“I don’t want anyone to go to trouble for me. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
“We care about you. Let us help. No woman should be left by themselves after a miscarriage. Please, Astrid. Just let us take care of you.”
68
CALLAN
“Any word from Astrid this week?” Travis inquires as we enjoy a quick pint of the local craft beer after work on Friday at our usual place, propping up the bar on our stools.
I shake my head. “Our conversation takes a back seat to the emotional pain she’s going through now.”
“I can’t believe Devlin didn’t show up even one time to check on her in person.”
“He’s a prick. I honestly don’t know what she sees in him.”
“If it were any other woman, I’d say it was his money, but Astrid has never been like that. Jess said she didn’t even want the flowers he sent, claiming his assistant picked them.”
Jessie, Ana, and Beth were very kind to Astrid these past two weeks. Dropping by with food and supplies and just checking in on her. Ma said that’s the only reason Elsa didn’t hop on a plane after Astrid called her. The old friends spoke for a while, and I know Mum would love to reconnect with her. She has lots of friends here now, but no one she gets on with as much as she did with Elsa.
“I don’t doubt it, but I can’t imagine he’s that different to any other billionaire.” I finish my pint.
“Maybe you should drop by and see her.”
I shake my head again. “Ma said they talked for a bit, and I need to be patient because she’s going through a lot.” I drop a couple of dollar bills on the counter for Dan and stand. “I’m gonna head.”
“You sure you don’t want to come over? You know Jess always makes way too much food.” Travis drains his beer, drops a couple of dollars on the counter, and climbs off the stool.
“I appreciate the offer, but I just want to put my feet up and chill out. Watch some footie on TV.” My parents have taken Darcy to New York for the weekend, and I can’t remember the last time I had a completely free weekend to myself. The World Cup is on, and some of my old teammates are playing for their countries, and I plan to cheer them on from the comfort of my sofa.
“All right, but if you change your mind, you know where we are.”
We part ways outside and head for our respective homes.
Driving along the winding driveway I had constructed on the left perimeter of Whispering Woods never fails to steal my breath. I still pinch myself that I live here. Knowing my daughter is growing up surrounded by the beauty of nature warms my heart. Darcy loves swimming in the lake and foraging in the woods.
The only thing missing is the woman who owns my heart.
I’m thinking of Astrid as I park my car in the garage and walk into the house through the connecting door. After making some pasta, I head into my large living room with my bowl of food and a beer, settling into my leather recliner chair and flicking on the TV. I’ve just finished eating when I get an alert on my phone that there’s someone at the main gates. Butterflies swoop into my chest, and my heart races like crazy when I spot Astrid leaning out of her car window with her finger to the keypad.
I press the button, and the gates part. “Drive through and keep to the left,” I say, knowing she can hear me. “I’ll see you in a bit.” I watch through the various cameras as she drives slowly along the edge of the woods, heading for the house. Shoving my feet into my runners, I walk into the kitchen to deposit my bowl and fork in the sink, and then I head outside, pausing to turn on all the outside lights on my way.
Astrid’s car is just rounding the bend, and I will my frantic pulse to calm down. If she’s here, it can only mean one thing. Nerves instantly fire at me, but I tell myself I can do this. I have waited a long time to explain the events of that night to her, and anxiety has no place interfering.
She pulls to a stop on the gravel just outside the garage, and I walk toward her. Shock is etched all over her face when she gets out. She slams her door shut and stands rooted to the spot as I approach, spinning her head this way and that, trying to soak it all in.
She looks pretty as a picture in a knee-length summer dress with thin straps. A white cardigan is tied around her waist, her long legs are bare, and her feet are encased in a pair of wedge sandals. Wavy hair streams effortlessly over her shoulders and down her back.
“Hey.”
Tears shimmer in her eyes when she turns to face me. “Callan.” She almost chokes on the word. “How did you…what is…how is this possible?” She visibly gulps, and I want nothing more than to wrap my arms around her and hold her close.
“I’ll tell you everything.”
“I can’t believe you own all this.” She rubs her eyes before turning to face the lake. “We used to daydream about living here.”
I come up beside her. “I bought it for us,” I quietly admit, my chest bursting with pride as I glance around my property.“I spent years pulling it all together, trying to make it how we imagined it. Seeing you here now is” —Everything. It’s everything.—“surreal.”
She stares at me for a few beats, and I see all manner of emotions swirling behind her eyes. My heart pounds behind my chest wall. I love her so fucking much. I always will. She was always meant to be mine, and having her here is something I’d begun to think would never happen. Astrid gulps and looks away before skimming her gaze across my property. “You have a boat.”
