Page 208 of Buried Too Deep

Scarlett loves you unconditionally. Remember that. Even if she’s mad.

He took a breath and hit play.

“Phin, it’s Scarlett.” Phin winced because Scarlett had been crying. “I’ve respected your need for space, but I can’t do it anymore. It’s killing me inside. I love you and you’re hurt and I just want you to come home. Please, Phin. Come home.”

That was it. Short and sweet. So sweet that his heart hurt as he listened a second time and then a third.

Cora pushed a tissue into his hand and he realized he’d been crying. “Call her, Phin. You know you want to.”

“What did you tell her when you called?”

“That the doctors said you’d make a full recovery and that you’d been shot saving my life.”

“Oh. Okay.” But she was wincing. “What else, Cora Jane?”

“We talked for a while. I told her that you’d been planning to come home for Christmas. That you might have to wait until New Year’s if the doctor didn’t release you, but that you were coming home if I had to drive you myself.” She winced again. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.” And it really was. “It probably kept them from jumping in their cars and driving down here to see me.”

Cora nodded. “I think it did. But now you have to go back because I promised.”

“I would have gone even if you hadn’t, but I’m glad you were able to make them feel better for now.”

He didn’t even realize he’d tensed until SodaPop whined from beside him in the hospital bed. He petted her head, was so glad that SodaPop was a trained service dog. She hadn’t been allowed in the ICU after his surgery, but they’d allowed her to stay by his side once he’d gotten into a regular room. Delores had been on standby to walk, feed, and water his dog so that she could stay close.

Phin was so lucky to have such amazing friends. He didn’t deserve them, but he wasn’t going to give them back. As if they’d go.

As luck would have it, Joy’s room was only four doors down. She’d come to visit for a while the night before.

You’re stalling again.

“Can you dial for me and then put it on speaker?” he asked. “I only have one free hand and that one needs to pet SodaPop.”

Cora nodded, her expression softening. “Of course. Do you want me to leave?”

“No.” The very thought seemed wrong. She belongs with me. “Stay. Please.”

“Okay.” Cora dialed the number Scarlett had called from and sat back in her chair, the picture of patience.

Phin was not patient. Now that he’d committed to this endeavor, he wanted it to happen now. He waited through four rings and was resigned to leaving a voicemail of his own when someone picked up.

For a long moment, no one said a word, but Phin could hear breathing. “Scarlett?” he whispered.

Cora moved his phone from his lap, setting it on his collarbone so that his whisper could be heard.

“Scarlett?” he said again.

A sob tore through the line. “Phin? It’s you? Really you?”

He ran his fingers through SodaPop’s coat. She gave his hand a gentle lick. At least he couldn’t run, even if he wanted to. “Yeah. It’s me.”

“Give me a minute.” She was still crying, but the sobs had slowed to hiccups. “Are you all right? I talked to your girlfriend. She said you were going to be all right, but I’ve worried every moment.”

He wondered how many moments she’d worried about him, and guilt hit him hard.

“Stop,” Cora murmured. “I can see the guilt written all over your face.”

“Who’s there?” Scarlett asked. “Is that you, Cora?”

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