THE FIFTH AND FINAL BOOK IN THE CARMICHAEL SERIES - CANNOT BE READ AS A STAND ALONE (MUST read Scar On My Heart first)
Growing up in a house torn by deceit and disaster, Tansy Nicole didn't believe in love. She'd only seen two examples of it in her...
**Okay, so I managed to get this part written, but since the story is winding down I'm having troubles deciding how I was to finish it before the epilogue. This is kind of a little filler-ish but also isn't at the same time. The next chapter will be (unless my brain decides otherwise mid-chapter lol) the last chapter before the epilogue. Please enjoy!**
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Tansy's POV
Later that night after Calla had gone to sleep and Tanner and I were laying in bed watching T.V. was when I finally decided to ask him what I'd been dying to since earlier at lunch.
"Tanner, can I asked you something?" I murmured. I was lying between his legs resting against his chest as he played with my hair from behind.
"What is it, Sweet Bottom?" He asked, distracted by the show that was playing.
"Do you have any family left besides your mom whom I know you don't care to reconnect with?" I questioned. His chest rose and fell with a deep sigh before his hand stalled in my hair.
"Yes, I do," he responded cryptically.
"Okay..." I trailed off, waiting for him to elaborate on his answer.
"I have an older brother named Adrian who joined the army at eighteen that I just recently reconnected with, and a father out there somewhere. He sent me a letter - conveniently after I turned eighteen when he wouldn't have to claim me and take care of me anymore - but I never responded," he explained.
"How recently did you reconnect with your brother?" I asked, watching him closely. His body tensed up as his face grew apprehensive to answer me.
"Tanner?" I pushed.
"About a month ago," He responded with a visible wince. I didn't respond, rather just looked away to try and mask the hurt I knew was showing on my face. He didn't even think to introduce us?
"Baby, it was when I was trying to help Scar out with his fucked up situation. I was really preoccupied with keeping Evan and everyone else safe that introducing you two wasn't really the first thing on my mind," he explained, desperately try to diffuse the situation.
I just nodded, still avoiding eye contact. It's not that I didn't understand where he was coming from, because I did - really. When he finally explained to me everything he'd been keeping a secret, I understood why he was being secretive in the first place, but he never mentioned anything about a brother.
"He left right after giving us advice on what to do and making the connections for us - I didn't even get a goodbye. I haven't seen or heard from him since," He rasped out, seeming upset about it. My heart ached for the little boy I could see hiding behind his hard eyes, mourning for the love of his parents - fuck for anyone he was supposed to be able to call family.
Well, besides Calla and I of course.
And our perfect little baby.
I could tell he'd been thinking hard about this ever since we'd found out I was pregnant. I could tell by the shift in his demeanor during certain situations. Whenever we would watch disney movies with Calla and there would be happy scenes between family members, he would breathe deeply before releasing a thoughtful sigh. He'd be so deep in thought that he wouldn't notice my small touches of affection, my attempts at pulling him from his own self-destruction.
