13. nix #2
I draw my eyebrows together because something’s not right with this picture.
I hadn’t noticed who walked with Abbi down the aisle because I only had eyes for her, but the person giving her away should be her dad.
It’s what she planned because, at heart, Abbi is a traditional girl.
I glance around, but I can’t see him among the small number of guests.
My heart sinks and stomach drops for Abbi. And it’s almost like I can feel her disappointment as if it’s my own.
She was hopeful that both of her parents would make the time to be here today, but obviously her father got called into surgery.
I know he’s a top-notch heart surgeon and all, but this was important to his daughter, and he blew her off …
again. For once, it would have been nice if he’d put her first. I’ll never make her feel like she isn’t the most important person in my world.
“Dad?” Prue’s voice drags me out of my memory.
I glance at Abbi with our wedding day fresh in my mind.
The promises I made to myself that day were to always show Abbi how important she is to me and how much I love her.
I failed myself, and I failed her. I didn’t keep my promise, and it guts me to my core that I can no longer say I’m a man of my word.
What is my word worth when I can’t keep a simple promise to my wife?
The ache it causes in my chest is so acute I have to press the heel of my palm to my sternum to ease it.
“Dad, your phone’s been buzzing like crazy.” Prue points to my phone, her brows furrowed and lips pursed. “Are you okay?”
I laugh off her concern. “Yeah. I was just reminiscing about the day I watched your mom walk down the aisle toward me. I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
She was an angel dressed in lace.” I look at Abbi to catch her eye.
“You’re always beautiful to me, but that day …
wow. You took my breath away, and I still haven’t caught it. ”
Her eyes soften, as if she’s remembering that day too. I hope her memories are as good as mine, because that might be all we have left in a few short months.
My phone buzzes again, and Toby Summer’s name flashes on the screen.
Adrenaline pumps into my system as I push to my feet.
Something must be wrong because he never calls me.
He has no need to communicate with me directly.
“Sorry, I need to take this.” I look at Abbi apologetically as I hold my phone up as if that will make it better that I’m taking a call during our family afternoon.
Without delay, I accept the call as I step away from my family, down the steps, and onto the grass. “Nix speaking. What’s wrong?”
A relieved sigh gusts across the line. “Fuck, finally. I was getting worried that I wouldn’t be able to reach you,” he rushes to say.
“You have me now. What’s up?” I look back at Abbi and catch her watching me with interest.
“It’s Shane.” I figured as much. My muscles tense, and I know my body’s preparing for fight or flight.
“What about him?” I snap. “Spit it out.”
“Yeah, yeah. It’s just … it’s a shock, you know. He’s always so strong and … formidable. I can’t wrap my head around what happened.”
Frustration steals my patience. “Toby. Calm the fuck down and tell me what’s wrong!”
“Sorry. Yeah. Shane and Violet went on a picnic today, and there was a rattlesnake under a bush near Jasmine. He picked her up in time, but the snake bit him. He’s in bad shape, Nix.
He’s in the hospital.” My feet move without direction from me, and I skip the steps up to our back porch and land on the deck.
“Which hospital?” I grunt as I slam inside. My blood pumps through my body as if I’m running a marathon, not striding through my house.
His heavy breaths fill the line for a moment. “Mercy Vale. But, Nix, Violet wants you to call Hope to let her know. I don’t have her number. We’re hoping you have it.”
“Yeah, I can do that. I’m on my way.” I crash through the door into the garage and peel open my truck door, pressing the remote to open the garage door. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
The door of the house bangs open, and Abbi storms toward me, fire in her eyes. “What’s going on?” she spits, waving her arm out toward the back porch. “We’re having our lunch. Prue and Luke are here to discuss plans for their wedding.”
I shake my head. “I have a man down. Shane’s in the hospital, and I need to go to him.”
Abbi gasps, her body softening. “Oh, Nix. What happened? Is he going to be okay?”
