Page 6 of Hidden
Not that she found any fault with Josh. A few months ago, he’d officially moved into Sofia’s lakefront property with her. He was a thousand times a better person than Sofia’s ex-husband, and Ellie adored him. But he had an intensity about him that Asher didn’t share. Although, to be fair, raising his son as a single dad and running his own business had demanded different things from Josh. Regardless, she found Asher’s energy more…soothing. His calm self-possession projected a quiet confidence that settled something inside her.
Then again, he was a doctor. She suspected he had that effect on a lot of people.
Shifting her thoughts from Asher, she glanced at the phone in her hand. As much as she loved Josh and Sofia—and they loved her—she needed to call her best friend and give her a little notice. But she couldn’t bring herself to have an actual conversation. Not now. And not in front of Asher. Instead, she opened her texting app.
Ellie:Surprise! I’m coming to see you
Sofia’s reply was almost instantaneous.
Sofia:I love you, but don’t. It’s a hot, or should I say cold, mess up here. We’ve had about two feet of snow already and it’s not looking to slow down. I think they might have closed the pass
They had. About twenty minutes after Ellie had gone through.
Ellie:Too late. I’m thirty minutes away
This time Sofia didn’t respond right away. Finally, the bubbles, then a message appeared.
Sofia:You are always welcome here any time. I will get the guest room warmed up for you. But don’t think you’re going to get away with not telling me the reason behind this sudden excursion
Ellie expected nothing less. She wasn’t looking forward to spilling her guts. But she needed Sofia’s help.
Ellie:Yes, but not tonight
Sofia:Agree. Tonight, you’ll have a drink, maybe a hot shower or bath, then a long night’s sleep. There will be plenty of time to talk
Ellie:Yes, plenty of time
Her response confirmed Sofia’s assumption that this was not just a quick two- or three-day trip.
Sofia:Drive safe, see you soon
Ellie considered mentioning that Asher was driving but opted not to. Explaining the accident would be too complicated over text and would only make Sofia worry. Instead, she sent her an emoji of an SUV followed by a snowflake.
Slipping her phone into her purse, she turned her attention out the window. Darkness clung to the side of the road, and shadows filled the voids, creating a featureless landscape beyond the immediate tree line. The snow continued to fall, thick and steady, and flakes danced in the wind kicked up by Asher’s truck.
But he drove flawlessly.
“At the risk of sounding banal, you’ve done this a time or two, haven’t you?” she commented, more to start a conversation than for the answer.
“A time or two, yeah,” he replied. “You?”
“Not often enough to handle what I drove in tonight, apparently,” she replied.
“Don’t beat yourself up. I don’t know a single person who lives in Mystery Lake who hasn’t had a spinout at one time or another.”
“Including you?” she asked, having a hard time seeing him losing control of a vehicle.
“Not in the snow,” he replied. “But I hit black ice once about seven years ago. Scared the shit out of me. And my family,” he added.
She winced. “Were you hurt?”
“Broke my hand and walked away with a bad concussion. I guess it’s a good thing I’m not a surgeon. It still aches when I’m cold.”
“What brought you out on a night like this, then? I’m grateful, of course. But it’s not exactly a night to be out and about.”
He shrugged and mentioned some conference he’d been at. The one highlighted on the pamphlet she’d seen on the passenger seat.
“I know you’re a doctor, but what do you practice?”
