made a mistake. Shutting Carly out of my life was the worst one.”

“I made a mistake, too,” his mother said softly. “I can only hope you’ll forgive me the same way Carly clearly forgave you.”

Those words...she was right. He turned the carving over in his hand, thinking how much he’d like to give it to her. To them.

From the corner of his eye, he saw Carly slip into the room. She sat down next to him and put her hand on his shoulder, offering her physical support. Turning slightly, he placed a kiss on the back of her hand.

“We all make mistakes,” his mother continued. “And we all have regrets. If she had known, would you have let her visit you in the hospital?”

Even now, he wasn’t sure. He’d been in a lot of pain, had been told he was disfigured for life, and severe depression had taken hold.

“I didn’t want anyone to know what had happened to me,” he said, his voice breaking. “Not even Carly. And she’s the love of my life.”

Next to him, he registered Carly’s swift intake of breath. Glancing at her, he mouthed, As if you didn’t know.

When his mother spoke again, he could hear the tears in her voice. “When can you be here?”

Though he wanted to say they’d leave immediately, he knew he had to check with Carly about her work schedule. It wasn’t even a bad drive, right around five hours. “I’ll have to let you know. Oh, and Carly’s dog will