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Even Blake seemed surprised. “Can you share the details with us? Does it require any participation on our part?”
She feared she spoke too soon. It was only a theory. A very tentative one, at that. But, hell, when you’re navigating unexplored territory like she had been for the last couple of months, any idea seems just as good as the next.
“No, it doesn’t require the two of you to do anything. But it may take a while to work out. So, why don’t you use your time here wisely and enjoy your friends and your classes knowing that you’ll eventually get home?”
“That’s so awesome, JJ.” Alex jumped off the couch, leaving Blake sitting alone looking quite perplexed. She took a step toward JJ and bent over and gave her a bear hug. “I should have known you had a plan for us all along. You always have in the past.”
She paused. “You remember that time when I thought Blake forgot about our date,” she started.
She didn’t and apparently that fact was clearly written all over her face.
“Page eighty-eight. You know, he was so late I thought he broke up with me and forgot to tell me.”
She didn’t know a person’s countenance could change so dramatically in just a short time.
She pivoted. “Come on, Blake,” she said, pulling him from the couch. “We can’t be late.”
Blake waved with his free arm as Alex dragged him through the living room.
“I pray this idea works,” she whispered, as she headed for her office to write.
Chapter 49
Blake didn’t know what JJ had up her sleeve, but he was relieved to hear she had plans to return them to their book. It took the burden of devising any more plans off of him. He admitted his plans had been nothing more than schemes. Ill-thought-out schemes, he admitted. The one aspect of this new world he would never be comfortable with was failure. He had failed the love of his life. More than once.
He was grateful that JJ had stepped in and helped. It was good to see Alex more content in their surroundings, just knowing that she would get home. That made every moment with her that much more delightful. Like now.
Blake sat next to her in what they had come to call “their booth.” They chatted about the upcoming football game.
“It’s the big one, from what I gather,” he said. “It’s the homecoming game.”
“All the cheerleaders are talking about it,” Alex said, her eyes twinkling. “I hear they pick a king and queen.”
She paused as if she were thinking about it. “Justin and Sarah. They have my vote.”
Blake was about to answer when it felt as if the floor were moving and he heard a loud rumble. That could only mean one thing.
“Earthquake!” Blake bolted from the booth, stood in the aisle, and alerted everyone. “That shaking. It’s an earthquake.”
Alex ran next to him and gently whispered something in his ear. “It’s a tornado, folks. Tornadoes are in Ohio. Duck and cover.” Then he dove headfirst under the booth.
The rumbling, at first, was distant, yet distinct, then built quickly to a crescendo, and then became so loud that it was difficult to talk over it. An electric buzz of subdued conversation filled the café.
Then abruptly the noisy vibration ended. He felt the hair on the back of his neck raise. He waited for the tornado to hit. But it didn’t.
“Look at that!” a customer said. “I’ve never seen so many motorcycles in my life.”
He watched as every customer ran to the ceiling-to-floor windows to look at the scene. Alex came out from under the booth first and offered him a hand. Warily, he took it and crawled out.
His curiosity got the better of his fear.What the bloody hell? I want to see this.He sprinted over to join the crowd.
He called Alex to follow him. By the time she arrived, he was leaning against the far wall, adjacent to the window. Alex tucked herself in snugly in front of him. He wrapped his arms around her, and she clasped her hands over his wrists.
So, that’s what the noise was? At least one, and sometimes two, motorcycles occupied every parking spot in front of the café.
“Those aren’t just motorcycles,” said a customer, “those beauties are all hogs. Sweet.” He let out a low whistle.
Then as if on some invisible cue, the bikers dismounted. By this time, even Alvin had abandoned his post at the register to observe the commotion.
