“Let me get that.” I jump up when I see Finley struggling to carry a box.

We’ve been home from our weekend away at the cabin for two weeks and things are moving along exactly how I want them to. Well, not exactly. If I’m being honest, I’d rather she just be my wife now.

I love her. Hell, after one weekend with her, even Asher’s half in love with her now. Watching her pull him out of his shell was almost magical. She has this way of making people feel comfortable. It must come in handy since she talks to so many people for her job.

“I have it,” she argues but doesn’t resist my taking it from her.

“Where do you want it?”

She motions to her milk crate coffee table. The crates’ days are numbered. We dug out an old steamer trunk out of her shed. It was filthy, but after Finley got it cleaned up, she fell in love with it. She painted it earlier and now, it’s drying on a stack of newspaper in her office.

Once I set it down, she pulls a photo album out from the top and motions for me to sit down. She sits next to me and flips it open, gently stroking her hand over the first picture. It’s her, on her wedding day.

“God, look at you,” I breathe.

I’m jealous of the asshole who was lucky enough to marry her. He should have treasured the gift he was given but instead broke her. He never deserved her. That’ll be the regret he has to live with for the rest of his miserable life. There’s no way I’ll ever make the mistake of not cherishing her.

Her lips tip up in a small smile and she turns the page. There are more pictures, snapshots and not the professional full-length pictures of her. In the first one she’s in a robe getting her hair done. The next one is of her with her bridesmaids. Then there’s one of her with her flower girl.

“My mom brought this box with her when they came. I wasn’t ready to look at these photos then.”

She pulls in a breath while I hold mine.

“That’s my cousin Heather.” She taps the picture with her fingertip.

She turns the page and I see Allen at once.

Her fingertips nervously dance over his photo. “We were so young.”

“You need to talk to someone about him.”

She gives me a wet laugh, lifting her sleeve to her nose. “But, we’re divorced.”

I hug her to me. “That doesn’t erase your marriage.”

She sags against me and I turn the next page for her.

“My dad hated that tie,” she mutters, pointing at a photo of her parents. “My mom fussed over it all day.”

She sucks in a breath when we get to the picture of their first kiss as man and wife.

“I was so angry at him for coming here.”

“Finley.”

She gulps.

I turn the page. “He wasn’t the same man you married.”

“I know,” she agrees, even though her tone doesn’t.

Page after page, we flip through her entire album, a single teardrop splashes on the final page.

She hurriedly cleans it away, it’s streak blurring the image of them looking out the doorway of a limo, waving goodbye.

I close the album, lean forward to place it on top of the box and then lean back to settle her across my lap.

She cries herself out, eventually falling asleep on me. Once I’m certain I won’t wake her, I shift her fully onto the sofa and cover her with a blanket.

Then I carry the box upstairs to one of the spare rooms. I’ll tell her if she asks but I don’t want her getting upset all over again. Fin has been bottling up all the emotions her ex’s visit created. As much as I hate to see her hurting, she’s processing years’ worth of anger and betrayal. He’s lucky he’s back in Texas since all I want to do is kick his ass for all the shit he put her through.

I’m on the bottom step when someone knocks on the door. Looking in the direction of the den I race over to it and open it before whoever is on the other side can knock again.

“Hey, Abby,” I say, surprised to find my sister there. “What are you doing here?”

She shrugs, stepping past me. “I had an open house not far from here. Where’s Finley?”

“She’s napping in the den.”

Abby takes a step back. “Is it a bad time? I wanted to see the top floor.”

She hasn’t been by since we finished it and her arrival might be a blessing in disguise. “Now’s good. We won’t wake her up there.”

She steps out of her boots, setting them on a drip tray Finley set up by the door.

“Oh, is that chalk paint?” She asks, pointing to the steamer trunk.

“Yep,” I say.

“I like the teal,” she whispers.

Then she pulls off her hat and gloves, shoving them into the pockets of her coat before shrugging it off. I take it and drape it over the bottom post of the bannister.

