“Fair enough,” Althof concedes before he abruptly signs off.“Talk later.”
I slide my phone in my pocket and brace myself against the railing, waiting for Ragnar to tire of sprinkling the lawn, two drops at a time.
In the meantime, I wonder if perhaps I should give Larry a call, see if he can keep my son for a couple of days.Carson could crash with Cody, like the kids used to do when they were younger, but something tells me a sleepover at a buddy’s when you’re seventeen doesn’t quite hold the same appeal.
My son is becoming a man, he’s proven as much over the past year or so, and it’s a little bittersweet to see him forge a life of his own.It’s a bit sad Emily didn’t get a chance to witness this last surge into adulthood, she’s the one who deserves the kudos for raising such a great kid.
For too much of Carson’s life I let work absorb me, letting Emily take on the brunt of parenting and running the household.I’m not proud of the fact I took her for granted for more years than I should’ve gotten away with, but I’m grateful I had a chance to try and be a better husband.
Unfortunately, that was only after Emily was diagnosed with Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.A particularly aggressive form of breast cancer against which she barely had a chance.The fast-growing lump in her breast was discovered by her lover, the physical therapist in Spokane she went to see every week for the better part of a year to help her with a rotator cuff issue.He’s the one who whisked her over to the MultiCare Deaconess Hospital to get it checked out.
It was a blow, in more ways than one, and I was so fucking angry about all of it—the betrayal, the lies, the cancer—but part of that anger was also directed at myself.I dropped the ball on our marriage first.Sure, I may not have slept with another woman, but my work was my mistress and she demanded all my time.I was so full of the importance of what I was doing, I casually brushed off any concerns Emily brought up about our marriage, our family.To the point where she no longer bothered telling me how unhappy she was, she just went and did something about it.
Yeah, I was pissed and hurt and,fuck, humiliated, but I couldn’t lay all the blame at her feet.I had to own some of it myself.So as my wife was battling that godawful disease, I made sure to be the husband she’d always deserved.
Unfortunately, she didn’t get to enjoy him for very long.
“I was wondering where you’d gone.”
I turn around to watch Bess stepping outside with her almost black hair still damp from her shower.
Ragnar, who hears her voice, finally comes bounding up the steps of the deck to greet her.
“I was waiting for that one to finish marking every square inch of the yard,” I grumble.
My complaints make zero impression on the dog, who seems perpetually happy, with tail wagging, tongue lolling, and what looks like a smile on his face.
“Are you okay?”Bess asks, stepping up to me and putting a hand on my arm.
She has a look of concern on her face as she scrutinizes mine.
I guess my trip down memory lane must be showing.Reaching out, I slip my arms around her and tuck her head under my chin.Only a faint hint of sadness over what was lost lingers as Bess molds herself against me.She feels right in my arms, and I realize how fucking lucky I am to be getting a second chance to do this right.
Bess
“Nothingmore you can do at this point anyway.”
I look across the kitchen island at Savvy, who dropped by as we were putting away the remnants of our dinner.
There weren’t a ton of supplies in the house, but I was able to scrounge up enough to throw together a couple of quesadillas.If we are going to be holed up here much longer, we’re going to need some groceries.Maybe we can pick a few things up tomorrow.
“I know, but it helps to visualize when we’re in the space,” I try to explain.
“You’re just going to have to visualize it another day,” Savvy fires back dismissively.
I think she’s still ticked she had to find out from someone, other than me, about Ken showing up last night.She’s worried, I get that.So is Hugo, which is why the two of them are ganging up on me about spending tomorrow at the sheriff’s station.
The prospect isn’t particularly appealing, but I can’t really complain too hard since I’m the reason Hugo is going in on his day off.
So, I suck it up and concede.
“Fine.I’ll give Phil a call.”
Hugo, who is putting away the baking tray I used for dinner, throws me a cocky grin over his shoulder.I roll my eyes in response and grab my phone off the counter.
“Of course.”
Phil is one of the most laid-back people I know and agrees immediately to meeting me at the sheriff’s station instead of the coffee shop.
