Page 108 of An Endless Memory

He shrugged out of his coat. “I came to work my magic on that hose.”

“I just replaced both lines brand new.” I grabbed a rag from off the bench and wiped the grease and hydraulic fluid off my hands. Barely any of it budged.

Wilder searched the floor until he found where the wrench landed. He squatted. He was wearing the same work clothes he usually used when he was doing shit for Sutton at the clinic. “Did Ken at the hardware store make them for you?”

I chewed on the inside of my cheek. I knew what he was getting at. “He doesn’t mess up every DIY job.”

“But when he does, it’s for this.”

My anger notched higher, and the back of my neck heated. I knew to check over Ken’s work. He had a habit of not making the fastenings tight enough. The tractor was old, and he had to make some adjustments since we couldn’t buy the right fittings.

Wilder grabbed another rag, went to the rear of the Bobcat and started mopping up the fresh hydraulic spray. Then he loosened the hoses while I leaned against the workbench and sulked.

He crossed to where I was and found the plastic bag I’d brought the hoses home in. “Come on. Let’s go exchange these.”

“You go ahead.”

“I didn’t come here to do your work for you.”

I knew why he’d come. Everyone had to know about the divorce by now. His wife was my wife’s boss.

Lily wouldn’t be my wife if I signed the papers.

“Don’t start, Wilder,” I said, weary. I hadn’t slept well for almost a month.

“I haven’t.” He put on his coat and started for the door. “I’ll drive.”

“Who’s with Sutton and the boys?”

“I believe her exact words were, ‘I’m not breakable. I can handle a day or two. Go check on Eliot; you know what a stubborn bastard he can be.’” When I stared at him, he shrugged. “Maybe she just said you can be stubborn.”

He walked outside. I glared at his back. Finally, I grabbed my dirty work coat off the hook by the bench and followed him.

Outside, the wind stole my breath, and I tucked my chin into my collar.

He’d parked right outside the shop. Someone must’ve told him where I was, and he’d kept his pickup running. Did he think I was going to run him back out of the shop? I might’ve, but I wasn’t the only stubborn Knight.

I got into the warm cab and sank into the seat. He put the truck into gear and pulled away.

“Just answer one question,” Wilder said after a few minutes.

“I’m not buying that you’re only going to ask one.” He didn’t respond, and for some reason, the silence bothered me. “Fine. One question.”

“Do you want to stay married?”

“We’ve talked about?—”

“It’s a yes or no question.” He used his law enforcement tone on me.

I bristled. “It’s not a yes or no answer.”

He lifted a shoulder. “A question like that should be an immediate yes because if it’s not, the answer is no. But at the same time, if you can’t give a resounding no, that also says a lot.”

“What kind of response is that?”

“What kind of reaction is yours? You go out of your way to keep from seeing Lily unless you’re expected to or she really needs help. Now she’s telling you she doesn’t need you, that she’s no longer your responsibility, and you’re dragging your feet.”

“It’s…” What? A big decision? A hard decision? A decision she already made that I can’t agree to? I’d decided to marry her in less time than it took her to explain why she was divorcing me. “It’s complicated.”

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