She follows me up the stairs. Some random stuff Finley found in the shed is currently all that’s up there.

“Is she still going to move her office up here?” Abby asks, moving to look out one of the dormer windows.

“Not anytime soon.” I shake my head. “She’s gotten used to having her office downstairs.”

“She should get a roommate,” Abby says, clearly on a fishing expedition.

I don’t take the bait. “Why would she need a roommate?”

Abby gives me a not so innocent shrug. “This big old place and her all by herself.”

“You know she’s not by herself,” I grumble.

“Oh?” She acts surprised. “Are you moving in?”

“Abby,” I warn.

“Well, why not? You’re in love with her,” she argues.

“Now’s not a good time.” I take a seat in one of the chairs.

She moves quickly to sit across from me. “That doesn’t sound good. What happened?”

“She was crying over their wedding album today.”

She cringes. “That’s awful.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I hate seeing her upset.”

“It’s a good sign she trusts you enough to show her emotions in front of you,” Abby says sympathetically.

I drop my hand. “It is?”

She nods. “Can I do anything?”

“I don’t know,” I admit.

She reaches across the table to grab my hand. “I’m sorry I was being so pushy earlier about you moving in.”

I give her hand a squeeze. “It’s okay.”

“Give her time. It’s probably a good thing she looked at those pictures.”

“You think?” I ask, wondering if it’s a bad thing that I put the box away.

“Of course. Better to cry about it than bottle it all up.”

I stand, letting go of her hand. “I need to do something. Wait here. I’ll be right back.”

With care to not make a racket, I pull the box with the album out of the spare closet and carry it back downstairs. If crying will help her, I’ll hold her everyday until she’s run out of tears.

Finley hasn’t moved an inch from where I settled her. Her eyes are red rimmed from her tears, but she’s still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.

“What did you dash off for?” Abby asks as soon as I’m back.

“Did what I could to avoid a bottle up.”

She nods. “She’ll get past this, I’m sure of it.”

“Thanks Abs.” I smile.

A soft smile spreads across her face, reminding me so much of our mother. “Enough about us. Any big deals since the last time we talked?”

She stretches her neck to one side, massaging it with her fingertips. She wrinkles her nose. “It’s too cold. Everyone stays inside if they can.”

When I frown, she’s quick to defend herself. “Oh don’t make a face. It happens every year. I’m used to it and have been a good little ant, saving all spring and summer.”

“Don’t let Gideon hear you calling yourself an ant,” I tease.

She crosses her arms. “It’s not my fault you’re all giants.”

“Fair enough, ant,” I joke.

Then both of our phones ring.

I pull mine out and furrow my brow. “It’s Dad.”

Abby holds up her phone. “Eli is calling me.”

“That’s strange timing.” Prickles of unease crawl up the back of my neck as I answer.

“Dad?”

“We’re at All Saints. They think mom might have a blood clot,” he tells me, his voice coming out in a rush.

I stand as soon as he says All Saints, Woodlake’s main hospital. “Abby’s with me. We’re on the way.”

Eli must have given the news to her. With her phone to her ear, she’s pale as she follows me. This time I make no effort to silence my steps down the stairs.

“Finley.” I shake her shoulder trying to wake her.

She blinks open her eyes. One good look at my face has her quickly sitting upright. “What happened?”

“My mom’s at the hospital. I need to go but didn’t want you to worry.”

She reaches for my hand. “I’m coming with you.”

“You’ve had a rough day.” I argue but it’s weak. I want her with me but don’t want her to feel obligated.

She stands, ignoring my half-hearted protest. “You’re not talking me out of this.”

When she sees Abby her brows come together in confusion. “Abby?”

“You were asleep when I got here. It’s snowing so you’ll want a sweater, a warm coat and some boots.” Then her eyes move to me. “Give me your keys. I’ll start warming up your truck.”

“They’re on the kitchen counter,” I tell her, watching Finley hurry out of the room.

“Let her be there for you.” Abby steps close to me, touching my arm, her eyes following the direction of my gaze.

All I can think of is our mom. “Was Eli calling Asher and Gideon?”

