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The trunk was open by the time she got back there, and she took out her bag, releasing the handle then dragging it along. “We’re all squared up, right?” she asked as she walked by the guy again.
“Yeah, it goes on your credit card. Wait. Ma’am, where are you going?”
She was already way ahead of him. “Getting my ass to the airport myself.”
When she reached the barricade again, the cop folded his arms, lifting his chest. “I can’t let you do that.”
“Oh, yeah? Stop me, then.” He wouldn’t. He couldn’t.
The cop suddenly laughed softly and shook his head. “I get why Wilson’s putting up such a fuss over you.”
She ignored both his comment and that Darryl had arranged all this, and she strode past the barricade. She knew from the drive into River Rock that there was another crossroad up ahead that led to the airport. Hell, she’d hitchhike there and put all this behind her.
Yeah, right…
She internally rolled her eyes at the little voice that got her into this mess in the first place and stomped her way down the road. She shouldn’t have ever let any of this happen. Now, she was a mess, feeling emotional and raw, and all the things she hated feeling. Because caring about people sucked. It was never easy.
Off in the distance, she heard sirens, making her walk just a little bit faster. Dammit. By the time she made it halfway up the hill, dragging her suitcase behind her, she was huffing and puffing and ready to keel over.
“You really need to work out more.”
She gasped, spun around, and found Darryl standing behind her, with Tyson there too, wagging his tail. “It’s you,” she managed.
“It’s me.” He smiled.
Her nostrils flared as she inhaled the crisp air. “Seriously? What’s wrong with you? You did all this to what? Confront me?”
“Confront you?” He snorted, shaking his head. “I told you before, when Tyson wants someone as part of their family, he’ll find them. That’s why we’re here.”
She blinked, processed, and blinked again. “But last night…”
“You got completely shitfaced.” His warm gaze pinned her to the spot, as he reached into his back pocket then held up an envelope. “I’m ten years late, but I came for you.” He leaned in, bringing all that heat and strength in close, stealing away the chilliness in the air, and then winked. “Even though you are a gigantic pain in my ass and wouldn’t stay in one place, fighting your way to the airport, as if you thought I’d ever let you go.”
She stood there a moment, thinking she could contain herself.
Then the dam opened, and there was no stopping it. She dropped her head into her hands and burst into tears.
Darryl’s arms were around her in less than a second. Tight. He said nothing. She couldn’t even think about talking. It felt like ten years’ worth of tears got dumped right there, and for reasons unbeknownst to her, he stayed with her for all of that.
When she finally managed an ounce of control, she found her voice again, and she noticed it had begun snowing, small flakes fluttering all around them. “How did you get that letter?”
“Maisie.”
“She went to your house?” she asked, surprised.
He nodded. “She loves you and wants you to be happy.”
There were a thousand things to say. Questions to ask. Answers to give. But what came out was, “I’m going to mess up sometimes,” she admitted. “That’s what I do.”
“We all mess up, Penelope. Cut yourself a break.”
“Not you.”
“Well, I’m perfect.” He grinned.
She snorted, giving him a light tap on the arm.
He chuckled, cupping her face with his one leather-covered hand. “Of course, I mess up. I have a failed marriage in my rearview and most of the town things I’m an uptight fuddy-duddy. But that’s life. And that’s why I had your back last night, as did your cousins, and got you in the car before anything happened.”
