Tailspin(128)

Rye sighed. “Figured that if you caught up to me, you’d be a prick, so I left something for you in the driver’s seat of that SUV. It’s your guarantee that I’ll be back.”

“What is it?”

“My pilot’s license.”





Violet

7:37 p.m.



When I saw the blue-and-white lights flashing outside my window, I thought it must be an ambulance coming to take me to the hospital because my special day with Elsa and the mayor had tired me out.

Honestly, I wish I could have watched Frozen on my new TV with Cy, and my brothers, and Mom and Dad. The mayor’s breath wasn’t nice, and Elsa didn’t sing as good as the one in the movie. But she was nice and didn’t talk about cancer and how adorable I am. If I have another special day, I hope they bring Taylor Swift or Alicia Keys.

After the mayor and Elsa left, and all the TV people in the yard went home, I didn’t feel good.

Mostly I was sad over Dr. O’Neal leaving without even saying hi.

There’s another nurse now instead of Jill. She doesn’t have braids or shoes with lights on them.

Daddy fed my brothers pizza and sent them to their room to watch a movie. He and Mom keep checking on me. By now, I can tell when they’re just plain worried, and when they’re really worried. They’re really worried.

I heard Mom say to Daddy, “I was afraid this would happen. But Senator and Mrs. Hunt were so generous and kind to do it.”

“How could you say no?”

“I couldn’t, but…”

That’s all I heard. I think they went into the kitchen and called an ambulance.

But now I see that the lights aren’t on an ambulance after all. It’s two policemen on motorcycles and a police car. Have they come to take us back to the airplane with the couch in it? Will we fly back to Atlanta tonight?

I hope not, because I’m really tired. And I want to sleep in my room with Cy another night. I don’t want to cry. When I cry it makes everybody feel bad.

Wait. Dr. O’Neal is getting out of the back seat of the police car! She came back!

The tall man in the old leather jacket came back with her. But not Timmy and not Dr. Lambert, and I’m glad.

Dr. O’Neal and the man are jogging up the walk. Mom and Daddy have gone out to meet them. Mom is hugging Dr. O’Neal. Daddy shakes hands with the tall man.

I think he must be a good friend of Dr. O’Neal’s, because they get into each other’s personal space a lot, but they never say excuse me.

Mom wants them to come inside, but the man is shaking his head no. I think he’s saying something about the police car, because he’s started walking backward toward it. Dr. O’Neal is pulling on his hand, like she doesn’t want him to leave. But he keeps shaking his head.

Mom hugs him. Daddy shakes his hand again, using both hands, and then they come back inside.

Dr. O’Neal and the man just stand there looking at each other, and then they sorta crash together, and hug each other tight, and start kissing like people do in the TV movies that are inappropriate for young audiences. Seriously? I know grown-ups kiss and make babies.

Dr. O’Neal scoots closer to the tall man until they’re touching all up and down. Maybe she wants to marry him. But if they do get married, I hope their kids don’t get cancer.

When they quit kissing, he gives Dr. O’Neal a little push toward the porch.

He starts walking toward the police car. Dr. O’Neal turns and runs up the walk.

I hear the front door open and close. She’s talking in a hurry to Mom and Daddy. Now they’re all coming to my room really quick. Dr. O’Neal is the first one in. Her cheeks are pink, and she’s breathing fast like she’s been running. There’s a big tear in her coat. You can see the stuffing. Her boots have mud on them. Her hair needs brushing.

But I don’t care. I’m so happy to see her.

But she looks even more happy to see me.





Epilogue

Six weeks later



Using the familiar old-fashioned room key, Rye let himself into the cabin, but stopped short on the threshold when he saw Brynn sitting on the end of the bed.

This first sight of her since he’d told her goodbye at the Griffins’ house sent his heart into arrhythmia, making it difficult to appear cool. But he tried to act nonchalant as he stepped inside and shut the door.

“Do you come with the cabin now?” He took in the familiar burlap lampshades, paint-by-number artwork, the striped bedspread. “Must say, you spruce up the decor.”

“Thank you. I wasn’t sure you would recognize me.”

His brows went up as he shrugged off his jacket. “I recognize that biting tone.”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to start right in.”

“Hmm. You were going to work up to telling me what a bastard I am?”

“Oh, I’ll get there.”

He came even to where she sat and propped his butt against the dresser. “I’ve only seen you in one set of clothes, so you do look different.”

She laughed softly. “I have cleaned up a bit since I last saw you.”

He would have bet his bomber jacket that he remembered how much he liked her face, but the wager would have lost him his prized possession. Even his most vivid memories of her paled in comparison to the living, breathing version.