Page 124 of Axe-identally Married
I studied the man I’d known since childhood, the guy who used to go on fishing trips with my father, who coached the high school baseball team once upon a time. He was tall and sturdy, his uniform crisply pressed and his face freshly shaven. He didn’t look worse for wear, despite his late-night snowstorm activities.
I placed the cup on his desk, far enough away that he would have to reach for it.
And that’s exactly what he did. The move caused the cuff of his uniform shirt to slide up just enough for me to spot a thick stainless-steel band etched in a familiar pattern.
He sipped the coffee and eyed me suspiciously.
“That’s quite a watch,” I said casually. I would know. It matched the one currently residing in my sock drawer.
He froze, his eyes narrowing, and my pulse quickened.
He knew I knew. I had no doubt. “You know a lot about watches, son?”
Channeling all the calm I could muster, I leaned back and sipped my latte. “Enough to know that small-town police chiefs don’t usually wear fifty-thousand-dollar watches.”
“Watch yourself,” he growled. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
His red face and clenched fists told me everything I needed to know. I’d hit a nerve. He was hiding something, and that was definitely my father’s watch.
“Maybe not.” I stood and shrugged nonchalantly. “But I know an Audemars Piguet when I see one. Did your friends at Deimos Industries give it to you?”
He stood abruptly, knocking his peppermint mocha over. “Get the fuck out of my office,” he yelled as the dark liquid seeped across the papers on his desk.
Having gotten what I needed, I gave him a mock salute. “Have a great day, Chief.”
Chapter Forty-Three
Cole
“Mom, you look great. I think city living agrees with you,” Willa said, smiling brightly.
We were FaceTiming with Willa’s parents, who were still in Portland so that Dr. Savard could work with rehabilitative specialists. Willa missed her parents and texted with them daily, but they had asked to see us tonight, so we’d made the time.
“The condo we’ve rented looks out over the ocean, and I’ve been taking long walks every day,” her mother said. “Your father says we should get a dog.”
Willa laughed. “Dad, you look amazing. And you barely even need your cane anymore. Maybe a dog is exactly what you need.”
“They’re working me to the bone over at the rehab hospital. It’s practically around the clock.” He chuckled. “I feel like I’m training for the goddamn Olympics.”
Susan elbowed him gently. “Don’t listen to him. He’s doing great. And sitting on the couch gets old after a while. It’s warmer here than in Lovewell, and we mostly get rain rather than snow because of the ocean.”
“Are you turning into a city girl now?”
She huffed a laugh. “Your father and I take walks and we go to little cafés. We’ve met up with a few friends who were in town, and next weekend, we’re taking a little road trip down to Boston.Sixis playing there, and your dad bought me tickets as a surprise,” she gushed, her smile wide.
Roger beamed. “You know your mother loves the theater, and she’s been so wonderful, taking care of me, so I’m taking my girl out and doing it right.”
The two of them smiled at one another in a way that made my heart clench. They’d both had long, demanding careers, and even after decades of marriage and raising a child on top of it all, these two people still loved one another deeply. Willa was lucky to have had this example of what a loving, functional marriage could look like. My heart ached with the longing to experience that for myself.
They chatted for a few more minutes, Willa’s smile growing as she updated her parents on the town and my team’s recent victories. They were so supportive and interested in every detail of our lives.
“Willa, sweetheart, I love you to bits, but could I have a moment alone with my son-in-law?” Roger asked.
My stomach lurched when he called me his son-in-law. It felt like a huge responsibility, and he was the kind of man I’d never want to let down.
Willa blew him a kiss and headed off toward the bedroom.
“I wanted to check in with you and see how my Willa is really doing.”
