Isabel was in her element, no doubt about it. The storm raged outside. The satellite was down. National news was on hold. Her future—as in where she’d be living and working next month—was undecided.
But she sang at the top of her voice, twirling through unoccupied rooms, looking out windows in every direction. She had her unseen, silent audience scattered about surrounding counties, a studio full of music, and the means to share it.
And she had the letter from Chicago, addressed to her at the station’s post office box rather than the house. It waited in a pile of mail for the secretary to deal with on Monday. Nosy Mendozy had been snooping.
And covering it all, like her silky pink security blanket of childhood, she had the knowledge that Jesus would work it out. Hadn’t He always?
Headlights flickered now past a window, turning off of the highway. Who was out driving through this? The storm had tapered, but only within the last 15 minutes.
A long set of songs had just begun playing; nothing required her attention. She hurried to the front door and saw through the glass someone approaching.
Tony?
Isabel unlocked the door. “Tony! What are you doing out in this?”
He grinned. “You didn’t answer your phone.” 329
“It’s out of order. Did you drive from Chicago? Here, give me your coat.” She took it and hung it on the coat tree in a corner.
“The trip only took twice as long as normal. Didn’t seem that long, though. I’ve been listening to you. Great radio personality, Izzy.”
She smiled back at him. “Thanks.”
They stared at one another. Evidently he didn’t know where to begin either. “I heard the song.”
Tears sprang to her eyes, and she went to him.
He wrapped his arms around her. “I hope those are happy tears?”
She nodded.
He held her tightly and whispered in her ear, “Thank you for not giving up on me.”
“It wasn’t me.”
“I think I’m beginning to understand your convoluted reasoning.”
“Isn’t it wonderful?”
“Yeah, it is.” He brushed the tears from her cheeks.
“Tony Ward, I’ve been missing you for years. Oh! I did not mean to say that out loud.”
“And why not?” He locked his hands behind her waist.
She leaned back to take in those deep-set eyes, the narrow nose, and that crooked grin. “It might give you ideas.”
He blinked. “Izzy, you’re not teasing me, are you?”
“Do you want some soup?”
“Izzy!”
She bit her lip. Oh, Lord! “No, I am not teasing.”
“Okay. I do happen to have some ideas.”
“How about some coffee?”
He kissed her cheek. “I love you, Isabel Mendoza. I think I probably did before, but now… Can we start over? After all these years? I want to share everything with you. All my thoughts, my time, my work.” He paused. “Will you please reconsider moving to Mexico?”
“Oh, Tony. I don’t think I’ve ever stopped loving you.” She took a deep breath. “I’m taking the job in Chicago. There’s no way I’m running away from you again.”
His laughter filled the studio. He whooped, and then, meeting her eyes, he grew serious. “I won’t run away from you again either.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
“Izzy, does this mean I didn’t have to risk my neck driving for hours through this crazy storm? We could have just talked on the phone later?”
“Well, I don’t think that would have worked quite the same.” She slid her arms more snugly around his neck.
When they kissed, Isabel felt a flickering of something new ignite between them. They were on the threshold of a different kind of love that didn’t resemble the past.
She smiled as their kisses slowed. “And besides, I hadn’t decided which job I was going to take. Not until the moment I saw you standing outside the door.”
Lia stuffed another sweater into a plastic grocery bag and tied the handles together. There. Plastic worked just as well as Samsonite. No reason to replace the smoke-scented luggage. She wasn’t taking a trip—probably would never ever be able to afford to take one again—she was just moving. Most of her and Chloe’s belongings were already stacked by the front door. They’d toss their grocery bags into the car trunk and be out of there right after dinner.
If Chloe came home.
Lord! Help him find her.
How long had he been gone? Night had fallen already, the black clouds hurrying it.
Lord, keep her safe.
It was like sliding to the edge of a panicky abyss, peering over its edge, and then jumping back to cling to the hands she knew held them all. Then it would start all over again, the sliding and the jumping. Nervous energy drove her to this manic fit of packing. She would be finished when Chloe got home. If—
The front door banged open. “We’re home, Aunt Lia!” two voices rang out, followed by laughter.
Lia raced to the living room. “Oh, Chloe!” She caught the little girl in her arms and squeezed her. “Thank You, Lord.”
“I’m sorry, Aunt Lia.”
“You’d better be! Thank you, Cal!”
He was wiping little Soot’s paws on the mat just inside the door. “You’re welcome.”
“Oh, Chloe! You’re soaking wet and freezing. Let’s get you out of that coat. Look at your boots!”
“It’s raining cats and dogs!” She giggled, yanking off the muddy boots. “It was almost raining Soot, huh, Cal?”
He roared with laughter. “Almost, Little China Doll.”
Lia paused a moment, holding Chloe’s arm in midair, and then she finished pulling off the girl’s jacket. “You need a hot bath. Go!”
“Aunt Lia!”
“Now! You’ll get sick.”
“We have things to discuss!”
“You mean like how I’m going to ground you? Like how you’re going to lose every single privilege you’ve ever known in your short life? It can wait!”
“Yeah, well, every little girl needs a daddy.”
“What?”
Chloe looked somewhere beyond Lia.
Lia turned. Cal was pointing his thumb in the direction of the hall. She spun back to Chloe.
The girl opened her mouth as if to say something but then turned and skipped away. Soot bounded noiselessly behind her.
What was going on?
“Cal.” She faced him again. He looked as if he’d been swimming. His wide-brimmed hat and leather jacket dripped. Raindrops clung to his beard and mud to his boots. His brown pants were a shade darker, soaked through. “Oh my goodness. Where did you find her? Never mind. You need a hot bath, too. Thank you for finding her.” She would have opened the door for him, but he was blocking it.
“You going somewhere?” He nodded toward the piles of grocery bags. Clothes, shoes, and daily miscellany were clearly visible through the plastic.
“I’m leaving. This was the last straw. Chloe and I don’t belong in Valley Oaks.”
“Is that so? If you ask me, this is not the time to make a major decision.” His voice was even, the cop tone distinct.
“I’m not asking for your opinion.”
“You’re just reacting to a terrifying situation.”
“I’ve been considering it for some time.”
“Since when? Since Tammy lied to you?”
She blinked. “That’s got nothing to do with it.”
“Hogwash.” His tone remained on even keel, though his words stung. “You know, you think you’re so independent, but you’re just afraid of letting people care for you, specifically a man, more specifically m—”
“That’s not true!”
“It is. I know Miss Impressively Independent, and she would not run away.”
“It’s exactly what she would do!”
“I suggest you hold off on deciding about leaving. For goodness’ sake, Lia, you’re shaking like a leaf. I can see it from here.”
“I don’t have to answer to—”
The door behind Cal opened, and he moved aside. Isabel and Tony came through it, both grinning.
Isabel said, “Cal! You look like a drowned rat! What’s going on?”
He answered, “Long story, but Lia will have to tell it. Excuse me. Hey, Tony. You’re back again.”
Tony reopened the door for him. “Yeah. Got a favor to ask. Mind if I sleep at your place tonight? Isabel won’t let me stay here.”
“No problem. Coming now?”
“One minute.” He turned to Isabel, cupped her face in his hands, and kissed her. It took longer than a minute. “Okay. Let’s go, Cal.”
Lia stared at a rosy-cheeked Isabel.
She grinned back at her. “Long story.”