Chapter 2
ETHAN
“Thank you again for making time,” she said, glancing up at me with a soft smile. “It’s just been such a difficult week.”
My mother had lived a sheltered life, first with my grandparents and then my dad. With them gone, it was up to me to take care of her now.
Pulling open the door to her car, I promised, “You know I’ll always make time for you.”
She gave a delicate sigh as she slid into the driver’s seat. “Your father would be so proud of the man you’ve become. You’re holding everything together, just like he did.”
That particular compliment always hit me in the gut. I didn’t feel like I was doing a good job of holding everything together. Between my job, my wife, and my mom, I had a lot on my plate.
Then her voice turned more pointed. “I do wish Callie would attend more of the club events. Or pick up the phone when I call. I’ve left messages.”
I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself from snapping at her.
“She’s teaching two courses this summer,” I said mildly.
Margot tsked under her breath. “Still, that’s no reason not to make time for family.”
“We just had dinner with you on Sunday,” I reminded her.
“I suppose I’ll have to be happy with the time she has for me.” Margot reached up to pat my hand where it rested on the door. “She’s lucky to have you.”
“I’m the lucky one to have Callie as my wife, Mom.”
“And I know how busy you are,” she continued as though I hadn’t said anything. “You’re a very important man, Ethan. Not everyone appreciates how much pressure that brings.”
“Sorry, I need to get back,” I said, checking my watch. “My afternoon is jam packed, as always.”
She nodded, and I shut the door once she started the engine. I watched her pull away, then turned back toward the Langford Tech building down the block.
The second I stepped inside the lobby, the artificial chill of the air conditioner hit my face. But it didn’t cool the mild headache starting to pulse behind my temples.
It had already been a long day.
And it was only one-thirty.
After taking the elevator to the top floor, I pushed open the door to my office and stepped inside with a sigh, rolling my shoulders as I crossed to my desk. I dropped onto my chair, the leather groaning beneath me as I pulled my cell out of the inner pocket of my suit jacket.
I had set it to silent during my impromptu lunch with my mother, something I didn’t second-guess since it had been a rule of hers growing up. No distractions at meals.
Plenty of emails had come through, along with a text from my assistant.
Sophie
Snagged you a chocolate chip cookie from the bakery down the street while I was at lunch.
When my long-time assistant was out for maternity leave, my mom had suggested I hire the youngest daughter of one of her closest friends to cover for a few months.
Sophie had just graduated from college, and since Langford Tech preferred to hire and promote from within, working for me was a great way for her to get her foot in the door.
It had been the quickest way to fill the position, so I’d agreed.
Which turned out to be a lucky thing because Lucy decided early on that she wanted to take another three months with her baby, and Sophie was happy to stay on longer.
I fired off a quick reply to thank her, not bothering to remind her that she didn’t need to do stuff like that because she never listened. I wouldn’t be surprised if my mother had told her to make sure I was eating enough or some bullshit like that.
Then I opened my missed calls, and my brows drew together when I saw one from my wife.
There was no voicemail. No follow-up text.
I frowned as I stared at the screen. Just the one call, about forty minutes ago.
Callie normally texted during the workday. She only called if it couldn’t wait.
Worried that something might be wrong, I pulled up her contact, my thumb hovering over the call button just as my boss walked into my office.
Even though we were friends, Gage Langford wasn’t the kind of man you kept waiting. Especially lately, since he was grumpier than usual while going through a messy divorce from the wife he never wanted to marry in the first place.
“Hope I’m not interrupting any number-crunching miracles.”
I stood to greet him, offering a firm handshake. “Nope, I just got back in.”
“Good, I wouldn’t want to disappoint the board by distracting you.”
Despite being my boss, Gage never acted like he was above anyone else. He was sharp. Even ruthless when necessary. But always fair.
We’d gone to college together, and although I’d started here under his father-in-law’s leadership, Gage had been the one to promote me to CFO after the old man retired. He trusted me with Langford Tech’s finances, and I was determined not to let him down.
