Page 48 of Christmas on Ice
I looked up at Kassidy. “What can I do?”
“Do you want us to bring Ryleigh home?” Marsha asked. “Or she can stay with us if your parents want to, um, go to the hospital.”
Kami shook her head, and I loosened my grip as she stood up. “No. I’ll call Mama and Daddy to come get her. Kass, do they know?”
“I’m sure Bonnie has called them by now. You might want to check your phone.”
“Yes. Yes, I need to check my messages.” She stared at her purse, then turned around to hug me. “I’m so sorry to put a black cloud over your sister’s wedding. Please, don’t leave. I’ll get a ride over there.” She took her purse from the table and turned back to Kassidy. “Do you think Graham can bring me?”
“Ican bring you, Kami.” I wanted to be with her and was sure Brooklyn wouldn’t mind if I left.
“No.” Her bottom lip trembled. “I’ll feel bad forever if you leave before this is over. I’ll call you later, okay?” Her voice cracked.
I pulled her in for a hug and whispered directly into her ear. “You call me for anything, anytime. If I don’t hear from you by the time the wedding is over, I’m going to the hospital so I can be there for you.”
“Okay.”
I let her go and kissed her gently on her lips. Then I wrapped my arms around her to remind her she wasn’t alone. I just wanted to hold her for a moment.
“Bye, Trask.” She wiped her eyes and followed Kassidy out.
I wished I was bringing her. I wanted to comfort her and tell her everything would be okay. And a part of me needed to know what she was thinking and if she still had feelings for the guy. Her gut reaction made me uneasy. She’d been shocked, and it looked like she was struggling to hold herself together. I knew they’d known each other for a long time, and while I didn’t think most people wished their exes were dead, especially not if they had kids, maybe underneath it all, she still cared for him and wished things hadn’t had to end.
Before my thoughts could spiral into a black hole of the worst things, I decided to go find my dad. He could always help me make sense of things when I didn’t have a clear head.
I found him smoking a cigar with Brian on the far side of the garden. “Hey, Dad. Hey, Bri. Congrats again, man. Welcome to the family.” He offered me a cigar, but I shook my head.
I didn’t want to dampen Brian’s big day, so after a few minutes of small talk, I went to find Mylee. There were only about another forty minutes until the reception ended. She could keep me distracted till then.
I found her and Ryleigh on a stone bench with Marsha. They were twisting flowers into some kind of rope.
“Look, Mr. Tiggerman! Mylee’s mommy showed us how to make a daisy chain! But there’s not any daisies here so we have honeywort! Isn’t that a funny name for a flower? Warts are so gross, but these flowers are pretty.”
“It’s very funny. Can I help?” I wanted to protect her, and if what I had to do right now involved weaving flowers, I would weave flowers.
Mylee regarded me carefully. “Only if you promise to try your very best. All the boys I know like to squish flowers!”
“Mylee,” Marsha chided. “Notallthe boys you know. Your daddy doesn’t squish flowers.”
She shrugged. “That’s ’cause he’s a man.”
Marsha snorted. I didn’t know whether or not to feel insulted.
Not long after, the DJ called for the last dance. I checked my watch. Almost eight. At least it was still early. A moth fluttered by, and I remembered it was less than an hour ago Kami and I were having the perfect night. We even had a song.
I hadn’t heard from her, so I called after we gathered around Brooklyn and Brian to send them off. It went to voicemail, so I sent a text.
Are you okay? I’m on my way.
I waited for a response, and when it didn’t come, I said goodbye to everyone and headed for the parking lot. I’d rented an SUV with a car seat, and it felt incredibly empty being in it alone.
* * *
The womanat the information desk gave me a once-over. I was still in my tux, minus the jacket.
“Let me guess,” she said. “You’re here to see Sutton Spencer.”
“How’d you know?” I asked.
