Page 67 of The Work Wife

“Then he should call you when he promised.”

“I don’t know . . .”

Before she could stop him, he pulled out his own phone and called.

“Hello?” Mr. Witmer sounded like he’d just had the crap kicked out of him.

“How are you doing?”

“I feel like hell.”

“I’m sure a call from your son-in-law is the icing on the cake.” His joke was met with a groan. “You have a daughter here who wants to know how it went.”

“It apparently went okay. If the chemo is kicking my ass, hopefully it’s kicking the cancer’s ass too.”

Wes nodded and gave Jamie a thumbs-up.

“You get some rest and call us later when you feel up to it.”

“I will. Thanks.”

“Thank you.” Wes disconnected the call and smiled. “He’s just tired. He’s going to call back later.”

Jamie let out a big breath and with a nod went back to work.

Mr. Witmer didn’t call that night, but he called the next morning sounding fit and chipper. Wes was able to talk Jamie out of flying down there to make sure he was all right.

They went back to living in their own homes. Wes was glad Jamie didn’t need him in order to sleep through the night, but he had to admit he missed having her close.

On Friday they would be leaving for a week in paradise. They would be together nonstop for the next week.

“Are you packed?” he asked on Tuesday.

“No. Not yet.”

“Are you kidding? We’re leaving in three days. I would have thought your suitcase would have been sitting by the door for weeks.”

“I’ve been thinking . . .”

“Oh, no.” If she changed her mind about this trip after everything they’d gone through, he would lose his ever-loving mind.

“I talked to my dad last night and he sounded tired.”

“You know the chemo makes him tired. It’s normal.”

“Yeah, but what if something happens when I’m out of the country? What if he needs help?”

“You’re talking about your dad? The man who could cut his arm off and ask for a Band-Aid? The man who wouldn’t ask you to come help him if his life literally depended on it?”

“He’s so stubborn.”

“Like father, like—” Her glare made him stop in his tracks. He didn’t need to take every opportunity she presented. “Anyway, he will be pissed if you skip this trip so you can fuss over him. And I’m not just saying that, because I will be pissed if you stand me up on our couples’ retreat.”

“You’re right. I know that. But I just wish he had more friends down there. His friends are more about drinking a pint at the pub than visiting him during chemo. The neighbor lady makes him dinner sometimes, but I’m not sure if she would notice if he didn’t answer the door for a week.”

“Are you even going to be able to have fun on this trip?”

“I’m not sure.” She winced and he knew he couldn’t be mad at her. He would need to come up with a way to put her at ease. If that was even possible.