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“It said unknown caller.”
“Yeah, I’m using a spare. Anyhow, the day got away. I’m not interrupting Thanksgiving dinner, am I?”
“No, we ate early. Enough food to feed an army. We’ve got leftovers that can easily be warmed up if you’re calling to tell me you’re on your way.”
The hopefulness in her voice made him squeeze his eyes shut. “I’m a long way from Austin. In Atlanta. Grounded by fog.”
“It’s been on the news. You’re not flying—”
“Not tonight. Tomorrow.”
“Where are you off to?”
Did it matter? No. But he told her anyway. Then, “Do I hear a baby crying?”
“That’s Cameron. He’s been fussy all day. He’s teething.”
Cameron, his youngest nephew. He’d seen him only in pictures his proud brother had texted, along with subtle admonitions that if he could fly from coast to coast on a daily basis, surely he could make a stop in Texas to see his family.
He cleared his throat. “So, uh, the whole brood is there today?”
“Except for you. You’re missed.”
“I miss everybody, too. But, you know, work. It’s crazy.” Of course work wasn’t the reason he didn’t go home, and she knew that.
“Your dad’s out on the porch. He’ll want to—”
“No, don’t bother him. I’ll try to call again in a day or so, talk to him then.”
“Rye—”
“I’d better go and let you get back to the party.”
“Rye. We want to see you. We don’t have to talk about…about anything you don’t want to. Please. Can’t you come home for a couple of days, at least?”
“I’ll try to do that.”
“When?”
He plowed his fingers through his hair and held his forehead in his palm. “When I can, Mom.”
She didn’t ask when that might be. She had asked before and had never received a definitive answer. He didn’t have one to give her.
Her voice husky with restrained emotion, she said, “Be careful, sweetheart.”
“I will.”
“Promise me.”
“I promise.”
“I love you, Rye.”
“Love you, too.”
He disconnected, held the phone against his lips, then, fed up with himself and life in general, tossed it onto the dresser. It landed just as Brynn opened the bathroom door.
She glanced at the discarded phone, then looked at him. “Who was that?”
