Page 58 of When You Were Mine

“It’s Dad.”

“What’s Dad? What’re you talking about?” Chris whipped out his phone.

Of course, Trevor stood close enough to see Darby’s blank screen.

“He fell.” To her credit, Darby delivered an Academy Award-winning performance. “They’re on their way to the hospital.”

“I didn’t get a message.” Chris joined them, features tight with concern.

Trevor didn’t like the deception, but before he could say anything, the black Range Rover pulled to the curb.

“You guys,” Darby said. “I’m so sorry to do this to you, but we have to go.”

“Of course. Go take care of your dad.” Elzy had her hand on Chris’s arm. “Is there anything I can do?”

“I don’t know.” The man looked lost. “I don’t even know what’s going on.”

The only reason Trevor didn’t blurt out the truth right then and there was because he knew Darby would explain it to her brother the moment they got in the car.

As Chris got into the passenger seat, Elzy leaned in. “Text me if you need anything at all.”

They both watched as Darby drove off, a white cloud of exhaust lingering in the frigid air.

“Do you think he’s okay?” Elzy asked.

He said he wouldn’t lie, so he had to come clean. “I’m sure he is.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I saw the screen of her phone. She wasn’t looking at her text messages.”

“What’re you saying? Why would she lie about something like that?”

When the Land Cruiser pulled up, he gestured to it. “Here’s our ride. I’ll explain everything on the way back.”

But she was tapping away on her phone, an obvious ploy to keep from talking to him.

That’s fine.He had two hours alone with her.

The valet came around the car, and Trevor handed him a good tip. “Merry Christmas.”

The guy grinned. “Thanks, man.”

Trevor held the passenger door open for Elzy. “Ready?”

She waved her phone. “Oh, that’s all right. I’m going to stay in the city tonight. There are a few more stores I’d like to see. And you know, it’s Christmas. It’s pretty, and all the shops stay open late.”

He sighed.This woman. She was stubborn, willful, and clever.

All good qualities when you’re on her side. But when you’re not, she’s one formidable opponent.

Well, if she thought he’d give up, she was wrong.

Twinkling white lights wrapped around streetlamps, and festive garlands draped across crosswalks. In the courtyard of a city church, a Christmas tree was all lit up, its branches heavy with ornaments. “That sounds like a good idea. There better be a store that sells coats because I think my organs have frozen solid.”

There it was. That break in her composure. Just the hint of a smile.

If he was lucky, there wasn’t a hotel or B&B with a room in the entire city. “Might be hard to book a hotel though.” He gestured to the pedestrian traffic. “Seems like a popular time of year to come to Iceland.”

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