“Gideon was the one who called Dad and Eli. I think one of them tried to call Ash but if he’s in his workshop there’s no telling if he knows or not.”

“All set,” Finley says, dashing back into the room.

“I still need to warm the truck,” Abby says, leaving before I have a chance to ask her anything else.

“What’s wrong with your mom?” Finley asks, pulling her purse strap up her arm.

“They said she might have a blood clot.” I try to keep my voice strong, but it wavers slightly.

She cringes but doesn’t say anything.

When we get to the truck, Abby crawls into the backseat. She checks her phone a hundred times on the way. Each time letting us know there’s no news. As much as I want to tell her to stop, I don’t. It’s her way of coping. I won’t take it away from her.

When we reach the hospital, I drop them at the main entrance. I find I miss Abby’s constant updates of no news during the short time it takes me to park.

Gideon meets me at the door.

“Why didn’t you call me?” I accuse.

He looks at his feet. “It all happened so fast. I managed one call to the store before they took us back.”

His hand shakes and he tries to hide it by shoving it into his pocket. I’m an asshole.

I reach up to squeeze his shoulder and he gives me a nod.

“Now,” I start. “Tell me what happened.”

He fills me in on our walk from the entrance to the waiting room. Gideon’s landscaping business slows to a crawl in the wintertime so he popped in to see her while she had been volunteering at the elementary school Eli’s kids go to. The school library recently underwent a remodel, so they were moving around boxes of books. When her leg began swelling, she figured she had pulled a muscle or something.

He has a way of getting what he wants so even though she didn’t think there was anything wrong, when he saw how swollen her leg had gotten he talked her into getting it looked at.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

He manages to give me half a smile, his way of forgiving me for being pissed earlier.

I take the seat next to Finley, our hands finding each other’s before I’ve finished sitting. Abby sits on the other side of her, talking to Eli.

Gideon paces near the doors that lead to the treatment rooms. Every time they open we all look.

“She’s going to be okay,” Finley promises.

The seats are uncomfortable and don’t have adjustable arms like at the movie theater. If they did, I’d push it up and pull her close.

“I feel silly now for being so upset earlier.”

Not caring about our audience I cup her face in my hands. “I love you.”

Her already puffy red eyes refill with tears. “You do?”

Her words are barely audible but I hear her all the same.

“I do,” I affirm.

She presses her lips together, one tear spilling down her cheek.

“I think I’ve loved you since you talked me into letting you help with the house,” she whispers.

“I win. I’ve loved you since you sneezed on me.”

A burst of laughter escapes her and then with wide eyes she covers her mouth in embarrassment.

“Life doesn’t run on a schedule. We get the bad right along with the good. So today started off bad. You’re going through things but I’m here to help you and my mom might have a blood clot, which is scary, but her being here in this hospital means they can help her. You just told me you loved me. Right now I can handle the bad stuff because you’re all the good I’ll ever need.”

Finley stares at me, her lips parted.

Before either she or I can say anything, Abby loudly informs the entire waiting room that Asher is on the way.

“See?” I say, cocking my head in her direction. “Now we have a miracle seeing as how my brother listened to a voicemail the same day he got it.”

Her lips tip up into a sweet smile and I give her a soft kiss. After I settle myself back into my chair she leans over the armrest to lay her head against my shoulder.

Abby watches us with a sly smile on her face. She doesn’t hide she heard us and knowing my match making little sister, she’s loving every second of it.

Asher arrives not long after, making me mentally question how fast he drove. As if waiting for all of us to be together, our father appears like a rabbit pulled from a magician’s hat.

We all stand, circling around him in a family huddle. “It’s a clot. It’s in her thigh. They’ve admitted her and started her on a blood thinner but she needs to stay the night.”

“Can we see her?” Abby asks, her question followed by grunts of agreement from my brothers.

“Yes, but only if you all promise not to excite her. She needs her rest.”

I saw him earlier in the week. Tonight, he looks ten years older. It could be the harsh overhead lights, but his skin looks ashen.

