Protecting Her(95)

“What time are you leaving?” She stands up and adjusts her robe.

“I’ll try to get a flight out at ten or eleven. It’s only an hour flight so I’ll have plenty of time to get to the meeting.”

“Will you leave when it’s over? I want you to go home and be with Garret.”

“Yes. The meeting will be a couple hours, but I’ll go home when it’s done. I’ll send my mother back to her house. She needs to check on my father. He didn’t sound good.”

“That’s too bad. I hope he’s better by Thanksgiving.” She returns to the bathroom to get ready.

I check the flights and find one that leaves at ten-fifteen this morning, but the evening flights are all booked.

“I’m booked on the ten-fifteen,” I tell her when she comes back out from her shower. “But I couldn’t get you an earlier flight. People must be flying out early for Thanksgiving. Or maybe it’s business people trying to get home before the holiday.”

“So I’m stuck on the nine o’clock.” She dries her hair with the towel. “Well, at least you’ll be home with Garret.”

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I know you don’t want to be here alone.”

“It’s okay. I’ll go back to the Smithsonian. There’s so much I wasn’t able to see yesterday.”

“That’s a good idea.” I kiss her on my way to the bathroom. “I’ll go get ready.”

I’m annoyed by the change in plans. I don’t like leaving Rachel here alone. I’d like to call up Jack and have him keep an eye on her, but I can’t. Someone from the organization might see him watching her and become suspicious. They might find out I’ve been secretly talking to him and that would get us both in serious trouble.

At least Rachel won’t be here long. She’ll only have a few hours on her own, and the Smithsonian is a safe area, full of tourists. She’ll be fine.

At nine o’clock, we’re standing by the door to our room. The valet has already come to pick up my bag, which is waiting for me in the car that will take me to the airport.

“I need to go,” I tell Rachel.

“Good luck with your meeting.” She hugs me, then gives me a kiss. “Give Garret a hug for me.”

“I will. We’ll pick you up at the airport tonight. I know it’ll be late but he doesn’t have school tomorrow and I know he’ll want to see you before he goes to bed.” I cup her face with my hand, my thumb brushing over her cheek. “Goodbye, sweetheart.” I kiss her, then slowly pull away. “I love you.”

She smiles. “I love you too. Have a safe trip.”

I get to the airport, and as I’m waiting to board the plane, I realize that I forgot to call Wingate to tell him I wouldn’t be at his speech. I wonder if someone from the organization already told him. I call him to find out.

“Hello, Pearce,” he says as though he expected my call. “I heard you can’t make it today.”

“Yes. I’m sorry about that. But Rachel will be there. I wrote out what I was going to say, so she’ll just read off the card.”

“Sounds good. When is she flying home?”

“Not until nine tonight. I tried to get her an earlier flight but there was nothing available.”

“She’s welcome to fly up with me. I have an event in Hartford tomorrow morning so I’m going there right after today’s speech. You’d have to drive to Hartford to get her, but she’d arrive home a lot sooner than she would taking that other flight.”

“Are you taking the jet?”

“Yes. A few of my campaign workers are coming with me, but I have a couple open seats if your wife would like one.”

“Let me call and ask her. What time does the plane land in Hartford?”

“Around six. Maybe a few minutes after.”

“I’ll call her right now and let you know.” I hang up and call Rachel’s cell phone.

“Do you miss me already?” she asks, laughing a little. “It’s only been a half hour.”

“I do miss you, but that’s not why I’m calling.” I tell her Wingate’s offer. “This would get you home a few hours earlier. What do you think?”

“Maybe I should just take the other flight. You know how I don’t like small planes.” She pauses. “What do you think I should do?”