Page 107 of Mountain Void

“I don’t understand. Where are the kids? Where’s Jeff? Is everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine. Jeff’s at home with the kids.”

Charlie waved her hand. “So … what are you doing here exactly, Terry?”

Her sister locked eyes with Lorenz. Some silent communication passed between them. Finally, Terry nodded.

“Lorenz called me.”

Charlie turned slowly toward Lorenz. He looked suspiciously unrepentant. “I was going to tell you,” he said.

“Tell me what?” Charlie turned from Lorenz towards her sister. The garment bag still in her hand caught her attention. “You don’t like dresses. Why are you carrying a dress?”

Terry pointed at Lorenz. “This is all his fault.”

“In Spanish we refer to this as throwing someone to the lions, Lorenz,” Carmen laughed, speaking for the first time. “I think it comes from the days of gladiators.”

“It’s under a bus for us,” Charlie muttered. “So. Who’s going to explain what’s going on?”

“I called Terry,” Lorenz finally admitted.

“What?”

There went that word, again.

“I wanted your sister here.”

“Why?”

Lorenz looked directly at her.

“I wanted her here when I asked you to marry me.”

Charlie stared at him, not sure if she’d heard him wrong, or if he’d lost his mind.

The concussion.

He’d been hurt.

“I’m serious,” he said. And he did look serious. Still pale and bruised, but as serious as she’d ever seen him.

“I can see you’re serious, but—”

“Marry me.”

Behind her, Terry and Carmen made small sniffling sounds.

“I should get down on one knee,” Lorenz muttered, pushing off with his arms to raise his torso off the bed. A grimace crossed his features.

“Stay down. Don’t even think about moving.”

“I can manage—”

“I’m serious, Lorenz. I’ll call someone. I’ll find a pair of handcuffs.”

Carmen made a small oohing sound. “That sounds interesting.”

Charlie turned to glare at her friend. “You knew about this, didn’t you?”