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CHAPTER ONE REAGAN DECKER’S HANDS shook as she picked up the telephone and dialed. The number was so familiar once, back in a time that seemed forever ago, before her world tilted hard off its axis and stayed that way. She waited, her heart pounding in her throat. One ring… What will I say? How will they take the news? Two rings… “Hello?” “Mrs. Baxter?” Reagan froze. “Yes?” A slight pause. “Can I help you?” “Uh…” She doesn’t recognize my voice. I must be crazy to call after so long. “This is Reagan. Reagan Decker.” “Reagan…my goodness. It’s…been a long time, dear.” Luke’s mother sounded strange, as though the mention of Reagan’s name had cast a shadow over the moment. Reagan considered saying a quick few words and then getting off. But that would never do. This was a call she’d had to make for one reason alone. She couldn’t hide from Luke Baxter forever. “Mrs. Baxter, I need to talk to Luke, please.” Reagan squeezed her eyes shut. A year earlier she’d been quick-witted and outgoing, bu
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO ASHLEY HAD MIXED FEELINGS about the announcement Kari and Ryan were about to make that evening. No doubt they were getting married; the news could hardly be anything else. The Baxter dinner party that night would be filled with laughter and congratulations and remembered moments from when Kari and Ryan first met as kids. The group would eat Chinese food, celebrate with cake, and know in their hearts that two people couldn’t possibly be more meant for each other than Kari and Ryan. For the most part Ashley was thrilled for her older sister. Ryan had loved Kari since she was sixteen, and this…this announcement, if that’s what it was, had been overdue for years. But with Landon in New York City, Ashley’s happiness couldn’t be complete. She gritted her teeth. When would the announcement be hers, and when would life finally take on that happily-ever-after quality that always seemed to elude her? She ran a sponge over the last of the crumbs on the counter and stared out the windo
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE LUKE SPENT AN HOUR standing in front of the apartment window, but he didn’t see the lights of Indiana University. He saw a far different sight—the scene probably taking place across Bloomington at his parents’ house. If the thing that had been chasing him was his past, then maybe it was time to let it catch him. Kari and Ryan were getting married; that had to be it. And though Luke didn’t belong with the Baxters anymore, he was happy for Kari. Ryan had been Luke’s hero as far back as he could remember. Larger-than-life, high school football star, an athlete who’d earned a full-ride college scholarship and then a spot on the Dallas Cowboys. Ryan survived one of the worst injuries the National Football League had ever seen—all while keeping his faith. Yes, Ryan Taylor was the best guy Luke had ever known, and until September 11 all he’d wanted was to be just like him. Okay, so he’d never play football in the NFL or even get beyond the intramural sports at IU. But still, he
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR ASHLEY PULLED INTO the driveway at Sunset Hills Adult Care Home and grabbed the box of tea from the seat beside her. She was the manager now, and other workers shopped for the groceries. But the tea was something she took care of, something she had promised Irvel, Edith, and Helen. Ashley made sure the house was never without it. Halfway up the walk she paused and took in the sight of the old house. Bathed in the sunlight of a rare warm spring day, the place looked quaint and quiet. The tulips were in full bloom again, but there was nothing memorable about the brick front. Nothing that would make a passing motorist stop and take a second look. Yet beyond the front door was a world of pain and possibility, heartache and hope—and the sum of it had been exactly the therapy Ashley needed. After all, she’d taken the job at Sunset Hills Adult Care Home working with Alzheimer’s patients for one reason—to soften her own heart. She’d hoped that perhaps by working with society’s fra
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE JOHN BAXTER RARELY worked nights. He’d been a doctor in Bloomington for enough years that the younger guys at the office handled the on-call hours. But tonight was different. One of his patients—a man who served alongside John on the elder board at church—had undergone triple bypass surgery two days earlier. The man had been moved from the cardiac unit to intensive care, an upgrade that pleased John. But he wanted to make sure his friend was comfortable. It was just before seven o’clock when he stepped off the elevator onto the third floor and headed for the nurses’ station. A whiteboard posted on the wall nearby had the names and conditions of each patient in the unit. John glanced at the list and saw that his friend was doing better. He was about to turn and head down the hall toward the men’s room when something caught his attention. One of the names on the list was Lori Callahan. Wasn’t that Luke’s girlfriend’s name? Why in the world would she be in the hospital? And i
