Page 116 of Mine For The Winter

Her dad sat next to her, grabbing her hand in his, his fingers cool and rubbery. “You okay?” he asked.

She nodded, saying nothing.

Lyle pulled his phone out and leaned against the wall, not looking their way.

Each minute felt like an hour as it ticked by. Her dad offered to get her a coffee but she shook her head. Then a man dressed as Santa bustled into the room, looking around before walking out again.

“Wrong room you think?” her dad asked.

“Probably.”

It was strange to think Christmas was right around the corner.

“Dear Lord, the tavern.” Her eyes widened. “I was supposed to open up hours ago.”

Her dad patted her hand. “It doesn’t matter. Kris arranged for North to pick up the second key from Dolores. Amber’s going over there to supervise the staff.”

“But Amber’s pregnant.” Her eyes widened. She loved her friend but she didn’t need to do this.

“She’s fine. And she’s under strict instructions from Kris not to move from her stool. He’s called everybody he knows. They’re all going over to help, even Charlie Shaw.”

He’d done so much for her. Her heart clenched at the thought of him calling around to make sure her business kept going. And then she remembered the other thing he said. She quickly pulled her phone out and turned it on – she’d kept it off while she was with Cole to try to save the battery. Once she’d unlocked it with her thumbprint she sent Kris a message.

Thank you for all you’ve done. Dad told me about the Tavern. But I can’t let you pay for Cole’s surgery. That’s mine and Lyle’s job to do. – Kelly x

And yes, she had no idea how they’d pay it, but they would. From the corner of her eye she saw Lyle shaking his head at something on his phone.

She sighed heavily. Okay, she’d pay for it.

Can we talk about it later? I don’t want you worrying about anything but Cole right now, okay? – Kris x

Her dad let out a yawn, shifting in the uncomfortable chair.

“You should go home,” Kelly told him. “Get some sleep. I’ll call a cab for you.” Or ask Kris to take him. But she didn’t want to say that out loud. Not when Lyle was here and he’d already made a scene.

“I’m waiting right here with you,” her dad replied. He shot a wary look at Lyle and she realized he was worried about leaving them alone.

“I’m good, Dad. Honestly.” She gave him a reassuring smile. She wasn’t scared of Lyle. She just hated scenes. Hated people noticing their family and making judgments.

She’d had enough of those to last a lifetime.

“I’ll stay until he’s out of surgery,” he conceded. “And then I’ll go.”

Kelly nodded and he took her hand again, squeezing it tight. And that’s how they sat for the next thirty minutes until the doctor finally walked through the door, his eyes landing on hers.

“Cole Fraser’s family?”

She hadn’t realized how much tension was building up inside of her until he said her name. She stood but her legs felt boneless beneath her. Her body swayed until she could get her balance.

“Is he okay?” she whispered.

“He’s doing good.”

Relief rushed through her.

“It looks like we did the surgery just in time. His appendix was about to rupture. If you’d left it any longer we’d be talking about a whole different scenario.”

But she should have gotten him there earlier still. If only she’d listened.

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