Page 49 of The Locksmith's Promise

Spinning on my heel, I stalked through the kitchen.

At the door, I paused and looked back, wincing at the shock on her face. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Sleep well.”

The door snicked shut.

I’d never felt so alone in my life.

12

Super-Imposed

Maggie

As soon as I woke up Sunday morning, I tapped out a text to Baxter.

Mags: Can we talk?

Not thirty seconds passed before he responded.

Bax: Of course. Do you want me to come over?

Mags: Can we go for a walk? Are you free now?

Bax: I’m at Miller’s. I’ll meet you at the entrance to our trail.

Our trail.

Our rock.

Our place.

Our past.

My failure.

I knew coming back to Moose Lake would stir up the past, both the good and the bad. I had hoped to connect with Baxter and maybe even facilitate a relationship between him and our son.

And while I’d be outright lying if I said I never imagined us playing happy family, I never dreamed it would be an actual possibility.

We walked in relative silence until we got to our rock. It shone silver with the sun glancing off its smooth surface. I hadn’t intended on heading there, but like I’d said before, where else would we go?

After boosting me up, Baxter leaped up behind me.

The wind rose and whipped my hair around my face. I tucked a runaway lock behind my ear and drew in a quivering breath.

“Are you cold? Or nervous?” he murmured, those dark eyes narrowing on my face.

I snorted. “Both.”

Shucking off his jacket, he wrapped it around me.

“Oh, no, you’ll be too cold-” I protested, but he cut me off.

Tugging the lapels, he pulled me close and tipped his forehead down to mine.

His skin warm against mine, his breath puffing over my mouth with his every sweet word, locked me in place.

“Maggie, please understand, I’d do anything for you. Let me keep you warm.”

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