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX REAGAN DECKER FELT STRANGE from the moment she woke up. Her stomach hurt, but not with the tight feeling she got whenever she had light contractions. This was different, lower and more pronounced. And her lower back hurt, even though she couldn’t remember doing a thing to it. Labor was an obvious possibility. It was the first of June, three weeks before her due date, but the doctor had said it could be anytime. Still, she’d talked with her mother about it after breakfast and she didn’t seem worried. “You’ll know when it’s time.” Her mother had reached across the kitchen table and patted her hand. “True contractions can’t be mistaken for anything else.” But the pain in her abdomen and the uneasiness that went along with it continued through the day and after dinner. Now it was seven o’clock, and the women from her mother’s bunco group were arriving. Most of them were church friends, well-off women in their late forties who Reagan had thought would be harsh and judgmental abo
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN THE REST OF LANDON’S shift passed in a blur of prayer and wild thoughts, and it was all he could do to keep from calling Ashley. If Reagan didn’t want the Baxters to know, he could hardly break the news to them. Especially now, in the middle of an emergency. But what if the baby died? What if Reagan did? He finished work at midnight, took a cab to Mt. Sinai, and there he got word about Reagan’s condition. A woman at the front desk explained that she’d been upgraded from critical to stable. She’d delivered the baby, and she was in the maternity ward under close watch. Landon exhaled for what felt like the first time all evening. He took the elevator to the right floor and found Reagan’s mother staring through the glass at a roomful of babies. When he came up beside her he cleared his throat and nodded. “I heard she’s doing better.” Mrs. Decker looked at him, her eyes swollen and red. “Yes, they stopped the bleeding. And the baby’s…the baby’s fine. A little boy.” “I’m so gl
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT REAGAN STARED AT the clock on her hospital-room wall and watched the second hand make its way around, one painfully slow tick at a time. It was ten-fifteen in the morning, and the nurses said she could hold her baby at noon, after they made sure his temperature was stable. The reports coming in about him were amazing. He’d suffered some stress while Reagan bled, but his little body had lain just the right way against the jagged tear in her uterus, keeping her from bleeding too much and probably saving both their lives. It was God’s plan of course. He wouldn’t take both her son and her father in the same year. Not when she’d already lost Luke. God knew how much she could take. A gentle snoring sound came from the corner of the room, and Reagan looked over her shoulder. Her mother had stayed the night and had probably not fallen asleep until a few hours ago. She was sleeping soundly now, stretched out on a small vinyl couch and covered by a thin layer of white hospital blan
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE LUKE ALMOST KNOCKED her to the ground. He’d finished his media law class and was barreling out of the building’s south entrance when a woman cut in front of him. She was looking down at her cell phone; by the time she glanced up it was too late, and they collided smack into each other. The jolt sent her cell phone skittering across the floor—the phone in one direction, battery in the other. He held up his hand and touched the woman’s arm, making sure she had her balance. “Hey, sorry about th—” Only then did he realize that the woman was his sister. Brooke stared at him almost as if she were seeing a ghost. “That’s okay.” Her eyes narrowed, and she studied him over her shoulder as she picked up the pieces of her phone and slipped the battery back in place. “Luke?” “Didn’t recognize me, huh?” He forced a laugh, but even he could hear how tight and uncomfortable it was. “Your hair…it’s so long.” She slipped the cell phone into her purse and smoothed a stray piece of hair into