I give his arm a squeeze. “Okay Dad.”

“Two at a time,” he says. “Abby and Gideon, you two go in and see her first.”

Eli opens his mouth but quickly snaps it shut after a warning look from our dad. I can’t tell if he’s on edge because Brooke isn’t here. It’s late so it makes sense that she wouldn’t want the kids up all night in a hospital. Still, I don’t know if that’s an excuse or not, or if she’s still staying at her sister’s. Eli’s sure as shit not about to share.

Abby looks at Eli, Asher and me. “We won’t take too long.”

“You’re a good girl,” Dad mutters, patting her back and then says, “There’s a waiting area closer to her new room. Follow me.”

Her room is two floors up and down a long hall. The waiting room is half the size of the one in the emergency room but empty and has a loveseat.

I claim that one for Finley and me. Without the armrest between us, we’re both more comfortable. Asher comes to sit on the other side of her.

“Hey Finley,” he greets her.

She smiles at him. During our stay at his cabin she won him over.

“Stop flirting with my girl,” I grumble giving him a grin.

“Then you shouldn’t have picked such a pretty one.” He grins.

Eli paces in front of us, his phone to his ear. He’s talking to Brooke but whatever he says I can’t hear.

“Eli, you and Asher are up,” Abby says, coming into the waiting room.

“Where’s Dad?” Asher asks, standing.

It’s Gideon who answers. “They’re setting up a cot for him. He’s staying the night with Mom.”

Eli ends his call and shoves his phone into his pocket before looking at Asher. “Let’s go.”

As soon as they’re gone I turn to Abby. “How is she?”

She frowns. “Her leg looks awful but you know Mom. They’re going to need to strap her down to keep her in that bed.”

I grin. That sounds like our mom.

Abby leans forward to give me a hug. “I’m not sure why I’m so exhausted. All we did was sit around.”

Finley rubs her back as Abby smiles sleepily at her.

I squeeze my little sister tight before looking at Gideon. “Give her a ride home and see her inside.”

He nods, putting his hand on her shoulder and turning her from my arms and into his.

“I’ll call you later,” Abby says to Finley before Gideon leads her away.

As soon as they’re gone, Finley and I reclaim our loveseat.

“How are you really?” She asks, her face upturned toward me.

Since we’re alone I tell her the truth. I blow out a breath. “Until Dad came out I was worried.”

“I would be, too, if it was my mom. I never thought about what would happen if either one of them had to go to the hospital now that I’m so far away.”

“Do you ever think of moving back?” I ask her, a little worried at what her answer could be.

With every task we complete on her house I wonder if we’re one step closer to her leaving me when it’s all done.

“No,” she replies forcefully.

“You haven’t lived through a full winter yet,” I tease.

“You’ll keep me warm,” she teases back, squeezing her arms around me.

I kiss her temple. “I sure will.”

It’s not long before Asher and Eli return. “Mom’s ready for you.”

I stand, pulling up Finley with me. She freezes when I point both of us in the direction of her room.

“Oh, I’ll wait here,” she says.

“Nope.” I give her hand a little tug. “You’re coming with.”

Her eyes go wide. “Your mom wants to see you, not me.”

“Go on with him,” Asher says. “He’s too stubborn to fight. Trust me, I know and mom asked to see you.”

Finley pulls in a breath. “In that case.”

I take her hand and lift it to my lips. My dad’s cot is set up on the far side of the room. He gives us a wave as we walk in.

The room is dim, only the light above her bed and the glow from the TV are on.

Even though I’ve been taller than her since tenth grade, she’s always been larger than life to me. It’s a shock to see how small she looks in her hospital bed.

“You’re so sweet to come,” my mom ignores me and greets Finley.

“I’m so sorry to hear you aren’t feeling well. I hope the medicine works quickly.” She leans down, lightly squeezing my mom’s forearm.

I lean over her bed to kiss her cheek. Her hand comes up to pat my face as I do.

“Love you Mom.”

“Love you my sweet boy,” she whispers back.