Page 37 of A Very Barrie Christmas
At the thought, his heartbeat stalled, revealing the truth he wasn’t ready to admit. He didn’t want to leave Poppy Creek. But he didn’t want to be separated from Juliet, either. It felt like an impossible choice.
Pushing the conflicting thoughts from his mind, he pulled out his cell. “Mind if I make a call?”
“Go for it. Tell your friend I look forward to meeting him.”
Nate’s steps felt light as he exited the barn, heading out back for some privacy. Shivering in the frigid winter air, he dialed the shelter.
Susan answered after the second ring.
“Hey, Susan! It’s Nate.” Excitement rippled through him, lending some warmth. “Can you put Dozer on? I have some good news.”
Silence filled the speaker, and Nate checked the connection. “Susan?”
Her strange, staccato breath on the other end of the line made his pulse kick up a notch. His skin prickled. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s Dozer.” Her voice strained with barely suppressed tears.
Nate’s grip tightened around the phone, his heart frozen on its last beat as the world around him blurred into the background. “What happened?”
“He—he was hit by a car, crossing a busy intersection.” Her stilted explanation ended on a small sob.
A sharp pang shot through Nate’s chest. The earth swayed. His eyes burning, he leaned his head against the rough wood siding of the barn.This isn’t happening.
“Witnesses said Dozer appeared intoxicated and he stepped into the street without any warning. The driver swerved, but it didn’t make a difference. Dozer—” She sucked in a strangled breath. “He’s in critical condition.”
Nate’s knees buckled, and he sank to the ground.
“I would’ve called, but the doctors aren’t letting anyone but family see him right now.”
“We’re his family.” The gravelly words scraped his raw, swollen throat.
“I know,” Susan whispered. After a deafening pause, she added softly, “There isn’t anything you could’ve done, honey. These things happen.”
A cold numbness crept over him, like he was slowly sinking in a frozen pond.
“Nate?” Susan prodded, a warble of fear in her voice. “You know this isn’t your fault. You did everything you could for Dozer. And the accident… no one could foresee it.”
She continued to offer reassurance, but Nate didn’t hear a word.
The phone slipped from his grip, tumbling into the frostbitten dirt.
Closing his eyes, he sank deeper into the icy water of grief until the surface closed over him.
He waited for the world to go black.
CHAPTER 27
FRANK
Frank clicked through the TV channels, grumbling to himself.Dagnabbit.Christmas programs monopolized every station. Why did he pay for the pricier cable package when every channel played the same thing? Maybe Bevy was right—maybe the wholestreamingfad was the way to go.
Frustrated by the abysmal selection, he didn’t even mind when the landline bellowed, demanding his presence in the kitchen. Maybe it would be a solicitor from the cable company. He’d give him an earful.
“Hello?” he barked.
“Mr. Barrie, it’s Susan.” The woman sounded so distraught Frank instantly softened.
“What seems to be the trouble?”
