One More Wish - Bonnie R. Paulson

Chapter 1

Cari

The room full of family members of both the Wilson and Dean families seemed to have frozen as they waited for whatever Cari had almost blurted out without thinking things through. She had a bad habit of doing before thinking and normally, her actions didn’t have bad results, but right then? She was about to deliver a blow that would prove to be detrimental to the whole town.

Cari blinked, pausing before she delivered the news she’d been holding onto since her mom walked out of the family home a while back. Cari had held onto that burden for far too long. She wanted to share it with someone, worry about it with someone, so that she wouldn’t have to buckle under the weight of knowing terrible things about her mother.

The night her mom had left had been burned into Cari’s memory. All she ever tried to do was forget. Her dad never spoke about that night directly with Cari. Maybe he had talked about the situation with another sister? Maybe he knew things Cari didn’t know or maybe he even knew what she knew, but somehow, she doubted it.

Why couldn’t Cari keep her mouth shut?

Flynne and Kali had burst into the conference room, announcing their elopement. While the family had congratulated them unrestrainedly, Cari hadn’t been able to keep her mouth shut. She’d cut into the announcement with the vigor of a bull rider on opening day.

She didn’t ask if there’d be a reception she could cater. Of course, there would be some kind of a reception. They were the Deans and Wilsons after all. Nothing would get in the way of celebrating a wedding.

Especially one that came out of nowhere.

No, Cari had thrust her hands onto the surface of the table and blurted out that she had something to say.

And now, everyone looked expectantly at Cari. She’d stood up. She’d interrupted everyone. But what was it she wanted to say? Whatever it was must be important. Cari was never rude or uncouth. She would never interrupt a celebratory moment for something trivial.

Would she?

It was like Cari could hear the thoughts of the other people in the room. She bit her lower lip and glanced around the table in alarm. She hated all of the attention on her. Especially when she wasn’t sure just how much everyone needed to know or should know. Why hadn’t she thought things through?

She should have asked her dad what he thought or even asked him to tell everyone.

“Cari, what’s going on?” Lily cocked her head to the side and narrowed her eyes as she studied Cari standing at the edge of the table.

Threats. Cari had to keep in mind that they had all been threatened. They’d all been taunted and challenged and by the same woman they should have been able to trust. Cari licked her lips and lifted her chin. Someone had to tell the families. If they didn’t know, they couldn’t do anything to help Taylor and the rest of the town from whatever it was their mother was threatening them with.

The audacity of that woman left Cari breathless with anger. How could she? That wasn’t the problem. She’d left. Bye. Why was she coming back now? What did she possibly think she could gain from doing what she was saying she was going to do?

“I… Look, there’s more involved with that woman calling Taylor. I have a feeling she’s going to announce what she did before she left.” Cari dropped her gaze to the table, tracing her fingertip on the wood grain in front of her.

The room fell silent and Cari took a deep breath. She didn’t want to talk about what she’d seen, what she’d heard. To put it bluntly, her mother was shameful and shouldn’t be able to have the opportunity to come back and make their lives miserable. That wasn’t fair and Cari didn’t want to enable that in any way. She also didn’t want to embarrass her father in front of the Wilsons.

She cleared her throat, shifting her feet and pulling her shoulders back. Okay, this was harder than she’d thought it would be. She felt so alone. But that wasn’t what was important. She had to get the truth out there. Now.

Kali’s phone buzzed and she pulled the cell from her pocket. In the quiet of the conference room, the movements were louder and more enhanced than they would have been in normal circumstances.

Holding up a finger, Kali stepped out of the conference room and took