Perfect Fit (Serendipity's Finest 1)

He nodded. “I thought of that. But he already clammed up on Sam, and that means he must know something about the money in the evidence locker, or Rex, that he wants to keep to himself. And I don’t want him overstressed during his treatment.”

“You love him,” Cara said softly.

Mike couldn’t help the smile tugging at his lips. “Yeah. He put up with me.” To Mike, that meant everything. “So what are my choices? Track down my wayward real father or harass a sick man for answers.” He blew out a breath in disgust.

Cara reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder. “You aren’t in this alone.”

“I appreciate that, but yeah, I am.” He’d always been alone or felt that way.

“No, that’s in here.” She tapped his head. “You’ve got a family that loves you. They don’t consider you adopted or not one of them. Do you understand how lucky you are to have siblings? A mother you can go to? A father you love who will get through this?” Her voice cracked.

And he realized it was because she had none of those things. As shitty as his life felt at the moment, she was right. He had a support system, even if he didn’t always feel like he deserved them.

He lifted one long curl of her hair and twisted it around his hand. “You’re a pretty wise woman.”

She shrugged. “I don’t know about that. I just think I’m an honest one.”

He grinned. “Well, what you said about family? That’s given me an idea. Before I have to face looking for my old man, maybe I’ll ask my mother what she remembers about that time.”

Cara blinked, startled. “Your mother? Why?”

Mike narrowed his gaze. “Because she was around, she knew Rex and Simon, and maybe she can shed some light on things. I know she can handle talking about the past. She’s tough.” But Cara’s wide-eyed stare made him uneasy. “Any reason I shouldn’t ask?”

Cara looked out the window at the empty residential street ahead of them. “No. Of course not. You should talk to your mom. You’re right. She may remember things.”

“Good.” Talking to his mother would buy him time to come to terms with the fact that sooner or later he’d have to track down his father and face his past.

“Before I visit my mother, I’ll bring you home so you can get over to Havensbridge.”

“You’re going so soon?” she asked.

“Why put it off? Unless Dad’s awake and we aren’t alone. Then I’ll hang with him for a while and talk to her next time he goes to chemo on Monday.”

“Okay.”

He pulled the truck onto the street and headed back to Cara’s. The townhouse community where she lived was new, the units not too large or too small, the yards in the back private enough to keep all residents comfortable. He liked that she had a place of her own, away from the turmoil with her parents.

He parked in front of her condo. “I’ll pick you up at seven tomorrow night for dinner with Ethan and Faith.”

“Oh! Right.”

He tugged on her ponytail. “Did you forget?”

She faced him with a sheepish grin. “Of course not! I just wasn’t thinking about it at the moment. And now that you reminded me…”

“What?”

“I need to go into town and buy something to wear.” She bit down on her lower lip, and he wanted to pull it into his mouth and nibble for himself.

“Don’t make yourself crazy. They’re old friends and they’re just like us. Ask Dare.”

“Okay, fine.” Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “I’ll see you tomorrow night.” She turned and reached for the door.

“Cara, aren’t you forgetting something?”

She swiveled back to him. “What?”

He leaned over and cupped his hand behind her head, pulling her close. “This,” he said, sealing his lips over hers.