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN THE PAST TEN DAYS had been one miracle after another. Reagan had brought Thomas Luke home four days after delivering him, and though it took another few days before she was able to get around, she was savoring every moment with him. The nickname she’d given him in the hospital stuck: Tommy. It suited him, now that she’d gotten to know him. She woke up that morning feeling better than she had all week, and that’s when the idea hit her. She called Landon at the fire station and asked if he could take a break late that afternoon. “Sure.” Landon’s voice was kind, the way it was every time she’d talked to him since Tommy was born. “What’s up?” “It’s a beautiful day, summer feels like it’s here, and my baby hasn’t had a walk in Central Park yet.” She paused. “Wanna go?” “Sure.” She could sense Landon’s smile over the phone lines. “I wouldn’t miss it.” They planned to meet at five o’clock, Landon’s lunch hour. She would bring Tommy’s fold-up stroller, and they’d walk as far into t
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN ASHLEY ARRIVED AT THE fire station at ten minutes after five. She’d checked into her hotel and left two of her paintings in the room. It was a simple place with a partial courtyard view in the Chelsea area, far from the heartbeat of the city. But it might as well have been a penthouse suite overlooking Central Park. She’d finally arrived, finally been given the chance to showcase her art in a Manhattan gallery. And now she was about to show Landon the piece she’d painted of him at Ground Zero. She could already feel his arms around her, sense his glowing approval of her newest work. She couldn’t wait to breathe in his excitement when he learned that her artwork would be sold right there in the city. The cab stopped half a block from Landon’s station. She wanted to walk the last fifty yards, take a few moments to inhale the city’s life and passion and energy, soak it in so she could believe it. She climbed out of the cab and caught a glimpse of the sun through the trees a
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE THEY WERE GATHERED AROUND the Baxter table, and Kari had positioned Jessie’s high chair between herself and Ryan. Cole ate across from them, seated beside his grandmother. At four years old he handled his own dinner quite well. They’d made progress on several aspects of the coming wedding, and now they were at a bridge in the conversation. “I feel out of touch.” Kari set her fork down and pushed her plate back. “The wedding’s taken up so much time, I’ve barely kept up with everyone else.” “Ashley’s in New York; you know that, right?” Her mother smiled from across the table. She’d made a Spanish casserole tonight, and the entire house smelled like melted cheese and tamale sauce. “New York?” Ryan was cutting a chunk of chicken for Jessie. He looked at Kari, eyes wide. “You didn’t tell me.” “I just found out this morning.” Kari grinned. “A gallery wanted three of her pieces. They’re going to put them up on consignment and see how they do.” “Mommy’s gonna be famous!” Cole ra
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN IT TOOK ASHLEY UNTIL Monday morning to come to her senses. But first she spent a miserable Sunday alone, tormenting herself with her wild imagination. That morning she found a cathedral and attended a morning service. Afterward, she browsed the shops in the Upper East Side, and every time she checked the mirror her look was the same. Distant, far off, untouchable. As if the pain she was wrestling with couldn’t be brought to the surface or it would kill her. When she finished shopping, she strolled through Central Park and finally caught a late-afternoon performance of Les Misérables, before taking the subway back to her hotel. The entire time she kept expecting to see Landon and Reagan. Had they fallen in love once Landon learned about the baby? Or did he have feelings for Reagan when he came to Bloomington last winter? Her heart hurt so bad she wondered if she was walking with her shoulders stooped. Then, sometime during the night, a realization dawned in the darkest
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN WHEN ASHLEY LEFT the art gallery she crossed the street and walked through Central Park again. She wanted to call Landon, but not until she got back to the hotel. Her heart was too full for her to do anything but bask in the glow of all God had done. The Wellingtons loved her work! Their reaction was more than she’d dared dream, and now…now it was all beginning to happen. Sometime that evening she would share the good news with Landon. Ashley clutched her empty portfolio and took slow steps along a gently curved path. The reservoir was to her left, and she watched a mother duck lead a string of babies down a muddy embankment into the water. The sun glistened off a thousand ripples. She leaned her head back, letting the breeze work itself across her cheeks. She lowered her chin and stared at the people making their way through the park. Would this be the place she and Cole would one day move? So she could be close to the gallery, closer to Landon? Normally a scene like
