Carter the elder,” he acknowledged with a slight smile.
“That’s certainly one way to describe it.”
“Hm.” Helen poured tea with practiced efficiency. “And what are your plans now, young man, besides imposing on my daughter’s final evening before her departure?”
“Mother,” I chided gently, though I appreciated her protective instinct.
Blake accepted the tea with a respectful nod.
“Honestly, I’m not sure,” he said. “Everything I thought I knew about my relationship, my future… it’s all in question now.”
“Good,” Helen pronounced firmly. “Questions lead to better answers than
