Page 90 of Out of the Cold

He’d give her fifteen minutes. If she wasn’t back by then, he was initiating a search and rescue. Or should he do it immediately? Maybe he’d already delayed too long.

Sometimes a few minutes was the difference between life and death.

His vision was starting to go gray. He sat down and forced himself to breathe, counting as he did so. In and out, in and out. He stood up, swaying slightly, and reached for his phone.

He heard Hilde’s bark first, then saw her at the end of the driveway, tongue lolling. Seconds later, Lucy came into view.

Alive and perfectly fine. Maybe a little tired, judging by the way she moved.

He wiped away the tears that were blurring his vision and sank into one of the kitchen chairs, shaking with reaction. He was furious—furious and so relieved he was afraid he’d sob like a baby in front of her.

He waited, hands fisted in his lap, jaw clenched to control his chattering teeth.

He heard her in the mudroom as she discarded her poles and snowshoes, her outerwear. Then she walked into the kitchen, stopping short in surprise at the sight of him. “Gabriel! I didn’t expect you so early. Everything okay?”

“Not really, no. I’ve been waiting here for you.”

Her smile faded. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“I thought something had happened toyou.It’s almost dark, and you were gone for over three hours.”

She crossed her arms in front of her chest, her expression wary. “It was so beautiful out, I decided to go a little farther than usual.”

She said it like there was nothing wrong. Like he was overreacting. But how could she have been so careless? She knew what he’d been through.

“All you had to do was use the phone I gave you.”

“I’m sorry. It didn’t occur to me you would worry.”

“Well, it was a long time. Long enough that I almost called Search and Rescue.”

She took a step closer. “Gabriel.”

He turned his head away from her, closing his eyes at the rush of despair that filled him. All the emotions that had been threatening were going to come anyway, even though she was safe.

“You tried to find me, didn’t you? I saw your tracks.”

“Of course I tried to find you,” he said, his voice raw with emotion he couldn’t quell or hide.

“I’m so sorry.”

“It was no use,” he said, his voice breaking. “I didn’t even know where to look.”

She knelt before him and took his trembling hands in hers. “It’s all right. I’m right here, and I’m okay. You don’t have to worry anymore.”

“It’s not okay.” He got to his feet. “It was unbelievably selfish of you to let me worry like that.”

Her mouth fell open, and for several long seconds she stared at him. “I understand why you’re upset, and I’m sorry,” she said. “I thought you were busy. It never occurred to me you’d even notice.”

He walked the length of the kitchen and living room, then back again. “Of course I noticed. I always notice.”

“What are you saying? Have you been keeping track of when I come and go?”

“I glance out the window. I make sure you’ve come back.”

She came to him, her eyes dark with worry as she took his face in her hands. “I’m so sorry I put you through that, and it won’t happen again. From now on, I’ll call you if I’m going to be later than usual.”

“I’m not sure that’s enough.”

---