Page 114 of Merging Wright

Seeing Camilla’s name, I answer immediately, concerned that something else has happened to the town. “What’s wrong?”

Camilla chuckles through the line. “Hello to you, too, dove.”

“I’m sorry.” I blurt out as I toss more things into my bag. “I . . .” I’m worried about Wrightwood.

“What do you need?” My tone is harsher than it should be. Mach and my situation is not Camilla’s fault, but suddenly I can’t get back to town fast enough.

“I just thought you should know that Frank is trying to contest the will.”

“What?” I straighten as Camilla explains Frank’s intention and what he’s using as his basis.

“He’s citing your marriage to Mach as the primary breach to the will.”

For half a second, I consider Mach could be free of me. If Frank proves that we married later than the will reading and we hadn’t followed West Virginia’s official protocol for procuring a marriage license, our entire sham could be proven exactly what it’s been . . . a farce.

Another thought occurs. Being away from Mach looks like we are separated, which would be another point to contest the will.

I need to get back there.

“What does Mach think?”

“According to Landon, who told Mach about Frank, Mach almost threw up.”

“Sick with relief,” I bitterly joke.

“Heart-sick, actually. And full of fear you weren’t legally his wife.” Then Camilla adds, “Which you are, according to Landon, West Virginia law, and vows my son made bind him to you.”

“Heart-sick?” I choke on the idea.

“Lovey, I’ve already told you, you’re my son’s heartbeat. And his heart is losing tempo without you here. Mach needs you.”

“Wrightwood needs me,” I correct. Wrightwood needs Mach to have a wife, to complete the terms of the will, which involves restoring the town.

“There is no Wrightwood without Mach and you. You two are the soul of this place. You’ve revived everyone’s spirits.” Camilla pauses. “You brought my son home to me, honey. Come home to him.”

How surprised Camilla was to find I was already packing.

52

Playlist: “Homesick” – Kane Brown

[Jane]

“You’re here.” Mach’s voice expresses his shock as he enters his mother’s home.

I couldn’t get an immediate flight because of the Thanksgiving holiday. Coming to Camilla’s hadn’t been the plan, but Wrightwood doesn’t offer many hotels and the few in the area were booked for the holiday weekend. “This isn’t exactly where I want to be, but I couldn’t find a hotel room.”

The second Camilla saw me earlier, she’d pulled me into a hug, holding onto me as she’d done that first day. “Thank you for coming back. His heart cannot beat without yours, and you cannot live without his.”

Tears had threatened to fall, but I was tired of crying over men who had made it clear they didn’t want me for anything more than an arrangement—secret or convenient—in their lives.

However, I’m standing in Camilla’s dining room where all our notes and papers have been collected and removed from the table to accommodate their meal yesterday.

“You quit,” Mach chokes out.

I risk looking up at him, knowing the knife in my heart will only go deeper. He looks incredible with that beard of ink and chrome and fine lines near his eyes. He also looks a little broken, maybe a bit vulnerable, although I’m certain I’m imagining things. I recall Camilla telling me Mach almost vomited when he thought our marriage wasn’t legal.

Heart-sick.