Falling for the Single Dad by Lisa Carter Read Free Book Online Page A

Amelia’s voice.
    â€œI hope you’ll stick around long enough to work through this thing with Daddy. He’s not been the same since you left.”
    Caroline chewed the inside of her mouth. “I’m sorry for hurting all of you. But when Mom died, I had to leave. I can’t explain why—I don’t expect you to understand—but I just had to go.”
    â€œI heard this afternoon about the pilot program. Everyone in Kiptohanock is speculating on where the permanent marine center will be located.” Amelia joined them on the other side of the car. “It’s a good thing you’re doing. And if anybody can make it happen, it will be you.”
    Caroline sighed. “Thanks for the vote of confidence. Something else I don’t deserve after abandoning the family.”
    Amelia caught hold of her hand. “Some of us know what you did, Caroline.”
    She stiffened. “You do?” A throbbing low in her skull began to ache.
    Honey tilted her head. “When the hurricane last September nearly destroyed the inn and the loan to rebuild came through so quickly, Amelia, Braeden and I made inquiries at the bank.”
    Oh, that. Caroline willed her heart to settle.
    â€œWhile others had to wait much longer for federal funds, we were able to begin rebuilding immediately.” Amelia squeezed her hand. “It was you who put up the money. I don’t know how you did it, but it was you who saved the house and put us back in business.”
    Honey’s mouth quivered. “You saved my dream and something far more precious, time to rebuild my relationship with Sawyer so we could have our happily-ever-after.”
    Tears stung Caroline’s eyes, but she shook her head. “You’re making it more than it was. Money was the least—”
    â€œNot the least,” Amelia insisted. “Exactly what we needed when we needed it the most.”
    Caroline shrugged. “Everything except myself.”
    â€œYou gave us what you could, which is why Amelia and I added your name to the title to the house.”
    Caroline shook her head. “I never meant for you to do that. I lost my right to call the house my home a long time ago. I only wanted to help, not lay claim to anything.”
    Honey’s arm went around Caroline, fixing Caroline in place between her sisters. As if they were both determined she wouldn’t run away again. Little did they realize, she was done running. Staying and facing the fallout of her actions was part of her healing. Essential to becoming whole once more.
    â€œIt’s a done deal. The Duer Fisherman’s Lodge is as it should have always been—owned and operated by the family. Braeden, Amelia, Patrick and Max Scott. Sawyer, me...” Honey patted her rounded belly. “And Baby Kole. Seth and Caroline Duer.”
    Amelia jutted her jaw. “ We’re laying claim to you . The house belongs to you as much as any of us. And we insist you stay in the unoccupied cabin during your summer program.”
    â€œI already have a reservation at the motel in Onley.”
    Honey brushed her hair off her shoulder. “Dexter Willett and I go back to high school. We trade clients when one or the other’s accommodations are full. So I called him and canceled your reservation.”
    Caroline crossed her arms. “You did what, Beatrice Elizabeth Duer?”
    Honey laughed. “Not even Sawyer gets to call me that. And it’s Kole now, Caroline Victoria Duer. Thanks in large part to you.”
    A smile tugged at the corner of Amelia’s lips. “We’re not taking no for an answer.”
    Caroline blew out a breath. “Daddy is not going to like it.”
    Honey wound a strand of hair around her index finger. “You let me handle Daddy. He’ll come around.” She fluttered her lashes. “I’ve had time in the years since we last met to work on that whole steel gardenia