“I’m just grateful that you came to check on me.” My mother reached out to pat Sophie’s arm. “It was so kind of you. Don’t you agree, Ethan?”
“Mm hmm,” I hummed noncommittally. “But when did you find the time to call her, Mother?”
“I don’t remember the exact moment.” She pressed her hand against her forehead. “Everything happened so quickly.”
My eyes narrowed as Sophie rushed to reassure my mother. “Which is completely understandable, Margot. You were rushed to the hospital in an ambulance for goodness sake. Ethan can’t possibly expect you to remember every tiny, insignificant detail.”
“Maybe not,” I conceded, giving her a pointed look. “But you should remember.”
Sophie hesitated just a fraction too long. “Oh, right around the time she called the ambulance, I think.”
Margot beamed a smile at her. “And you came here as soon as you could, just like I knew you would. You’re such a reliable young woman. Always there when you’re needed.”
My jaw clenched. She didn’t say it outright, but the implication that my wife hadn’t come to the hospital was there, hidden behind her kind words to the woman she often complimented. And they were never backhanded, like the ones she tended to give Callie. Not that I’d noticed until she’d pointed it out to me after I missed her doctor’s appointment. I might be a great son and CFO, but I needed to become a better husband.
7
CALLIE
The front door clicked open just as dawn began to lighten the skyline outside our windows. I sat at the kitchen island, hands wrapped around my second coffee of the morning since I’d barely slept and desperately needed the caffeine.
Ethan’s usual polished precision looked worn through. His jacket was draped over one arm, the top buttons of his shirt were undone, and his hair looked as though he’d raked his fingers through it.
I stood and rounded the counter to pour him a coffee, adding a dollop of cream, just how he liked it. He accepted the mug with a faint smile, his fingers brushing mine in a brief touch that left my pulse unsteady. “You look like you could use this even more than I do.”
“Yeah, it was a long night.” His voice was rough with exhaustion. “But Mom is fine.”
I knew the doctor planned to do more tests, but that was all Ethan told me when he finally texted after I got home from dinner. That and to not wait up because he wouldn’t be back until morning. Which had left me tossing and turning all night long.
“Fine?” I echoed, confused but also relieved.
He took a sip before explaining, “They ran a second round of bloodwork overnight—everything came back normal. It wasn’t her heart.”
“Then what was it?” I asked as I returned to my stool.
“A panic attack.” He exhaled hard, rubbing the back of his neck. “Apparently stress can cause symptoms that mimic a heart attack. The doctor said her EKG and troponin levels were clear both times.”
“Oh.” My throat tightened with relief I hadn’t realized I was holding back. “So…she’s really okay?”
“She’s already making plans to redecorate her guest room while she ‘recovers.’” His mouth curved into a tired, rueful half-smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Trust me, she’s fine.”
I tried to smile back, but the tension in the air didn’t dissolve as easily as I wanted it to. I could see the fatigue in his posture, but something else lingered beneath it. A hint of guilt, maybe.
“You should get some rest. You’ve been up all night.”
“I will.” He moved to the end of the island and leaned his hip against it, only inches away from me. “I didn’t want you to worry.”
I almost told him it was too late for that. Instead, I just nodded and took another sip of my coffee. He did the same, and for a few quiet moments, we just sat there while the city woke around us.
After grabbing a banana, Ethan took off his watch and set it beside his empty mug. “I took the morning off. I’m not sure I could see straight with how tired I am. Figured I’d try to catch a few hours of sleep before heading in.”
“That’s a good call.” I rinsed my cup in the sink. “You need it.”
He nodded but didn’t move toward the bedroom. Instead, he stayed leaning against the island, watching me with anexpression I couldn’t quite read. “Last night made me realize something. I’ve been running on autopilot for months—work, meetings, emails. It’s like I blinked, and we…drifted.”
My chest tightened at the honesty in his tone. “You’ve had a lot on your plate.”
“So did you before the wedding, but you never lost sight of what matters.” His gaze softened. “I owe it to us to put in the same effort.”