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN REAGAN FINISHED THE CONVERSATION and hung up the telephone. Her hands were shaking and knots filled her stomach. “Mom…” Tommy was asleep in his crib, and she didn’t want to wake him. Still, talking with Luke’s sister had knocked the wind out of her, and she could hardly walk around the apartment looking for her mother. She put the phone down on the kitchen table and sat back in her chair. She kept her voice even and as loud as she dared. “Mom, come here.” A full minute later her mom pushed open the swinging door and made her way into the kitchen. “You shouldn’t call out like that when the baby’s—” she stopped short and stared at Reagan—“honey, what is it?” Since September 11, none of the Deckers took life for granted. Reagan realized she probably looked awful. She felt cool and clammy, and she could see that even her arms had grown pale in the last few minutes. Her gaze fell to the table. “The phone call…” “Who was it?” Her mother sat next to her at the table and gave a
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN ASHLEY STEPPED BACK from the door and leaned against Landon. The sick feeling was worse now than before, but Ashley wasn’t about to turn back. Not when she was sure this was where God wanted her to be. The pieces were too perfectly aligned. First that Landon would happen to be the firefighter who responded to Reagan’s emergency, then Ashley’s seeing Landon and Reagan together. Ashley had no doubts; God wanted her here. What would happen after that, she couldn’t begin to guess. “You okay?” Landon leaned his head closer to hers. “Yeah.” She gave him a quick kiss on his arm. “Thanks for coming.” He looked at her, and she could almost read his mind. He wanted to be here with her; the talk they needed to have about each other would have to wait until after this meeting. The door opened and Reagan tried to smile. Her cheeks were tearstained, and her swollen eyes held raw fear. Ashley’s heart quieted immediately. She took the first step and hugged Reagan for a long while. Irve
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN ASHLEY AND LANDON ate dinner at Casey’s Corner in a quiet booth near the back of the café. Then they walked across Central Park, and she took him to the gallery. It was closed, but her paintings were there. The one of Landon on the park bench at Ground Zero hung in the center of a window display, and Ashley’s other two were positioned not far beyond as the central part of another display. “Ashley—” Landon had her hand in his, and he took a step closer—“it’s unbelievable.” Her cheeks grew hot, and she rested her head against his arm. The work was one of her best, maybe her very best. Standing next to Landon now, admiring it, she saw it in a new light. “Thanks.” “Your heart shouts from every stroke.” He did a half turn and searched her face. “I mean it.” Her heart shouted from every stroke? How crazy had she been to look past this man? Ashley gave his hand a light squeeze and met his eyes again. “No one else sees that.” “You’re wrong, Ash.” He looked at the painting in
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN THE FREETHINKERS MEETING was just getting started when Luke walked in through the back door. He slipped into a seat along the side, halfway toward the front, and slid his backpack under the chair. Then he glanced around. Had to be more than a hundred students packing the room, but Luke wasn’t surprised. Lori had told him the speaker would clear up any lingering doubts he had about her occasional wanderings. The talk today was on “Open Love—Relationships That Work.” He didn’t want to miss a minute of it. He opened his notebook and took a pen from his backpack. The speaker looked to be in his thirties, short hair and nice clothes. The look of a company president or a doctor at St. Anne’s. The man’s voice was smooth, his smile cool and confident. Further proof that Lori was right. This way of thinking wasn’t way-out or crazy. It was practical and more common all the time. No matter what the great Dr. Baxter thought about it. “Relationships can be painful. How many of you
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN ASHLEY FELT LIKE one of the patients here at Sunset Hills. The information about Luke’s son made her distracted and distant, and each night she went to bed knowing that tomorrow had to be the day. That finally Reagan would make the call or fly out with Tommy in her arms. If she called, then the moment Luke knew the truth, he’d fly to New York, maybe even tell his family what he was doing. Ashley was at work that June afternoon, a week after returning from New York. Twice she’d tried to call Luke, just to feel him out, to see if Reagan had called him. But both times he’d been gone, so she’d left a message. If the knowledge of Luke’s son wasn’t enough to distract her, she’d received word from Margaret Wellington that one of her paintings had sold already. They were sending her a check in the mail and wanted her to hurry with the next three. She and Cole had gone to dinner with her parents to celebrate, and that night she’d spent an hour on the phone with Landon. Ashley c
