Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 54886 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54886 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
He began to argue. “You didn’t answer your phone—”
“I fell asleep and forgot to charge it. I slept in a little and had to get to the store before they closed at noon. I wanted to take AJ for breakfast as a treat. My son and our plans were a priority. I had no idea you’d go off the deep end and jump in the car and rush here. Or send some strange man to my home.”
“He is my personal, private physician. And I didn’t drive. I chartered a helicopter. A service will pick up my car.”
I could only blink before I shook my head at his words. A helicopter. A private physician who made house calls. Until he had told me that last night, I didn’t know such a thing existed. It certainly didn’t in my world.
Which was so different from his.
“Suzy is taking Bonnie to the care center, where lots of other kids will be tonight. So, their plans haven’t changed. Bonnie will have a great time. I’ll make it up to her and go visit in a couple of weeks. I was out of my mind with worry when I couldn’t get a hold of you.”
I rubbed my temple. “You overreacted.”
“I beg to differ.”
I shut my eyes, not wanting to go round and round on this. “You need to go home, Asher. Or better yet, go back to your sister’s and keep your word. I’m fine.”
“Are you?”
His insistence that I was not telling him the truth irked me. “I have an achy shoulder. I’m not going to drop dead of a head injury or whatever you’re thinking. I’m a grown woman, perfectly capable of making decisions when it comes to my health and how it affects me and the welfare of my child. I have been doing it since I learned I was pregnant. You have no right to step in and make those decisions. Now I want you to leave.”
There was a beat of silence. Our gazes locked, mine angry, his oddly vulnerable. Then a hood came down over his expression. He straightened his shoulders. “Are you sure?”
“Go.”
He spun on his heel and walked out the door, closing it quietly behind him. I stared at it, hearing his footsteps fading away. I sat down, suddenly shaky. I had just ended it. I knew it. Asher Hart wasn’t a man who begged. He was a man who took control, used to handling everything quickly in his life. He didn’t ask for second chances.
Our bubble had burst quickly.
I rubbed my head, another headache coming on. This one wasn’t from bumping it while sledding. It was from emotion. I had a feeling I was going to miss him more than I could express.
More than I anticipated.
And the thought of it made me sadder than I could fathom.
AJ picked at his snack. “Momma, why did Asher go?”
“He had plans tonight, baby. I told you that.”
“Is he coming tomorrow?”
I forced a smile to my face. “No, he has to go away for a while on business again.”
“When is he coming back?”
“I don’t know.”
“He’s too busy for us now? I liked it when he was here.”
“He is a businessman, and he has lots of demands on his time now that the holidays are over.”
“You should call him and tell him I miss him. He’ll come back,” he said with the confidence of a child.
“I’ll tell him that next time I talk to him.”
“Good.” He perked up and ate his cheese and crackers. Mine tasted like ash and I was hardly able to swallow any of it, but I forced myself to so that AJ didn’t question me.
We watched a Disney movie after we finished our late lunch. It kept him entertained, while I sat beside him, laughing when he did, pretending to eat the popcorn. All I could think of was Asher. The look on his face when he left. The genuine worry in his expression when he showed up. His over-the-top reaction and sending his personal physician to see me.
I wasn’t sure anyone had ever cared enough to go to such lengths over me.
I remembered Dr. Hayes’s whispered plea not to be too hard on him.
Had I been too hasty?
I sighed as I rubbed my eyes. It was too late now. Asher was gone, and my phone was silent. I had a feeling it would remain so.
Outside, the snow fell softly, and AJ looked out. “Momma, can we go for a walk? Maybe sled again?”
It would do both of us good to go out and get some fresh air before darkness fell. “Sure. I’ll just watch this time.”
“Okay!”
We went out in the cold, heading to the park. He went down the hill a few times with some friends he met up with. I stood with some other moms, laughing at the antics of our kids. One of the dads took turns going down with his daughter and AJ, so he was happy. It felt normal, although I had to admit it wasn’t as fun as when Asher was with us. I had no warm kisses to look forward to, and I couldn’t be bothered to get a coffee from the food truck. Asher had insisted on it the other day. And he had stolen sips from my cup when he would come to check on me while AJ took a turn down the hill on his own since he was feeling braver. I had no interest in drinking it alone.