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“Baby, it’s okay. Everything’s okay.” He rubs my upper arms. “We’re not getting wrapped up in the past anymore.”
I bury my face in his chest and sob into his T-shirt.
“Allie, you’re exhausted. You’ve been through a lot. It’s all gonna be okay now. Vi will be home soon.”
I take a deep breath and exhale, letting myself sink into him. “You’re right.”
He looks at his phone and says, “They were able to charter a flight to Madison. The police are interviewing Vi and as soon as they’re done she’ll be on the plane.”
“The police?” I say weakly. “I wish Vi didn’t have to talk to the police, she’s upset enough already.”
“Jenna’s in a lot of trouble. There’s nothing anyone can do to stop that process.”
I lean back and look up at him. “She’s on her own now. I’m going to take a quick shower and I’ll be ready to go.”
“I’m going to go fill my rental up with gas so we don’t have to make any stops on the way to Madison,” Erik says.
I kiss him, smiling a real, full smile for the first time in days.
“What kind of car do you have in Chicago?” I ask him.
“An Audi Q7. You’ll love it.”
“I’d love you if you drove a motorized scooter. You know that, right?”
He grins and says, “I do.”* * *After driving all the way to Madison from Greentree Falls and eagerly waiting at the Dane County Regional Airport, I finally lay eyes on Vi. She’s crying and smiling as she approaches, a tall, broad-shouldered man dressed in a suit staying within three feet of her at all times.
That means when she breaks into a run, he does, too. Once Vi lands in my arms, she cries even harder, apologizing again.
“It’s okay,” I assure her. “Everything’s okay as long as you’re safe.”
“Mom wouldn’t let me call you. She wouldn’t let me leave her car and she locked me in a room at one of the houses we stayed in.”
“I’m sorry, baby. That must’ve been really scary.”
“Aunt Allie, I’m so sorry for all the things I said that made you feel bad. About not wanting to be with you. I was so stupid. Can you forgive me?”
“Of course.” I squeeze her tighter. “I’m always here for you, no matter what. You guys are stuck with me.”
Hazel hugs her next, and then Max does, too. I’m surprised when Vi looks tentatively at Erik and then hugs him, too.
“Thanks for sending Marcus to get me,” she says, looking like a little doll in his big arms.
“No problem, Vi. We’re glad you’re home safe.”
“Anything else you need, sir?” Marcus asks Erik.
Erik shakes his hand and says, “No, we’re good. I’d offer you a ride, but my car’s full.”
“I’ve got a car waiting,” Marcus says, turning to Vi. “Take care, okay?”
“I will.”
“Thank you,” I tell him. “And please thank the others, too. You guys are heroes to me.”
He nods and smiles. “Yes, ma’am, and thanks.”
We all turn to walk out of the airport for the drive home. Vi’s clothes are dirty and her hair looks like it hasn’t been washed in days. I can’t wait to get home so she can clean up and sleep in her own bed tonight.
“Um…hey,” Max says, glancing at me. “I don’t mean to be that guy, but can we stop and get some food on the way home? I’m starving.”
“That’s what you’re thinking about right now?” Vi asks him. “Food?”
“Isn’t that what most people think about when they’re hungry?” Max fires back.
“You’d probably stop for a snack on the way to a funeral.”
“If I was hungry, I would.”
“Guys, no arguing,” I say. “Just for today, none at all. Tomorrow you can resume your regularly scheduled bickering. But please just give me this one day, okay?”
“Sorry,” Vi says sheepishly.
“Yeah, sorry,” Max adds.
“Do you mind if we stop to eat?” I ask Erik.
“Sounds good to me,” he says, winking and taking my hand.Twenty-ThreeEasyI knew this day would come, but that doesn’t make it any easier.
Tonight, after the cookout Allie and I are hosting in her backyard, I have to drive home to Chicago. Tomorrow I’m due at the Carson Center for training.
Even though she and the kids are coming to stay with me for several days in only a week, it’ll still be hard to leave. This is the beginning of our long-distance relationship, and even though we’re doing it for the right reasons, I already know I’ll miss her like crazy.
I don’t have a single doubt we’ll make it through this, though. We’ve got Allie’s schedule, and we trust each other completely. Even if we’re hundreds of miles apart, no other woman will capture my attention like Allie does.
“Hey, I love the shirt,” Cade says, coming up to clap me on the shoulder.
The kids on the rec center youth hockey team got me a going-away present. It’s a black T-shirt that says “Best Coach Ever” in white lettering on the front, and all of them signed the back. I promised them I’ll be back to help coach next summer and I’m hosting a party for all the players and their parents in a VIP box at a Blaze game this season.