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY THE FEVERS WERE BACK, and Brooke had never felt more helpless in all her life. It was Monday morning, just twelve hours after the family had gathered at the Baxter house for little Hayley’s third birthday. Maddie was fine at the party, riding her tricycle up and down the long driveway, calling out to Cole to catch her as she pedaled. Now she lay beneath her bedsheet burning up. It was her moaning that had awakened Brooke sometime before five that morning and brought her to Maddie’s side. She’d been sitting by her, patting her head with a cool cloth and praying ever since. Brooke sat on the edge of her daughter’s mattress and glanced across the room at Hayley. Their younger daughter was sitting cross-legged, watching the scene through wide, worried eyes. “Mommy, is Maddie sick again?” “Yes, honey.” Brooke clenched her teeth. “She has a fever.” Hayley tilted her blonde head and bit her lip. “God’s going to make her better, Mommy, right?” “Yes, sweet girl.” Brooke refused t
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE JOHN HEARD ABOUT the appointment from Elizabeth. Just after nine o’clock that morning she called his office and said she had Hayley for the day. “Maddie’s sick again. A fever, higher than before.” Her pinched voice was clear evidence of her anxiety. “They’re taking her in to Dr. Ruiz at ten today.” The news hit John like a load of bricks beginning to descend on his shoulders. “She’s been well for so long.” “Brooke and Peter are worried. She has no other symptoms.” “Fever of unknown origin.” He held his breath. “Just like before. I’ll meet them over there after the appointment.” “I’ve heard of the doctor.” “Ruiz is the best in his field.” John squeezed the bridge of his nose and sensed his prayers lifting to heaven before he could even voice them. “Pray it’s nothing, Elizabeth.” “I am.” At ten-thirty, John took a series of hallways and catwalks to the building where Dr. Ruiz had his practice. John still had his lab coat on as he entered the office and nodded at the re
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO ASHLEY TOOK THE day off so she could set up her easel at her parents’ house and paint. The country scenes—especially those with flags—were favorites with the New York gallery, and Margaret Wellington had called again to report that a second of Ashley’s paintings had sold. A humid blue sky hung over Bloomington that morning, and Ashley set up a hundred yards from the house. Cole had made friends with a neighbor boy, who had joined Cole in a game of soccer on the grassy field between her easel and the front door. Every now and then they’d leave the ball and play hide-and-seek near the big elm tree out front, or sit together on the bench beneath the branches and sing songs. Ashley could barely make out the words, but the songs were happy. That was all that mattered. For as long as she’d loved painting, Ashley had wondered what it would feel like to live the life she portrayed on canvas. A life filled with light and hope and unforgettable colors. After coming home from P
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE JOHN TOOK THE CALL from Brooke just after noon. “Dad, come quick.” Her serious tone spoke volumes. “Some of Maddie’s tests came back. I need to talk to you.” It took John a heartbeat to catch his breath. They’d been waiting for word about Maddie for five days now. “I’ll be right there.” It was all he could do to keep himself from speeding. Obviously they’d found something; otherwise Brooke wouldn’t have wanted to talk to him. Fifteen minutes later he rounded the corner into Maddie’s hospital room and found the place full. Brooke, Peter, Dr. Ruiz, and three other physicians John recognized as new specialists on staff. The tension between Brooke and Peter still seemed thick, but John turned his attention to his daughter. “How is she?” “Dad…” Brooke pulled herself away from the group. Her eyes glistened as they met his. A catch sounded in her voice when she tried to talk. “She…she doesn’t have cancer.” Her forehead fell against John’s chest, and he wrapped his arms ar
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR LANDON HAD WORKED the early shift that Friday, and now that he was off he had things to do. Huge things. A few hours earlier he got hold of Reagan and convinced her to commit to a meeting. The two of them had spent time together before Ashley’s visit, and Landon was certain she needed a friend as much now. Maybe more. He ran a few errands, and it was just after six o’clock when he stopped by her apartment. Not only did he want to see the baby and encourage her to tell Luke, but he also wanted to show her something. She opened the door and let him in. For the first fifteen minutes they talked about little Tommy, how quickly he was growing and how he was looking less like a newborn and more like a baby. “See—” Reagan held him up, her smile taking up most of her face—“he’s filling out. And his eyes are more alert, don’t you think?” “Definitely.” Landon did a gentle tug on the baby’s foot. “And he looks even more like Luke.” It was true. The little boy was a miniature o
