Page 59 of Lost in You (The Monroes 3)

“He sounded fine,” Liam said. He didn’t want to mention the possible concussion at this point. No need to worry anyone more than necessary. “He just needs a ride, so I assume his truck is totaled or at least immobile.”

“Keep us posted.” Sophie gave Liam a hug and kissed his unmarred cheek. “I’ll let Zach know when he gets here.”

Liam led Cora and Heidi out to his vehicle and prayed Braxton was actually fine and not just saying he was. Liam would feel much better once he saw for himself.

As Liam pulled out of the drive, Cora reached for his hand and squeezed. Liam wasn’t used to consoling people, wasn’t used to having anyone lean on him, but he knew Cora was scared.

“He’ll be fine,” Liam assured her, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. “Braxton doesn’t want you to worry.”

“I’ll stop worrying when I can hear his voice and hear from the doctor that everything is fine.”

Liam’s cell vibrated from the console. Glancing down, he saw a text from Macy. He’d have to read it later. Right now, his family was his top priority.

* * *

“And remember, it’s a surprise.”

Macy handed the invitation to one of her father’s longtime customers. So far she’d passed out around fifty, hoping people would come to show her father how much he was appreciated. She also hoped she could pull this off without him hearing about it. The town was notorious for small talk and gossip.

Which is how she’d heard about Braxton’s wreck a few hours ago. She’d texted Liam and Zach, then when those went unanswered, she’d texted Sophie. Finally, Macy found out that Braxton was going to be okay, but the family was understandably shaken up.

And it wasn’t the fact that Braxton was in an accident that had the town talking. Apparently the mayor, who had dated Braxton’s former fiancée some time back, had T-boned Braxton’s

SUV. The rumor mill was flying with conspiracies on whether he’d been drinking or texting while driving, or Macy’s favorite, checking out his hair in the mirror. Rand was quite vain and tended to look more like a sleazy used car salesman than the leader of their picturesque town.

Macy was anxious to talk to Liam and hear how Braxton was doing and get the actual story. Even though Braxton had clearly moved on and was marrying Cora, there was no love lost between him and Rand. The two were the epitome of oil and water. Since Rand and Braxton’s ex teamed up, leaving Braxton broken and betrayed, the Monroe boys really had no use for the mayor.

In the end, Braxton was better off having found the love of his life in Cora. Macy headed to the back room to get more shopping bags for the front register. One day she wanted that love. The love that Zach and Sophie, and Braxton and Cora had found. The type of love that made you smile just thinking of the other person, that gave you a reason to look forward to coming home.

Not that Macy had to have a man to complete her life, but she did harbor that dream of one day having a family with a husband and children. She was a traditionalist in some ways, and even though she may have faced some ugliness in her life, she wasn’t about to let her ultimate goal fade into the background.

Macy carried the box of new bags to the front counter and glanced at the clock. Only a couple minutes until closing. Grabbing her box cutter from the shelf beneath the register, she slid the top of the box open and pulled out the stacks of bags with her family’s store logo stamped in black on the front.

The front door chimed again and Macy lifted her head to greet the customer, only to find Diane. Macy had already made her decision, but letting down her old coach and friend was going to be difficult.

“I hadn’t heard from you and thought I’d swing by.” Diane made her way to the counter and rested her hands on the edge. “I don’t want to pressure you, but if you have any questions . . .”

Macy offered a smile. “I stopped by the game like you suggested.”

Diane nodded. “I saw you on the other side of the fence.”

Pulling in a deep breath, Macy drew strength from realizing this was the best decision for her and she couldn’t say yes to everything.

“As much as I’d love to help you and the team out, I just can’t commit.”

Diane tipped her head with a slight grin. “I didn’t think you could, but I thought I’d ask anyway. I know you’re busy with the store and I’m sure you want to have a social life. It’s hard to juggle everything during the season.”

“I hope you’re not disappointed,” Macy went on. She didn’t want to bring up fostering. She wasn’t quite ready to let anyone else in on that just yet. “I know the team would need someone to be there for them one hundred percent and that just couldn’t be me. You’re going to be tough to replace.”

“I admire the fact you know your limits,” Diane commented, pushing off the counter and crossing her arms over her chest. “I’m sure this decision wasn’t easy for you, but I respect it. I have a couple other people I plan on talking to, but you were my top pick.”

Pride swelled within Macy. Softball would always be a part of her life, the good and the bad memories, but she was done for good with the sport. From now on, she was focusing on her store and on the fostering, which she hoped would lead to adoption.

“I won’t keep you.” Diane started for the door, but turned back around. “Maybe the new coach could call on you sometime to show a few pointers to the players?”

Macy nodded. “I’d like that.”

Once she was alone again, Macy locked up and closed out the register. Thankfully, she’d not had any more migraine episodes since the last one. Apparently that had been triggered by sexual frustration . . . or so she kept telling herself.

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