Jane

“Okay, you can do this. You can do this. You can do this.”I repeat to myself, staring at the phone in my hands with utter trepidation.

The pups are sleeping soundly in their bedroom, and I’m getting ready to sacrifice my dignity in their honor.

I’m not sure how Ethan will respond to my phone call, if he’ll even answer when he sees my number on the screen. I’m half tempted to go find a pay phone and calI from a number he won’t recognize, but I decide to try this first. Taking one last deep breath, I dial and hit the send button, raising the device to my ear.

It seems to ring for an utter eternity, but eventually the line clicks, and Ethan’s deep voice sounds in my ear.

“Jane?”

The familiar sound sends a shiver down my spine. “

Hello Ethan.”

“I thought I told you not to contact me.” Ouch, I know l expected failure, but that seems harsh, even for Ethan.

“Actually you just told me to leave, you didn’t say I couldn’t ever reach out.”I correct him hoarsely. It’s only been four weeks, but it feels like an eternity since we last spoke. Those early days after l left with the pups had passed in a haze that still haunted me, and it feels so surreal just to hear his familiar voice.

“Well I should have.” He growls. “I didn’t realize I had to spell everything out letter by letter. I thought you were smarter than that.”

“Wil you just listen for a moment.” I beg, hating how cruel he’s being.

He pauses for a moment. “Is something wrong?

“Well that depends on how you define wrong.” I snap. “Your pups are absolutely heartbroken without you. They don’t understand why they can’t see you, they’re completely traumatized from the Southern lsles – every other night they’re having nightmares and begging for you instead of me, and yesterday they attempted to run away to the North Pole so they could ask Santa to bring you back to them for Christmas.”

impatiently for a response, wondering if he’s even still there.

all?

I repeat, not believing my ears. “Is that all?! Ethan they could have been killed, they stole a horse-drawn sleigh and were taking off into the mountains. They’re desperate to be with you and they don’t understand why you’re suddenly not in their life anymore! And

should they hate you?” He snaps, sounding even harsher than he

don’t think I told them that you’d abandoned them, do you?” I hiss. “I took the blame for you so

“It is your fault. If you’d done what you were supposed to in the Southern lsles,

can’t believe how badly it hurts to hear him speak to me this way. He wasn’t even this cruel

stand up for my children. “So you don’t even care that you’re punishing the pups

innocent and they worship the ground you

you’re complaining?” Ethan counters. “Isn’t this exactly what you wanted? You were planning to take her from me and cut

I burst out,

what?” He remarks

made me love you again!” I exclaim.

did you do that? If you cared this little about the children, why did you fight for me the way you did, why did you make me love

me for faking

You deserved to pay.”

me. “It’s one thing to punish me, to break my heart, but

did was give you what you wanted Jane. And yeah, maybe I snuck a lesson

clattering to the ground. I follow suit,

at my door on my sixteenth Christmas, bearing food and gifts for me and mom. I know how I fell in love with him, he’d been sweet, protective and affecti0nate nothing like

accept this!” I’d exclaimed, staring at the emerald necklace he’d bought to match my eyes. It was the first gift l’d opened, and already it was more valuable than anything l’d ever

grinned. “l picked it out

jewels and finery, and I’ll never be able to get you anything

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