Page 42 of His Best Friend's Widow
As he made his way back to his own office, he wasn’t nervous about the research of the company, or about traveling, or about meeting with the clients.
The only thought in his mind was that he would miss taking Carter to soccer practice.
20
Hailey stared at the TV screen Wednesday night. There was a sitcom playing at a low volume, but it didn’t matter. She wasn’t paying attention anyway.
The kids had been in bed for almost an hour, the kitchen was clean, and the laundry was folded. She could enjoy a movie or read a book, but her mind wouldn’t focus on anything. Landon had said he would call tonight, but so far she hadn’t heard from him.
She sighed as she rose from the couch, thinking maybe she should just go to bed.
Just then her phone rang. The sudden sound startled her, and her heart pounded as she grabbed the phone and pressed the button. “Hello?”
“Hey,” Landon said.
“Hey,” she replied, sinking back down on the couch. She wanted to melt into his embrace at the sound of his voice.
“How are you?” he asked.
“I’m fine. How are you? You sound tired.” Hailey’s forehead creased with concern.
“Well, I am. My flight was at six this morning, and I barely slept last night. I was still trying to go over my notes until midnight.”
“I know. I’m sorry. It seems a little ridiculous that they made this trip with such short notice.”
“Yeah, but you know that’s how it goes. Mr. Benton decides when he decides, and when he says jump, I say how high.”
She sighed. “I know. I’m just sorry that you’re tired.”
“And I’m sorry that I’m in Dallas and not there in Twin Creeks.”
“Me too.”
Landon fell quiet for a moment, and Hailey could hear the sound of papers rustling.
“Are you still working?”
“Kind of,” he said. “I got takeout for the hotel, and I’m just making sure the presentation is ready for in the morning.”
“I should let you go then,” Hailey said.
“I’m sorry, Hailey. I wanted to talk longer.”
She waved a hand in the air as if he could see her. “It’s okay. I understand.” She did understand, but that didn’t mean she liked it.
“I’ll call you tomorrow when I’m on the way to the airport.”
“Okay,” she said as confidently as she could.
“Goodnight, Hailey.”
“Goodnight, Landon.” She hung onto the phone for a moment and then dropped it onto the couch pillow. “That was disappointing,” she said to no one. “Oh well, he’s got work to do. And the job comes first.” It had to, didn’t it? They weren’t married or engaged. He wasn’t really their family. So when the company wanted him to jump on a plane, that was his first priority.
So why did it bother her so much?
His voice had sounded distant, and she knew he was staring at work papers, even as he talked to her. “Get over it, Hailey,” she told herself. “He’s just tired and busy with work. He’ll be home tomorrow night, and you can talk then.”
But he wasn’t home the next night. As Hailey was standing on the sideline at Carter’s soccer practice, watching the assistant coach try unsuccessfully to wrangle the boys, her phone buzzed with a text.
