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Slowly she raised the lid to discover a lovely intricately woven gold chain on a bed of blue velvet. Even with her untrained eye, Abby recognized that the chain was of the highest quality. A small cry of undisguised pleasure escaped before she could hold it back.
“Tate!” She could hardly take in its beauty. For the first time in months she found herself utterly speechless.
“Abby?”
“I…I can’t believe it. It’s beautiful.”
“I knew you’d like it.”
“Like it! It’s the most beautiful necklace I’ve ever seen. Thank you.” Abby smiled at him. “But you shouldn’t have. You know that, don’t you?”
“If you say so.”
“Now he’s agreeable.” Abby smiled as she spoke to the empty chair beside her. “Here, help me put it on.”
Tate stood and came around to her side of the table. He took the chain from its plush bed and laid it against the hollow of her throat. Abby bowed her head and lifted the hair from the back of her neck to make it easier for Tate to fasten the necklace.
When he returned to his chair, Abby felt a warm glow. “I still think you shouldn’t have done this, but to be honest, I’m glad you did.”
“I knew the minute I saw it in the jeweler’s window that it was exactly what I was looking for. If you want the truth, I’d been searching for weeks for something special to give you. I want to thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”
Abby didn’t think Tate realized what a small part she’d played in his tutoring. He’d done all the real work himself. He was the one who’d sought her out with a need and admitted that need—something he’d never been able to do before, having always hidden his inability. Abby doubted Tate recognized how far he’d come from the day he’d followed her home from the park.
Later, when Abby undressed for bed, she fingered the elegant chain, remembering Tate’s promise. Maybe now he’d be willing to explain to Logan why Abby had met with him. The chain represented his willingness to help repair her relationship with Logan. That would be the most significant gift he could possibly give her.
—
Before leaving for work the next morning, Abby checked the news. Nothing. Then she phoned Betty in case there’d been any calls during the night. There hadn’t been, and discouragement sounded in Betty’s voice as she promised to phone Abby’s office if she heard anything.
At about ten that morning, Abby had just finished updating the chart on a young teen who’d visited the clinic when she glanced up and saw Betty in the doorway.
Abby straightened and stood immobile, her heart pumping at a furious rate. Suddenly, she went cold with fear. She couldn’t move or think. Even breathing became impossible. Betty would’ve come to the office for only one reason, she thought. Logan was dead.
“Betty,” she pleaded in a tortured whisper, “tell me. What is it?”
“He’s fine! Everyone is. They were stuck on the slopes an extra night, but made it safely to camp early this morning. I just heard—Dick called me.”
Abby closed her eyes and exhaled a breath of pure release. Her heart skipped a beat as she moved across the room. The two women hugged each other fiercely as tears of happiness streaked their faces.
“They’re on their way home. The flight will land sometime tomorrow evening. Everyone’s planning to meet them at the airport. You’ll come, won’t you?”
In her anger and pain Abby had refused to see him off with the others…until the last minute. She wouldn’t be so stubborn about welcoming him home. Abby doubted she’d be able to resist hurling herself into his arms the instant she saw him. And once she was in his arms, Abby defied anyone to tear her away.
“Abby? You’ll come, won’t you?” Betty’s soft voice broke into her musings.
“I’ll be there,” Abby replied, as the image of their reunion played in her mind.
“I thought you’d want to be.” Her friend gave her a knowing look.
Logan was safe and coming home. Abby’s heart leaped with excitement and she waited until it resumed its normal pace before returning to her desk.
—
“Tonight,” Abby explained to Tate at lunch on Thursday. She swallowed a bite of her pastrami sandwich. “Their flight’s arriving around nine-thirty. The team’s planning a get-together with him and Dick on Friday night. You’re invited to attend if you’d like.”
“I just might come.”
Tate surprised her with his easy acceptance. Abby had issued the invitation thoughtlessly, not expecting Tate to take her up on it. For that matter, it might even have been the wrong thing to do, since Logan would almost certainly be offended.
