23. Daddy Wilson

Christmas. Avery was four or five, in that prime Christmas magic age, the last time I was this excited about the holiday. For the last few years, I’d dreaded it. Last Christmas, I’d even gone away with Leo’s family to avoid spending the entire day with the Jacobses. Since Avery had moved back to Boston after college, we’d spent Christmas with her best friend’s family. But spending the day around Wren had been torture.

This year, spending time with her was all I wanted. We’d been together for a week now, but we hadn’t gone public yet. With Avery’s wedding just weeks away, we’d decided it would be best to wait until she and Chris were back from their honeymoon before we made waves.

I stepped out on to the street in front of the massive house and shut the car door. The Jacobs family lived on the outskirts of Boston in one of the many country club communities. Heath had been running Rapid Falls Country Club since the girls were in elementary school. Before Avery graduated from high school, she and I lived three doors down from here. Looking at the large snow-covered yards, it was hard to imagine I’d had the time to take care of one of my own .

With a shake of my head, I pulled the bags of gifts out of my back seat. I was so much happier with my ten-by-ten yard in downtown Boston. Raising Avery here was ideal, but I wouldn’t move back now. I liked my city life.

As I approached the house, my phone buzzed once and then again in my pocket. Before I could check it, the front door swung open.

“Dammit. My husband was right.” Colleen Jacobs called from the entryway.

“How’s that?” I stomped the snow from my boots on the steps.

“I was holding out hope that you’d bring your girl.” She smiled.

Stomach knotting, I shook my head. “I told you it was just me.” Inside, I was hit by the scents of wintergreen and roasting turkey.

“But I’m dying to meet the woman who tamed the rake.”

With a laugh, I clutched my chest. “Colleen, you wound me. I am not now nor have I ever been rakish.”

“I do fear you’re both watching too much Bridgerton .” Heath joined us. “Merry Christmas,” he said as he took the bags from my hands.

“Merry Christmas.” I kissed Colleen’s cheek and slapped Heath on the back. “Am I the last one here?”

“Yes. Everyone’s in the back.” Heath pointed toward the den.

“Except Wren,” Colleen added.

“Oh.” I schooled my features, going for vague interest even though every cell in my body perked at her name. “Did she hit traffic?”

“No.” Colleen sighed. “She claims she’s sick, but mother’s intuition says she’s dating someone.”

I fisted my hands at my sides. Sick? What the fuck? She didn’t even tell me. My heart hammered and worry buzzed through my system.

“She did not bail on us to spend time with a random guy.” Heath frowned, though his expression was unconcerned. “Even this one.” He pointed at me. “Didn’t bail on us to hang with his baby girl . I can’t imagine Wren would make up a story.”

Irritation built in my gut. Did he not care about the fact that his daughter was sick?

He shrugged. “It’s probably just one of those days.”

What the fuck did that mean?

“Come on, Tom, the Pats game is about to start. ”

I stepped forward, ready to follow him, but stopped abruptly. If I went into that room, I couldn’t pull out my phone and check on Wren. And I would check on her. Maybe her parents weren’t concerned, but I was.

“Just gonna hit the head first.” I slipped into the bathroom, and the second the door was locked behind me, I pulled out my phone and frowned at the alerts.

Baby Girl: I’m sorry. I should probably have called earlier, but I fell asleep and now you’re probably there.

Baby Girl: But I’m not coming today. Just not feeling great.

Baby Girl: Sorry.

I pressed her name and held the phone up.

“Hello.” Her soft voice was music to my ears.

“What’s wrong?” I did my best to keep my voice from being too harsh.

“Nothing. I just don’t feel great.”

“Do you need me to send a doctor over?” The Revs had two on staff. With the right incentive, I could probably talk one of them into meeting me at her apartment.

“It’s Christmas.”

“I don’t care what day it is. You’re sick.” And I should be there to take care of her. I tried to pace, but the damn room was too small, so I was just turning in circles.

“I’m not sick. I just don’t feel great.”

I stopped my stupid spinning. What the fuck did that mean? I ran a hand over my face and blew out a breath. “Baby girl, I’m trying not to freak out, so please explain to me what’s going on.”

“I thought you might remember, but…” She exhaled loudly. “During certain times of the month, I don’t feel great.”

Like a sledgehammer, the memories hit me. In so many ways, my Wren wasn’t the teenager I’d watched grow up. This Wren and past Wren existed in my mind as two different people, but now that she’d forced the idea into my brain, I did remember. She’d stayed with Avery and me on occasion when her parents traveled, and there had been a day where she wouldn’t get out of bed. By the way she moaned and curled in a ball, I’d thought she had appendicitis.

My uninformed male brain had panicked, and I’d been ready to call a doctor, but Avery assured me it was her period. Endometriosis. Every month, Wren spent at least one day in bed. My daughter, who never experienced even minimal cramps, felt awful for her best friend. We’d done many ice cream runs.

“What do you need?” Fuck, I felt helpless. If I remembered correctly, there wasn’t much I could do for her.

“I’m just going to lay here and be miserable. I’ll be fine by tomorrow night. I promise.” She took a breath, and I swore I felt her pain through the phone. After another heartbeat, she added, “Merry Christmas. Have fun.”

My gut churned. Yeah, that wasn’t likely.

“I’ll check on you later,” I promised.

“Okay, bye.”

After she’d disconnected the call, I stared at my reflection. Dammit. I couldn’t stay here. Wren was miserable, and yet she expected me to have fun? Teeth gritted, I scrolled to another contact.

After two rings, he picked up.

“Merry Christmas, bro!” Leo cheered.

“Listen carefully,” I hissed.

“Dude?” His tone was much more subdued now.

“Listen,” I repeated. “I need you to call me back in ten minutes and claim there’s an emergency. I don’t care what it is, just get me out of the Jacobses house. And Brenna better be on board with the plan in case Heath or Colleen mention it.”

“Uh—”

“Leo,” I said, tone dark. “I’ve saved your ass more times than I can count. You’re my best friend. The guy who’s supposed to help me bury the body. So this is it. Help me .”

He cleared his throat. “Cool. I’ll call in ten. In the meantime, I’ll explain to my wife that we’re gonna lie for you because you’ve lost your mind. ”

Blowing out a breath, I straightened. “Thanks for not asking.”

He scoffed. “Bro, I don’t want to know the answers to any of the questions.” With that, the line went dead.

Pocketing my phone, I slipped out of the bathroom, ready to say Merry Christmas to my daughter and then bail.