from the kitchen.
“Make sure you get an episiotomy, Faith,” said another woman. “Otherwise, you tear, and you wouldn’t believe how much. Anyone else have stitches in their butts?”
Sadly, Jack had heard it all before. Three sisters who took no prisoners when it came to “sharing.” It was like comparing war stories, he guessed, though his own stint in the navy hadn’t resulted in any; he’d been in research down in D.C.
It was a little weird being in the New House—so called because it was newer than the original house built on the property, which had burned down last year. Honor had overhauled the New House this past summer, and while it was still the same friendly, sprawling old place Jack had grown up in, it took some getting used to. More power to her, but still a little disconcerting.
Or maybe that was just how everything was these days. The same, but off.
Levi came over and sat down next to him. “You hear some of those stories? Good God.”
“Yeah, well, I grew up with three sisters. They can’t be in the same room without talking about blood and ovaries. And then there was the crying and snarling when they were teenagers. Terrifying.”
“Makes me glad I was in Afghanistan when my sister went through puberty,” Levi said. “Probably a lot safer there.” He was quiet for a minute. “You doing okay, Jack?”
“Oh, sure.”
“Sleeping all right?”
“Pretty much,” he lied. Levi shouldn’t have to worry about him.
“Well, even with a good outcome, sometimes these things can be...traumatic.”
“Yep. Sure.”
“If you ever want to talk, just say the word.”
“Thanks, pal. I appreciate it.” The bobcat was back. Thud. Thud. Thudthud. Thud. He wondered if Levi could see the pulse in his neck.
Jack stood up as another peal of laughter came from the living room. “All right, I’ve had my estrogen dose of the day.” He paused. “Have you heard anything about the Deiner kid?”
Levi looked up. “No change.”
“Okay. Thanks.” He tried to take a deep breath, but the air wouldn’t fit in. Nodded at Levi, waved to the women, then made his way into the kitchen, where the other guys were now playing poker.
“Pull up a chair, Jack,” said his grandfather. “We can deal you in.”
“I have some stuff to do at home,” he said, squeezing Pops’s shoulder. “Dad, we should check the pinot tomorrow, okay?”
“Whatever you say, son.” His father smiled at him, and Jack made sure he smiled back.
He went out to his truck. The sky was nearly dark. Another day past, so that was good. Not that the nights were easier. Just the opposite, in fact.
The door closed behind him. Tom this time.
“Hang on, mate,” he said. “Just wanted a word. How are things?”
“Thanks, Tom. Things are fine.”
His sister’s husband was a good guy. In fact, all his sisters’ husbands were good guys. They were even his friends, though he hadn’t known Tom, a transplanted Brit, as long as he’d known Carl and Levi.
“If you need anything, say the word, yeah? You’re always welcome here, of course. Honor’s hoping you’ll come watch one of those disgusting medical shows with her.” Tom smiled, his eyes kind.
“I definitely will,” Jack said. He probably wouldn’t. “Thanks, Tom.”
He got into his truck and headed down the driveway.
The road crew still hadn’t repaired the guardrail, and a makeshift memorial had sprung up there the first night. Now the flowers were dead, rotting in their plastic florist wraps. A sodden teddy bear holding a heart had tipped over in the snow.
Don’t look.
The truth was, he thought as he drove up the road, turning onto the long driveway that wound through the woods to Rose Ridge, he didn’t want all the concern and attention and questions and hugs. He wanted not to think. He wanted Josh to get better. He wanted to have a do-over.
He put his key in the door and stopped dead in his tracks.
The house smelled like perfume.
Candles were burning on the table, and a fire flickered in the fireplace.
A beautiful woman unfolded herself from the couch. “Jack. Oh, baby, how are you? I’ve been so worried.”
Shit.
The very last person on earth he needed.
“Hadley,” he said, and with that, his ex-wife wrapped her arms around him.
* * *
SHE WAS HERE, she said, because of course she’d seen the coverage on TV and come as soon as she could. What a wonderful, amazing thing he’d done! The Midwinter Miracle indeed! Daddy was so proud, all of them were, of course it was just like Jack to—
“Hadley, what are you doing here? Really?” he interrupted.
She settled back on the couch, wrapping the throw around her. He’d have bet that she’d checked herself out in the mirror before he got home. Blanket on or off? Do I want to look waifish and lost, or confident and strong? Hair up or down?
She sipped her wine (which she’d helped herself to, he noticed). “I just had to come,” she said. “And I don’t want you to worry about a single thing. I took a leave of absence from my job, and I’m here for as long as it takes.”
“As long as what takes?”
She took a deep breath. “Jack, I know how hard this all must’ve been for you, and I know we’ve had our problems—”
He laughed. That was one way of spinning it.
“And I want to be here for you. Take care of you.” She paused, looking him directly in the eye. “Make things up to you.”
“I haven’t seen you for two years, Hadley.”
“I know exactly how long it’s been. I can’t tell you how much I’ve regretted what happened between us. I’ve done some serious growing up these past couple of years, and I want to show you I’m not that person anymore.”
It was a pretty good speech, he thought. “That’s nice, but I’m not interested.”
She looked down at her hands. “Can’t say I blame you one bit.”
She’d always had a way of making everything she did look beautiful.
“You need to leave now,” he said. “Thanks for coming