He dropped into the seat across from my desk, stretching his legs out as he loosened his tie. “Got a sec? Just needed to go over the numbers with you before I finish prepping for the Andrews call.”
I nodded, already pulling up the financial model I’d built for that scenario. “Projections are still tracking. Their Q2 dip gave us more leverage than we expected, so there’s no reason to let them squeeze us on valuation.”
Gage raised a brow. “Think we could close the deal lower than we originally planned?”
“Only if you want to play hardball.” I leaned forward, adjusting the data slightly and shrugging at the outcome. “You might be able to get them to come in just shy of six.”
He raked his fingers through his hair with a sigh. “But they could just as easily get offended and walk away from the deal entirely.”
“With the assets we’ll acquire from them, is saving half a million worth taking the risk?”
“Nope,” he murmured, shaking his head. “Which is why I came to you for the data before the meeting. So I don’t fuck up this deal and give Vanessa something to hold over my head. That’s the last damn thing I need right now.”
I had no doubt he was right about that. His hopefully soon-to-be ex-wife wasn’t happy about their marriage ending and had inherited half of Langford Technology from her father, just like Gage had from his.
If the company lost significant value in the middle of the divorce, she’d assume he did it to be spiteful and make him pay some other way.
I felt bad for my friend, but he knew the risks he’d been taking when he agreed to marry her in the first place. “Anything else I can help you with?”
“Nah, I’m just glad you got back from that appointment before my call.” Gage stood. “Callie doing okay?”
The question hit like a sucker punch, and my body locked up.
The appointment.
Callie.
No. No, no, no.
“Shit,” I muttered.
His brow furrowed. “There a problem?”
I didn’t answer. Couldn’t. My hand fumbled for my phone. I swiped up, fingers clumsy, and opened the calendar. There it was.
OB-GYN – 1:00 p.m.
Clear as day.
The location. The time.
Except no alert.
I always set reminders. Always.
Lucy also double-checked, and she’d drilled that habit into Sophie too. But this one had somehow slipped through the cracks.
My mouth went dry.
When Callie told me she’d set the appointment two weeks ago, I had told her I’d be there. But I depended on those alerts too damn much and hadn’t even looked at my calendar this morning.
Callie had gone alone.
My stomach twisted, nausea curling hot in the back of my throat.
“I have to go,” I mumbled, standing so fast my chair rolled back.
Gage blinked. “What’s going on?”
“I forgot. Shit.” I was already moving, half-aware of Gage saying something else behind me.
But I didn’t stop.
Because my wife had called me once. Just once.
And I hadn’t picked up.
I burst out of the building into the attached parking garage, nearly colliding with someone as I yanked my phone back out of my pocket.
My hand shook as I hit Callie’s name and lifted the phone to my ear.
It rang once. Twice.
Then straight to voicemail.
“Shit.” I hung up and called again, barely giving it a beat.
Voicemail again.
I swore under my breath and opened our message thread, typing fast.
Me
Callie, I’m so sorry. Please call me.
Three dots blinked for a split second. Then they vanished.
My heart stuttered as I fired off another text.
Me
I didn’t mean to miss your appointment. I don’t know how it happened, but the alert wasn’t set.
Nothing.
Me
Please, just talk to me.
I love you.
Still nothing.
Sweat prickled under my collar, but the rising panic was sharper than the heat.
She would understand. My mom had shown up unannounced. I didn’t skip the appointment on purpose. I meant to go. I just…forgot.
The excuse sounded bad, even in my own head.
Callie had needed me, and I hadn’t been there.
She’d walked into that exam room alone. Shared her fears with the doctor without me at her side.
All because of a lunch that could’ve waited. A mistake that could have been avoided if I’d just opened my damn calendar. Or ignored my mother’s rule about no phones during meals so that my wife could reach me.
I’d promised her I would show up for her while we built a family.
And I’d already messed up the very first time she needed me.
My chest tightened, like someone had sucked the air from the garage. Callie’s face flashed in my mind—those hazel eyes, trusting me when I swore I’d be there. I’d failed my wife on the day she needed me most.