Page 104 of The Family Guest

All the better.

Yes, revenge was a dish best served cold.

The sudden trill of my phone ended my deliciously wicked fantasy and snapped me back to reality. It must be Paige, letting me know she and Tanya were back. I sprinted to the night table where it was still charging. I glanced at the caller ID. It was a blocked number—caller unknown. Not again!

It had to be The Whisperer, but this time I’d had enough. Fearless and furious, I answered the call.

“Okay, Matt. I know it’s you or your rotten sister! You can stop—”

To my surprise, a somber male voice cut me off.

“This is Officer Axelrod with the Big Bear Sheriff’s Department. Am I speaking to Natalie Merritt?”

“Yes, this is she.” My voice faltered.

“I’m sorry to tell you this, but there’s been an accident.”

My heart pounded against my chest so hard I couldn’t breathe. My greatest fear! Paige had gotten into a car accident!

“M-my daughter?”

“No, Mrs. Merritt. It involves your husband.”

I heaved a breath. My heartbeat slowed, but it was still beating double time.

“What happened?”

“He was in a skiing accident. He slammed into a tree.”

“Is he okay?” I was shocked by how shaky my voice was.

“He was found by a fellow skier and airlifted to Bear Valley Community Hospital.”

“What’s his condition?”

“Critical. Per the paramedics, he has hypothermia and may have suffered a spinal injury. Before he lost consciousness, he asked for you.”

He asked for me?

At this unexpected news, I was speechless. I didn’t know what to say. How to react when this was the man I hated with all I had. The man I’d just fantasized killing.

A mental reset. My chest tightened as if it were corseted. Remorse coursed through me. What madness had possessed me? Seized my overactive imagination? How could I have possibly even thought about killing my children’s father? The man I’d once loved and maybe still did the teensiest bit. The man who’d given me everything after years of nothing. Years of neglect. Tears welled up in my eyes. Guilt and sorrow filled every fiber of my being.

Yes, it was just a fantasy, some whacked form of wishful thinking, but I still hated myself. I was no longer that person. How could I have possibly thought about murdering my husband?

The officer broke into my sorrowful, regretful, gut-wrenching thoughts.

“Your husband’s car is still parked up here in Big Bear. We’re going to try to have it towed to wherever you’re staying…”

I was so distraught I drew a blank. Finally, it came to me.

“The Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa.”

“Just know we may not be able to do it today with the inclement weather.”

“Tomorrow will be fine,” I stammered.

“Here’s the number of the hospital if you wish to call.”