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE ASHLEY CALLED THE HOSPITAL laboratory six times Wednesday, but her results weren’t in yet. Finally late that afternoon, the woman who answered recognized her name. “You were in here last week…from Bloomington, right?” Her voice held a hint of compassion. “Yes.” Ashley raked her fingers through her hair. “I need the test results as soon as possible. I’ve got a…a business trip tomorrow.” The woman hesitated. “We don’t usually do this, but I’m working tomorrow morning. If they come in I’ll give you a call. That way you don’t have to keep checking.” “Thank you.” Ashley noticed she was shaking again. Something she’d been doing off and on since hearing the news about Jean-Claude. “Do you need my cell number?” “Uh…” There was the sound of papers shuffling. “No, I’ve got it.” “Can you call me even if the results aren’t in tomorrow morning? Whenever they come?” “Sure.” Something in the woman’s voice told Ashley she’d been there before, waiting breathlessly for results that w
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE EVENING, Ashley had kept her composure. When she stepped off the elevator and took in the sight of Landon, all six-foot-four inches looking like he belonged on the cover of a calendar. When she came near and breathed in his cologne and the faint mint of his breath. A moment later when they kissed. She’d even remained calm throughout dinner, when she knew her announcement was coming, that they had less than an hour to share together this way. Less than an hour. For all time. Through all of it she kept herself from breaking down, forced herself to enjoy the evening with him since it would be her last. But when he brought out the velvet box, the ground beneath their table tilted wildly out of control. Her cheeks flashed hot, and then she felt the blood drain from her face and neck. “Landon…” His name came out as a faint cry, a plea for help. She stared at the velvet box and shook her head. “What…are you doing?” Disappointment splashed across his fe
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN LUKE HAD HIS BACKPACK flung over his shoulder, and he was almost out the door when the phone rang. He glanced back and considered letting the machine get it. But sometimes his boss at the cafeteria called this early to see if he wanted an extra shift. Money was tight, and since it was his day off, he took a few jogging steps back inside and grabbed the receiver. “Hello?” “Luke…it’s Ashley.” “Hey.” He glanced at his watch and ordered himself to be patient. “What’s up?” Other than his mother, only Ashley made an attempt now and then to keep in touch with him. July had flown by, and she hadn’t seen him in weeks. But she wouldn’t look shocked at his appearance, wouldn’t roll her eyes at his long hair and what was now a full-grown beard, the way Brooke had. Ashley knew what it was to be the single Baxter going against the grain. “Luke, we need to talk.” Her tone was rock hard. “What time are you finished with classes?” Luke blinked. “Am I in trouble?” “No. Sorry.” Compa
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT HIS PLANS CAME TOGETHER with amazing speed and clarity. Ashley promised she wouldn’t tell anyone else in the family about the baby, and after that Luke went home and spent the night on the sofa, lost in thought. By morning, the shock had worn off. In the light of day he did what any freethinker would do: He charted a course of action with his head and believed that at some point his heart would follow. For the next four days he attended class and took his finals, just as he’d planned. Not once in that time did he sleep with Lori, and twice she asked him about it. “I need space,” he told her. “Something I’m going through.” Since his talk with Ashley he’d known that no matter how liberal-minded he planned on becoming, the idea of an open relationship, multiple partners, and sex as self-expression simply didn’t hold water. The entire notion was insane. That he’d bought into it even for a time made him doubt his ability to think—freely or otherwise. Before they went th
