She answered on the second ring. “Hi, Uncle Harry. Sorry we’re running behind, but Miriam’s heel broke and we tried to fix it and….never mind. We’ll be there in a few minutes.”

Lily burst into the room, face flushed, dark curls bobbing. She shook her head, signaling her brother wasn’t in the bedroom. Where the hell was he? “Be careful driving,” Harry said. “It’s getting bad out there.”

“I’m going slow. Is Mr. Hardin there yet?”

“Who’s that?”

“The justice of the peace. Is he not there?”

“Nope.” Harry smiled at Lily and she waved back at him. “Not yet.”

“Will you see if Nate needs any help with anything? I’m sure he’ll say no, but ask him anyway.”

Right. No way was he telling his niece that her fiancé wasn’t where he should be. The guy was probably out plowing a few roads; typical mountain-man hero stuff, but Harry didn’t think Christine would be impressed. Not on her wedding day. “I’ll see you soon. Now get off the phone so you can concentrate on the road. And tell Miriam hello.” Click.

“Where’s Nate?” Lily wondered out loud.

Harry shook his head. “Hell if I know.”

She frowned. “Bad word, Uncle Harry.”

“Huh? What? Oh, right. Sorry.” He wasn’t used to sanitizing his words before they left his mouth, but he guessed he’d have to work on it.

“If you talk that way around kids, they start repeating what you say.” She lifted a shoulder, shrugged. “Nate forgets, too. A lot.”

Bet he did.

“I’m glad you came to the wedding.” She gave him a shy smile. “I like seeing you.” The smile spread, reached her eyes. “I wish you lived closer, like in Magdalena.”

Him in Magdalena? Now wouldn’t that be a sight? Where would he golf? Where would he get his hair cut? And his suits? Did they have tailors? Who would service his car? He doubted this town had a mechanic who worked on Jaguars. There were too many obstacles to overcome to live in a town like this, but the biggest was too much time to think. That, he did not wish on anyone, least of all himself. “Chicago is only a plane ride away.”

“But wouldn’t you like to live here? You could be near me and Christine and Mom could make you vegetable soup like she made for Dad. And strawberry shortcake. And we could carve pumpkins for Halloween. And when it snowed, we could stick out our tongues and catch it.” Her voice spilled with sadness. “And make snow angels, just like Daddy used to…” Lily sniffed, swiped at her cheeks. “I miss him so much, Uncle Harry.”

Harry pulled Lily into his arms, held her close, and stroked her hair. “I know, Lily girl. I miss him, too.” Charlie was lucky he’d found a way to escape a life that had been riddled with duty and expectations. Even if it only lasted four days a month. at least he had those few hours of peace.