“You stay put, I’ll stay put, and we’re going to find them,” Madison said firmly.
After I got off the phone, I paced around the living room and kitchen. My arms were wrapped tightly around my waist. Beyond the chronic worry, I kept replaying those moments in the airport. I had enough sense to know Tate hadn’t expected to see Marnie, but the entire tableau had triggered my insecurities.
“Tate, please be okay,” I whispered to myself.
My cell phone rang. I forgot I’d turned the volume on and nearly jumped out of my skin at the sound of it jangling loudly. I ran to the kitchen counter, practically skidding as I stopped beside it. “Hello!” I shouted into the phone.
“It’s Madison. They ran off the road, but they’re both fine. Griffin and Tish were behind them and saw them slide off,” Madison explained. Relief washed through me so fast I felt momentarily dizzy. “The cell reception is bad there, but you know that. Maisie and Beck are there too. The local EMT crew from Willow Brook is already on the way.”
“Should I go meet them?” I was restless to do something.
“No!” Madison’s tone was firm. “It’s really icy out. It’s worse now than it was earlier. They’re fine.”
“Are you sure?” I pressed.
“Griffin and Tish stopped to check on them. Theyarefine. Beck and Maisie are waiting with them.”
“But if they’re fine, why aren’t they leaving?” I pointed out.
“Because they slid off the side of the road. Leo wants to wait until they get his vehicle out,” Madison explained patiently.
I felt like I was going to burst out of my skin.
“This isn’t adding up,” I insisted.
“Itisadding up,” Madison retorted. “A tow truck is coming to get Leo’s truck back on the road, and an EMT crew will clear them. In the meantime, they’re waiting with Beck, Maisie, Griffin, and Tish.”
I sighed impatiently, pacing in a little circle around the kitchen island. “I’m going out there,” I announced.
I heard Madison’s voice as she moved the phone away from her ear. “Josie’s lost her mind and says she’s going to drive out there,” she said to Graham.
The next thing I knew, she put the call on speaker. “No, you are not,” Graham commanded.
I’d known Graham forever. It rubbed me the wrong way to have him tell me what to do. “I’ve lived in wintery areas my entire life. I can handle this drive,” I insisted.
“Oh my God,” Graham muttered. “Josie, stay put, please. The last thing anybody needs is for you to run off the road too. Leo also grew up in Alaska, but ice is ice.”
For some reason, that point got through to me, and I took a deep breath. “Fine. I’ll wait. As soon as you know they’re back on the road, will you call me?”
“Of course. I’m sure Tate is going to try to call you. He probably has already,” he pointed out, his tone exasperated.
“I know,” I murmured. “Thanks for checking on all of this, Graham.”
It felt like forever before Madison called again to say everyone was on the road and driving back to Willow Brook withan estimated time of arrival of twenty minutes. Beck and Maisie would drop Tate off since Leo’s truck was getting towed.
As soon as I got off the phone with her, I called Tate. This time, the call didn’t get dropped. When he answered, I blurted out, “I love you!”
