Page 125 of Axe-identally Married
“She’s doing great, sir,” I replied. “Working hard.”
“I hate that I had to leave her with the practice like this. I never intended to drop this kind of responsibility on her so early in her career, and I worry about her.”
“She’s doing an incredible job. There are good days and bad, and I know she’s looking to hire more help, but she cares sodeeply for every single person in this town. She’s making it work.”
“Thank you for saying that.” He ran his hand through his gray hair. “I shouldn’t have given her all this responsibility so early. A few years ago, I was given the opportunity to sell the practice, but I turned it down. I wanted to save it for my Willa. But she’s young. You’re young.”
He shook his head, clearly getting emotional. “The two of you are so in love. You should be out experiencing the world together instead of being saddled with enormous responsibility in a small town that could never fulfill you.” He wiped a tear from his eye. “My daughter deserves the world.”
“I agree.” I couldn’t say it out loud yet, but I intended to give it to her. I had a lot of work to do and a lot of things to learn along the way, but she made me want things I had never allowed myself to even consider having before.
“I didn’t do all the things I should have done, and I wasn’t the man I could have been. And that’s because I gave every part of myself to my job. I don’t want that for my little girl. I want her to have a full life with a family and a partner. I want her to travel and spend time with friends. Find hobbies and prioritize her health.”
“She will,” I assured him. “If there’s anyone who can do it all, it’s Willa. And I’m right here to support her. We exercise together, and I make sure she gets enough rest. We go out and see friends. I swear to you,I will do everything in my power to keep her healthy and happy every day of my life.”
He cleared his throat, choked up. “Thank you, son,” he rasped. “You have given us such a gift. Please take care of my girl.”
“She’s our girl now,” I said. “And I will take excellent care of her.”
Chapter Forty-Four
Willa
As I pulled up in front of the cottage, I frowned. Where was Cole’s car? He had practice tonight, and he always closed down the rink for Arthur on Thursdays.
But it was after eleven. He should have been home hours ago.
I walked inside, flipped the lights on, and called his phone.
Straight to voicemail.
With a huff, I kicked off my shoes. Then I changed my clothes and paced around the house, as if I’d find an answer hidden in a corner or behind a piece of furniture. This was so unlike him. He always texted if he was going to be late.
Maybe he’d stuck around to skate and shoot some pucks? He did that a lot, and I knew how much he loved having the ice to himself.
Even if that were the case, I couldn’t imagine he’d stay out past nine. Practice had ended hours ago. Had he had an accident? The roads were incredibly icy. It was February, for God’s sake.
Unease wound through me, upsetting me to the point that I called Jude.
“Have you heard from Cole? I went to dinner at Magnolia’s house and just got home.”
“Not since this morning. Doesn’t he have practice on Thursdays?” he asked, his casual tone irking me.
“Yes.” I nibbled on my thumbnail. “But it’s so late.”
He sighed. “It’s not even midnight, Willa.”
“Midnight?” I bit back far too loudly. “Midnight in Lovewell, Maine, is like three a.m. in a normal town.”
“He could have run into someone and struck up a conversation. Or maybe he went to the Moose?” Jude offered. “Or maybe he was hungry and drove to Heartsborough to get Wendy’s. He’s not the most responsible, and phone batteries die…”
I pinched the bridge of my nose, annoyance joining the party worry had started. “You know, your version of Cole sounds very different from mine. The man I’m married to comes home on time, texts on the rare occasion that he’ll be late, and never lets his phone battery die.”
I was pacing now, my stomach clenching painfully. I didn’t have time to lecture Jude about the man his brother had become. I had more important shit to do.
Like find my husband.
So I hung up without saying goodbye, threw my boots on, and grabbed my keys. If I had to drive around all night, I’d do it.