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE KARI HAD BEEN LOOKING forward to this day for a month. She and Ryan had been swamped with family get-togethers and dinner parties and wedding details almost constantly since they’d announced their engagement. Now summer was almost over, and they still hadn’t taken a day for themselves. Because of that, they made this plan. One week before the big Labor Day Baxter picnic, they’d slip away—just the two of them—and spend a day fishing at Lake Monroe. The way they’d done so often back when they were teenagers, back when they knew as surely as they knew the seasons that no matter what else happened in life, the two of them would be together. They chose a Saturday because Ryan was using the weekdays to run his high school football players through weight training and drills. And though it would be busier than usual on the shore, Kari wasn’t concerned. She and Ryan wouldn’t be on the shore. They’d be on Ryan’s boat, lost somewhere out in the lake in a place and time where t
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
CHAPTER THIRTY LUKE’S PLANE WAS COMING in just after six that night, and Reagan still couldn’t believe it. He called her the night before from Ashley’s house. At first she hadn’t known what to say. The conversation started with his begging her not to hang up. “I need to see you, Reagan. I know about Tommy.” She hadn’t known whether to drop the phone or cling to it. When she finally found her voice, it hadn’t sounded even remotely familiar. “Luke?” “Reagan…I can’t believe it’s you.” After all the months of convincing herself she’d made the right decision—knowing that she couldn’t tell him about the baby, and finding out that he was living with someone else—hearing his voice set the record straight once and for all. Her feelings for him were as strong now as they’d ever been. No matter how hard she’d tried to distance herself from him, her heart had not forgotten. Luke went on to tell her very little, really. He’d left the girl he’d been living with and moved in with Ashley. He’d booked
CHAPTER THIRTY
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE JOHN BAXTER’S CHEST ACHED, and he blamed it on being more tired than usual. Never mind that they’d finished moving the blankets and picnic baskets and Frisbees and place settings from the car and set them up on the beach. Forget the fact that Elizabeth was sitting beside him, and that playing on the shore a few dozen yards away were the people he loved most in the world. They’d brought thirteen people with them to the Baxters’ annual Labor Day picnic this year. But it was the fourteenth that John missed. And with Sam and Erin leaving in the morning, John was pretty sure he’d never again spend a Labor Day on the shores of Lake Monroe with all his children present. Once Erin and Sam spent their first year in Austin, they planned to vacation early next summer. With Erin teaching, by the time Labor Day rolled around again, the two of them would have to be back home getting ready for the following school year. John stretched out in his beach chair and glanced at Elizabeth
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO JOHN WAS REACHING into the cooler, pulling out the bags of preformed meat patties, when he noticed Ashley, Kari, and Ryan staring at something behind him. Before he had time to turn around, Elizabeth touched his elbow and nodded toward the parking lot. “Did we leave something in the—” He never finished his sentence. Because when he looked over his shoulder to the place where his family was focused, what he saw made his heart take wing. There, walking toward him with slow, deliberate steps was Luke. And for the first time in a year, he wasn’t scowling or smirking or rolling his eyes. He was smiling. Luke…his son—his only son—was walking toward him, faster now than before, his entire face lit up. Beside John, Elizabeth uttered a quiet gasp and took hold of his arm. “John…” “It’s okay.” He looked at his wife and patted her hand. “Let me.” His knees shook and his feet moved like lead, but he took a step toward Luke, and then another and another until just a few yards sep
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE THEIR WEDDING DAY DAWNED with full sun and mild humidity. Kari’s house had sold a while ago, and she and Jessie had moved her things into Ryan’s house a week earlier. They were staying at her parents’ house, in her old room, until after their honeymoon. Then they’d move in with Ryan. Kari yawned and looked around the room where she’d first dreamed of marrying Ryan Taylor. For a few minutes after she woke up and registered the weather, Kari just lay there and remembered. She thought how she’d looked down and found her heart gone the afternoon when she met Ryan for the first time—how they’d hung out together for several summers after that, fishing from his rowboat on Lake Monroe and skipping rocks from the shore. Hadn’t she known back then that one day they’d be together? The detours, of course, had been impossible to predict. And even a year ago she couldn’t have guessed they’d be here now. But they were. And what she was about to do brought up every memory of Ryan
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
CHAPTER ONE
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