Page 105 of When You Were Mine

It was an expression of his soul.

His phone flashed again. Maybe something was wrong with the girls? Careful not to wake Elz, he slid his legs off the bed and headed into the bathroom.

But no, nothing was wrong. Cole just sent a few pictures of the girls. They were pretty damn cute all snuggled up together on the couch in matching Christmas pajamas, eyes riveted on what he assumed was the TV screen. Behind them, stockings lined the mantel.

He missed them. Wished he could be there.There was nothing like watching kids whisper with such innocence and sincerity into Santa’s ear. Nothing like their intense concentration as they decorated sugar cookies, wanting to get the sprinkles in just the right pattern. He?—

Wait a minute.Something was off with the stockings. He counted them.One, two, three, four, five, six…

Seven?

Did I get that right? There’s a seventh stocking?He tried to enlarge the photo, but the image was too grainy to read the name. Awareness shook him wide awake.

Was that why they didn’t want him around? Because someone else was staying with them for Christmas? Could be her mom. Sure, that made sense.

There was only one way to find out. He hit the Call button.

But instead of his son, Hailey answered. “Hey, movie star.”

He chuckled. “How’s it going? How’re the girls?”

“They’re better. But you know, it’s just the flu. It’s not that big of a deal.”

He supposed he didn’t need more confirmation than that. If she wasn’t put out by the girls being sick, then she simply hadn’t wanted one more person in the house.

Okay, that’s fair. Seven people’s a lot.

You had to make up the guest room, set out an extra plate. One more mouth to feed, one more person to clean up after.

But it had all worked out because the push had driven him to Iceland. Right into the arms of Elzy.

And there could be no better outcome. “Okay, well, I just wanted to check in. Is Cole around?”

“He ran out to the store. The girls want whipped cream in their cocoa.”

“As they should.”

But she didn’t laugh. “They kept waiting for you to bring it. You promised them a sleigh ride with hot chocolate, but…”

But what? Why wasn’t she finishing the sentence? “We’ll definitely do that when I get home. You just let me know when it’s okay to come visit.”

“Trevor, can I say something to you?”

“Of course.”

“You really hurt him. I just need you to know that.”

“Hurt who?” What was she talking about? “Myson?”

“I mean, you retired to spend time with him, and then, you blow him off for Christmas? You have to remember, he didn’t get the big family holiday with siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents… It means a lot to him.”

“Hang on. He told me the girls were sick.”

“They are, but kids are sick all the time. It’s not that big a deal. It’s not like we’re quarantined over here.”

He supposed it was time to have that conversation. “Hailey, I didn’t change my flight on a whim. I wanted to be with you guys, but Cole texted?—”

“I know what he wrote because he showed me. We analyzed it together because he couldn’t figure out why you’d use it as an excuse to take off like that. You didn’t even ask if we needed anything—which we don’t. We’re fine. It was just the abruptness of it, you know? He tells you the kids are sick, and boom, you’re off to Iceland with your girlfriend.”

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