Page 37 of Everlasting Vows

I’m going to work my ass off to be good enough for her. To give her everything she needs.

She stops in front of me, a shy smile on her pretty lips. “Hi,” she whispers.

For a moment, my tongue won’t move and my lips won’t form the words I want to say. I shake my head, returning her smile. “Hi.” I dip to press a kiss to her cheek, and she blushes, her eyes dropping closed for a moment as I hold still, my lips lingering against her flesh. My hand shakes as I reach up to cup her other cheek. “I missed you,” I breathe against her silky soft skin.

A throat clears, breaking the spell we’re under, and when I look to the side, my future mother-in-law is giving me her best dagger eyes. She’s always proclaimed I’m not good enough for her daughter, and I’ve never disagreed. I know I’m the luckiest man on earth to have Abbi by my side. And I’ll never forget it.

I draw my eyebrows together because something’s not right with this picture. I hadn’t noticed who walked with Abbi down the aisle because I only had eyes for her, but the person giving her away should be her dad. It’s what she planned because, at heart, Abbi is a traditional girl. I glance around, but I can’t see him among the small number of guests.

My heart sinks and stomach drops for Abbi. And it’s almost like I can feel her disappointment as if it’s my own.

She was hopeful that both of her parents would make the time to be here today, but obviously her father got called into surgery. I know he’s a top-notch heart surgeon and all, but this was important to his daughter, and he blew her off … again. For once, it would have been nice if he’d put her first. I’ll never make her feel like she isn’t the most important person in my world.

“Dad?” Prue’s voice drags me out of my memory.

I glance at Abbi with our wedding day fresh in my mind. The promises I made to myself that day were to always show Abbi how important she is to me and how much I love her. I failed myself, and I failed her. I didn’t keep my promise, and it guts me to my core that I can no longer say I’m a man of my word. What is my word worth when I can’t keep a simple promise to my wife? The ache it causes in my chest is so acute I have to press the heel of my palm to my sternum to ease it.

“Dad, your phone’s been buzzing like crazy.” Prue points to my phone, her brows furrowed and lips pursed. “Are you okay?”

I laugh off her concern. “Yeah. I was just reminiscing about the day I watched your mom walk down the aisle toward me. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She was an angel dressed in lace.” I look at Abbi to catch her eye. “You’re always beautiful to me, but that day … wow. You took my breath away, and I still haven’t caught it.”

Her eyes soften, as if she’s remembering that day too. I hope her memories are as good as mine, because that might be all we have left in a few short months.

My phone buzzes again, and Toby Summer’s name flashes on the screen. Adrenaline pumps into my system as I push to my feet. Something must be wrong because he never calls me. He has no need to communicate with me directly. “Sorry, I need to take this.” I look at Abbi apologetically as I hold my phone up as if that will make it better that I’m taking a call during our family afternoon.

Without delay, I accept the call as I step away from my family, down the steps, and onto the grass. “Nix speaking. What’s wrong?”

A relieved sigh gusts across the line. “Fuck, finally. I was getting worried that I wouldn’t be able to reach you,” he rushes to say.

“You have me now. What’s up?” I look back at Abbi and catch her watching me with interest.

“It’s Shane.” I figured as much. My muscles tense, and I know my body’s preparing for fight or flight.

“What about him?” I snap. “Spit it out.”

“Yeah, yeah. It’s just … it’s a shock, you know. He’s always so strong and … formidable. I can’t wrap my head around what happened.”

Frustration steals my patience. “Toby. Calm the fuck down and tell me what’s wrong!”

“Sorry. Yeah. Shane and Violet went on a picnic today, and there was a rattlesnake under a bush near Jasmine. He picked her up in time, but the snake bit him. He’s in bad shape, Nix. He’s in the hospital.” My feet move without direction from me, and I skip the steps up to our back porch and land on the deck.

“Which hospital?” I grunt as I slam inside. My blood pumps through my body as if I’m running a marathon, not striding through my house.

His heavy breaths fill the line for a moment. “Mercy Vale. But, Nix, Violet wants you to call Hope to let her know. I don’t have her number. We’re hoping you have it.”

“Yeah, I can do that. I’m on my way.” I crash through the door into the garage and peel open my truck door, pressing the remote to open the garage door. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

The door of the house bangs open, and Abbi storms toward me, fire in her eyes. “What’s going on?” she spits, waving her arm out toward the back porch. “We’re having our lunch. Prue and Luke are here to discuss plans for their wedding.”

I shake my head. “I have a man down. Shane’s in the hospital, and I need to go to him.”

Abbi gasps, her body softening. “Oh, Nix. What happened? Is he going to be okay?”

I start my truck, drag my seatbelt across my body, and snap it in place. Shoving the gears in reverse, I go to close my door, but Abbi’s standing in the way. “He was bitten by a rattlesnake, so I don’t know. I need to go.”

“Do you want me to come with you? I’m not sure you should drive when you’re this upset.”

“I’m not upset. I’m in a hurry,” I snap. “I need to go now, Abbi.” I reach out for my door, and she finally steps to the side, allowing me to close it.