Page 116 of Running to You

Michael stood and pulled it out of the overhead. They’d stuffed all their things in Michael’s small suitcase and brought it along, even though she hoped to fly back to Boston as soon as they were finished. “I’ll take it. I don’t want it to slow you down, in case you’re spotted.”

“Do you think they’ll be here?” She’d enjoyed the respite of the flight, but now her heart thumped.

“If I was looking for you, I’d be staking out this airport. I assume they figured out you came here before. So…yeah, I think they will.”

“Always the optimist,” Sam said.

“Just trying to keep you two alive.”

“You could be spotted too.”

“They won’t be looking for me. Probably.” Michael’s gaze cut to Eliza. “I only have to protect myself.”

A small part of her wished she could protest, tell them she didn’t need their help. Ha. If the last four days had taught her nothing else…

Passengers started disembarking, and Michael followed them out.

“Guess we’re in no hurry,” she said.

Sam kept his eyes on his brother as he walked away.

“You two seem better,” Eliza said.

At that, a smile tipped his lips. “We talked last night. He apologized for being a jerk when we were kids. I apologized for holding a grudge for decades. We’re good.”

“I’m glad.” And she was.

But it only added another worry. Because Michael hadn’t told Sam yet that he’d tracked her down at The Ranch, that he’d known where she was for months.

They were both keeping secrets from Sam, secrets that wouldn’t stay that way much longer.

* * *

At the curb on the departures level, Eliza slid into the backseat of the rented SUV.

Sam closed the door behind her, then got in the front beside his brother.

“No problems?” Michael asked.

“Nope.”

Far from being pleased, Michael pressed his lips together as he merged into airport traffic.

Clearly, Sam saw Michael’s concern too. “That’s good, right?”

“Good. Strange, though.” He caught Eliza’s gaze in the rearview. “They tracked you the last time you flew, right? They must’ve found you in Manchester.”

“I don’t remember…” Even as she said it, a memory surfaced.

Flying over the familiar tree-covered landscape.

Mom waiting at the gate.

Holding Levi’s hand, Eliza spotted her and drank in the sight. She looked older, a few more wrinkles, and more gray hair showed at her roots. She wore jeans, something she rarely did, but she’d paired them with a red turtleneck under an off-white leather jacket. Stylish, as always. Mom had made some mistakes, no question. She wasn’t perfect, but she’d made a home for Eliza and Dad. She’d done her best.

Eliza had missed her so much.

Finally, Mom caught sight of them. She smiled and dabbed a tissue beneath her eyes. Was she crying?