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She delayed in the restroom as long as she dared occupy the only lavatory in first class, but the empathetic gazes that met hers when she left the sanctity of the private space told her everyone had heard.
That Ty had heard.
Great.
Without looking directly at him, she sank into her seat, closed her eyes and said a little prayer that her nerves calmed down. Spending the weekend with Ty was stressful enough. Spending the weekend with him with an upset stomach just went off the charts of bad luck.
“I thought it was me,” he mused, “but now I’m wondering if perhaps you just don’t enjoy flying.”
Her gaze shot toward his. “I’m fine.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he agreed, his eyes studying her. “I can see that by the ashen color of your skin and the way you’re holding your stomach.”
Why couldn’t she be suave and sophisticated around this man? Why did she continually embarrass herself?
She dug through her purse, searching for a breath mint and popping one into her mouth prior to answering him.
“My stomach acts up sometimes when I get nervous.”
“You don’t like flying?”
“Th-that’s not it.”
He considered her answer, then asked, “You’re nervous about this weekend? Isn’t that my job? You never have to see these folks again. They’re my family. I’m stuck with them.”
That got her attention, made her stomach lurch. For Ty their relationship was truly temporary. When they returned from Texas, whatever this was between them would well and truly be done. They’d deal with each other at the hospital and nothing more. Which should be just fine by her since she hadn’t really expected more of the weekend than fulfilling her end of a deal, had she? She hadn’t fantasized that Ty was going to take her into his big Texan arms and tell her he’d missed her as much as she had missed him and that they’d go back to New York as a couple. Nope, no way had she been that gullible and naive.
Willing her stomach to settle because, really, there couldn’t be anything left in there, she watched him. “I know you said you and your dad had an argument, but surely you’re excited to see your family?”
He didn’t look sure.
“How long has it been since you’ve been home, Ty?” Her question was soft, but had the impact of someone shaking the plane.
“Years.” Had Ty made a run for the lavatory and retched, Eleanor wouldn’t have been surprised.
She placed her hand over his, meaning to comfort him but only managing to send her pulse into orbit at the flesh-to-flesh contact. Would touching him always affect her so? Always pull her back to memories best forgotten?
They both stared at where her hand covered his, at how her thumb had begun to trace a pattern over his. No, she definitely hadn’t had any false hopes where the weekend was concerned.
“You’ve told me a little about your family, but I’d like to know more before we arrive.”
He didn’t speak at first and she thought he was going to ignore her or tell her to mind her own business, but finally that sexy Texan drawl of his began to tell her about his life.
“My mother is the greatest woman. Kind, loving, strong. There’s nothing the woman can’t do. Growing up, I was just as likely to see her out breaking a horse with my father as I was to see her inside, canning vegetables. She wins the bread-baking contest at the county fair every year and has for as long as I can recall. She worked from dawn to late into the night every day, but always found time for my brother and I.” He smiled as if a good memory was playing through his mind. “Rarely was there a night that went by that we weren’t read a bible story, made to say our prayers, tucked in and kissed good-night by her.”
Eleanor smiled at his idealistic-sounding childhood. How wonderful it must have been to grow up in such a loving family environment. “You said your brother is three years older than you? He’s your only sibling?”
He nodded. “Mom wanted more, but there was just us two boys. Probably just as well as we kept her running.”
“She sounds wonderful.”
“She
is.” Which meant his mother wasn’t anything to do with why he dreaded going home. Then again, he’d already said who it was he didn’t get along with.
“Tell me about this father who scares you.”
Leaning his head back against the plush first-class seat, Ty snorted. “I was kidding when I said that.”