I start my truck, drag my seatbelt across my body, and snap it in place. Shoving the gears in reverse, I go to close my door, but Abbi’s standing in the way. “He was bitten by a rattlesnake, so I don’t know. I need to go.”
“Do you want me to come with you? I’m not sure you should drive when you’re this upset.”
“I’m not upset. I’m in a hurry,” I snap. “I need to go now, Abbi.” I reach out for my door, and she finally steps to the side, allowing me to close it.
Turning in my seat, I reach over the passenger seat to look out of the rear window and put my foot down.
When I hit the road, I slam my truck into gear and go to press the gas.
Quickly glancing back at the house, I see Abbi standing where I left her with her arms folded across her body and her shoulders slumped forward.
“Fuck! Shit!” I slam my hand on the steering wheel and pull back into my driveway.
Coming to a stop, I wrench up the handbrake and climb out of my truck. I walk straight to my wife and wrap my arms around her, cradling her head against my chest. “I’m sorry, Abs. I just need to get to my man.” I pull away and hold her by her shoulders. “Tell me you understand.”
She nods, her eyes glistening. “Yeah. Go. I know how important he is to you.” She pushes at my chest to make her point. “I wish you’d let me come with you, but I know you won’t,” she huffs. “Drive safely, please, and send me an update.”
“I will.” I kiss her forehead and stride back to my truck, feeling more settled than I was a few minutes ago. Abbi does that for me. When shit goes down, she’s there. Her soothing presence calms me. It always has. I look at her one last time and jerk my chin up before I head down the street.
Sticking to the speed limit is tough when every part of me wants to get to the hospital as quickly as possible.
But it won’t get me there any faster if I’m pulled over by the cops, so I take deep breaths and call on the calm I always drew on during a mission.
It’s at times like these that I second-guess my choice to live on the outskirts of the city.
The extra space away from neighbors is nice and all, but when there’s an emergency, the extra travel time sucks.
Shit! Toby wanted me to call Hope. I pull up her number through the Bluetooth, but the call goes unanswered. “Damn it, Hope. Answer your phone.”
I try to call again. It rings, and then I hear her voice.
My shoulders drop, and the tension that was caught there fades away.
“Hey, Nix. Long time no speak.” I can hear the smile in her voice.
She sounds lighter, happier than I’ve ever heard, and I wonder what’s going on in her life.
I don’t keep in touch nearly enough, and lately …
well, time’s been more difficult to manage.
“Hey, Hope. Yeah, it’s been a while.” Fresh guilt rises that it’s been too long between visits. “Sorry about that, I’ve been busy and time seems to disappear,” I tell her, trying to keep the stress I’m feeling out of my voice.
“That’s all right. Is everything okay?” she says, almost distractedly.
It takes me a moment to find the right words, but I’m at a loss as to how to soften the blow.
I know that she and Shane have become close.
He often helps out around her house and has become a kind of uncle to Evan.
He even coaches his soccer team every other week.
“Uh, I don’t know how to tell you this, so I’ll just say it. ”
“What’s wrong?” Her tone is no longer upbeat; instead, full of fear and worry, and I hate that I’m the person to upset her.
“A rattlesnake bit Shane this afternoon, and Violet rushed him to the emergency room,” I tell her as I spot the exit I need to take. I flick on my blinker and move into the correct lane.
“Oh my god! Is he gonna be all right?” Hope asks, her voice high-pitched and distraught.
“What’s happened?” I hear Evan asking in the background.
“A rattlesnake bit Shane. He’s in the hospital,” Hope tells him.
“They took him straight in for treatment when they arrived, and he’s still there. Violet hasn’t heard anything more. I’m on my way. I’ll keep you updated.” I tell her quickly, using my mirrors to check for traffic as I merge.
“No, we’ll head over. Which hospital is he at?”
“Mercy Vale. Go to the emergency entrance. I’ll meet you there,” I tell her quickly. I was stupid to think she would be happy with updates.
“Okay,” she says quickly, and then the line goes dead.
I hope she drives carefully. I don’t need more to worry about at this point.