Love, Tussles, and Takedowns (Cactus Creek #3)(41)

Sasha rubbed her hands up and down her arms. “This is all so weird. When I got the call yesterday… Did you freak out? I freaked out. I didn’t even know whether to cry, be happy, or sad, or what.”

Her nervous rambling started picking up speed. “I got remarried three years ago. To a really nice man. And this is baby number two on the way. A girl this time. I can’t… I don’t know how to even process any of this.” She peered intently into the screen. Not the camera, the screen. It made for a weird conversation. “I did wait, you know. For years. But I just couldn’t put my life on hold any more. Five years. That was long enough for me to wait, don’t you think?”

Lia had no answer to that one. She couldn’t even imagine being in Sasha’s shoes. But she could see that the woman was probably topping out her blood pressure right now. Not good for the baby. “There’s absolutely no fault in moving on with your life. None. And if you love your new husband, that’s all that matters.”

At that, Sasha smiled. “I do. I love my new husband so much. He’s the complete opposite of my Landon but—” She blinked and snapped her lips shut. As if surprised by her own words.

The appearance of a third person on the screen broke into their conversation.

“Good morning, ladies. Thank you both for joining us.” A woman in a lab coat greeted them as the sound of keyboard clacking filled the speakers. “We’re just going to jump right in if that’s alright.”

Clearly a rhetorical question as their view on the monitor changed to a live feed. It looked like they were watching an HD-quality movie taking place in a scientific lab. The camera shot swung down, blurring out and shifting back into focus on an old metal slab on the table. The view changed to one more like a microscope lens as it zoomed in and then panned out.

All the while, the woman in the lab coat had completed introducing herself—Dr…something—and stating the case number for what was probably a recorded session of sorts.

“Ladies, this is the note in question. Let me adjust the lighting a bit so you can make out the words better.”

On screen, Lia saw the bottom half of the note glare in and out with the lighting. The initialed letter L on the screen caught and held her attention. The lighting evened out finally and instantly, the entire note was visible.

Lia couldn’t speak. Didn’t know what to say.

Sasha, on the other hand, burst into tears.

Landon.

The initialed L was for Sasha’s husband, Landon. And the note was clearly written to Sasha.

“What does all this mean?” asked Sasha in near-hysterics. “My husband. My new husband, he didn’t even want me to take this video conference. He doesn’t even know I logged in today. What am I supposed to tell him?” She was starting to hyperventilate.

“Ma’am, you need to try and calm down,” called out Dr. Something into the microphone. “Just try and breathe in and out.”

Yeah, that breathing advice wasn’t always very helpful.

“Sasha,” called out Lia. “Sasha. Listen to me. Just focus on my voice. Look around at something in your room. Something big, colorful. Now. Do it.” She watched as Sasha’s face shifted away from the computer. “You have it? That big, colorful thing in your room? Okay, keep your eyes on it and take a deep breath. Hold it in. Just keep looking at that one thing. You don’t have to think. Just look at it. The color. The shape.” When the whimpering was almost completely gone, Lia said calmly. “Now let out the breath and look at something else in your room. Take another breath.”

Lia took Sasha through one more round before the woman’s breathing had returned to normal.

Dr. Something nodded approvingly on the screen.

“Sasha, is there someone in the house with you?”

“Yeah. My momma and my sister are downstairs.”

Thank God.

“Ma’am,” interjected Dr. Something. “So it appears this note is from your husband. We do have some follow-up information for you—”

“No.” Sasha shook her head at the screen. “No, I can’t. I can’t deal with this right now. I’m sorry, I really am. But I just can’t. My husband…” A flailing hand started pawing at the screen seconds before Sasha’s video feed cut out.

“Well,” said Dr. Something, looking into the computer camera. The camera, not the screen. So she was basically looking Lia in the eye. A touch of sympathy softened her expression. “I’ll be sure to have someone check in on her to make sure she’s okay,” she reassured the camera. “Ms. Lawson, I’m very sorry I don’t have more news for you, ma’am.”

“No apologies needed,” replied Lia, almost robotically. She didn’t even bother to explain to the woman that she’d never taken Leo’s name. Yet another thing they’d decided could wait.

A few more pleasantries were exchanged before Dr. Something’s chat screen disappeared and the entire screen went blank.

Lia looked up and saw Hudson over in the kitchen, leaning against the wall watching her. Concern and sympathy etched into his features. And genuine regret.

He was such a good man.

“Did you catch the doctor’s name?” asked Lia, out of the blue.

Hudson blinked, as if she’d asked the absolute last question he’d ever expected. After a few seconds he nodded and replied, “Dr. Morgan.”