“What happened? What’s going on?” The General hobbled out of the building as fast as his cane would let him.
“Emerson just saved Scott’s life,” Gregory Chant spoke up. “The load must have shifted as you drove, Melton.”
“If that bookcase had hit you wrong…” Paul Hunt let his sentence trail off. The heavy metal bookcase was full of sharp edges and pointy corners, and as it fell from the height of the bed of the truck, it had picked up speed. Paul and Gregory were right—the accident could have been fatal.
Don Melton, the driver, had gone pale. “Hell, I thought I had everything in there tight. If something had happened—”
“Well, all’s well that end’s well, but that load should have been restrained,” the General said. “You men, get that furniture sorted. Delaney, take a minute and make sure you aren’t hurt. Myers? You okay?”
Emerson wanted to say yes, but the truth was, he wasn’t.
“Think I’d better get this checked out.” He gestured to his ankle. He wasn’t sure how to get to his truck, however. He could drive with his good foot, but walking wasn’t going to be easy.
“Here, lean on me,” Paul said. “I’ll drive you to the hospital. You’ll want to get that looked at quickly so it heals right.”
Relief flooded Emerson. His shock was wearing off, and the pain in his ankle was increasing. “I’d appreciate that.”
“Hope they get you fixed up,” Don said.
“Yeah,” Gregory chimed in.
“I’ll be back soon as I can,” Emerson assured the General.
“Don’t worry about me. Take care of yourself,” the General said.
It was several hours before Paul dropped Emerson back at the base. The General was waiting for him in his office.
“What’s the prognosis?” he asked, sliding his glasses down his nose and peering over them. Judging by the paperwork spread out around him, the General had put his time to good work while Emerson was gone.
“Just twisted it—didn’t do any further damage,” Emerson told him.
“Good. You’ll need to take it easy for a day or two.”
“It’s wrapped up tight. What do you say we head out?”
“You can drive?”
Emerson nodded. “Didn’t hurt my good foot at all.”
“Glad to hear it, because I’m ready to be home at Two Willows.”
“You and me both.”
Celebrating the holidays with a big, happy family was an entirely new experience for Wye. Cass had invited her over the year before, but Wye hadn’t wanted to intrude and she’d declined. Instead, she’d stopped by for a quick visit on Christmas Eve before heading to church on her own, and in the morning, she’d had a Christmas brunch with her brother and Mindy, as usual.
This year was different. In the days leading up to the twenty-fourth, she found herself working with Cass to get the whole house in order and to bake dozens of cookies to share, as if she truly were Cass’s sister. She joked with the other women and teased the men when they came to steal treats from the kitchen. Emerson had taken it easy for a day or two, but then he’d gotten right back to work on the trailers. Wye was grateful he hadn’t damaged his ankle further. She knew how frustrated Emerson had been with it already.
When Ward dropped off Elise on the morning of Christmas Eve, he hesitated in the doorway. “You sure you’re okay with taking her today?”
“Just get back as soon as you can. You’ll join us for dinner, right?”
“Sure.” He was trying not to let his true feelings show, but Wye knew Mindy’s continued absence was dragging his spirits down. She felt like he’d gotten into a rhythm with work, chores and taking care of Elise, but he hadn’t come all the way to terms with the fact that Mindy wasn’t coming back, and he was often distracted. She never saw him these days without his phone in his hand, and she was afraid he’d become addicted to being online instead of being in the present moment.
“It’ll be fun, you’ll see,” she assured him. “We’ll have a good meal and attend the candlelight service. You won’t have time to be sad.”
“I’m not sad.” He seemed to recall himself, clearing his throat before he went on. “I’m fine, Wye. Don’t fuss. I’d better get to work.”
“Of course. Take care of yourself today, all right?”
“Will do.”
She watched Ward trudge back to his car, pulling out his phone again on the way, and her heart went out to him, even as she watched to make sure he put it away again before he began to drive. As thoughtless as he could be, he was still human and rudderless without Mindy to give meaning to his days. He was doing his best to hold it together for Elise, but Wye wasn’t sure how much more of this her brother could take. She resolved to pay him more attention over the holidays.
“Is he joining us tonight?” Emerson said at her shoulder.
She nodded.
“Good. I don’t think he should be alone.” He tugged Wye backward to lean against him and put his arms around her and Elise. “I’m glad I found you.”
“I’m glad I found you.” She sighed as he kissed the top of her head. “Ward needs someone to love, too.”
“Don’t go matchmaking—it’s far too soon.”
“I know.” Still, she wished there was something she could do to help. When she asked Cass later if it would be okay if Ward and Elise spent the night and joined them for Christmas morning, Cass looked thoughtful.
“Of course. We just need a room to put them in,” she said. “I suppose we could put both of them in the nursery.”
“I can bunk with Emerson—just for the night,” Wye said.
“As if you haven’t been bunking with him every night already,” Cass laughed. “I’m not blind, Wye.”
“Do you mind?”
“Why would I? Please do invite your brother; we’re always happy to have one more.”
“You’re an angel.”
“I don’t know about that, but I do my best.”
The rest of
