Page 51 of Christmas Promises

“What are you saying?” Nolan asked. “That I’m afraid to get hurt so I don’t get close to people?”

“Something like that.” Logan reached for another wing.

“I thought you were a lawyer, not a therapist,” Nolan said grumpily.

“I think he’s right,” Max said. “You’ve never been the same since that happened.”

“We were talking just last night about how Laney’s kind of brought you back to life,” Logan said.

“She has,” Nolan said. “I can’t remember the last time I felt this happy.” That wasn’t true. He knew exactly when. His fourteenth summer.

“Anyway, she seemed pretty serious about staying and buying the bookstore,” Max said.

“Yeah, man. This is all going to be fine.” Logan patted his shoulder. “You’re going to be married and lame like Luke is before we know what happened.”

Jimmy asked if they wanted another beer, but they declined.

“We’re all driving tonight,” Max said.

“Yeah, it’s super slick out,” Jimmy said. “Someone just said there was a bad accident out on Fox Hollow Road. Not far from the inn. It was a cab. Took both the driver and the passenger to the hospital over in Millhaven.

“What did you say?” Nolan’s heart skipped a beat. “Not far from the inn?”

“That’s right,” Jimmy said.

A cab. Near the inn.

“Laney was at the inn with her parents.” Nolan’s mouth had dried up, making it hard to speak. “She might have taken a cab back to town.”

“Did he say anything about the passenger?” Max asked, his usual merry expression completely somber.

“Hey, Roger,” Jimmy yelled down to the guy at the end of the bar. “Did you see who the passenger was?”

“Not really,” Roger said. “Other than that, she was wearing a red coat and had long brown hair.”

Nolan’s stomach dropped. “Laney was wearing a red coat.”

“Okay, let’s not panic,” Logan said. “Try her cell.”

Nolan’s hands shook so badly he could barely pull up her name from his contact list. He waited, praying that she picked up, but it only rang and rang. Finally, he gave up and resorted to a text.

Are you okay? Heard there was an accident and I’m worried.

No reply, of course. Because it was her, he knew it.

“You need to take me to the hospital,” Nolan said. “Now.”

His brothers sprang up from their stools. Logan tossed some cash onto the counter, and the three of them headed out into the cold night.

He hadno memory of the drive to the hospital, but somehow Max got them there. The three of them burst through the hospital’s doors and headed to the reception desk.

A young woman wearing thick glasses looked up as they approached. “Can I help you?”

“We’re looking for Laney Gray,” Nolan said. “She was in a car accident.”

The receptionist typed into her computer. “Yes, she was brought in by ambulance and admitted immediately. She’s currently in surgery.”

“Surgery? For what?” Nolan gripped the counter so hard his fingers were starting to go numb.

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