She didn’t respond.Instead, she ran to her office as fast as her legs would carry her.She grabbed her coat and bag.Tears spilled onto her cheeks.This couldn’t be happening.He had to be all right.
On her way back, she ran into Mia.“I have to go.”Her words rushed together as her voice started to crack with emotion.“Can you—”
“I’ve got the closing.”
When she returned, Reed was on the phone.She hoped it was good news about Brad.Although, by the way Reed was pacing and raking his fingers through his hair, it wasn’t the news they were hoping for.
When Reed saw her, he got off the phone.“It was the airport.They don’t have any information available about the passengers yet.”
Of course they don’t.This just happened.But Brad just had to be all right.He just had to be.
Chapter Thirty
Thatwashisworstflight ever.
But he was alive, and so was everyone else.
Brad counted that as a win.He looked over at the paramedic who was looking over his minor injuries.For all that had happened, he was thrilled to walk away with some cuts and bruises.It could have been so much worse.
The one thing this unfortunate event had granted him was clarity.He’d been given a second chance, and he wasn’t going to squander it.
The next time he saw Abby, he was going to tell her exactly how he felt about her.He’d just learned firsthand how short life can be, and he didn’t intend to waste any of it.
After being examined by the paramedics on the tarmac, he was then transported back to the terminal.He would have called Abby or Reed, but his phone was missing.He couldn’t remember if he’d put it back into his pocket after texting Abby or not.Either way, it was now lost on the plane.He had his doubts if he would ever get it back.Its loss seemed inconsequential in the grand scheme of things.
When he got inside the building, he was guided to a line of passengers.They were taking their personal information and checking them off a list.It was a slow process.
Thankfully, there were chairs nearby.Other than being a bit sore, he was tired.It was like that whole horrific ordeal, from watching the flames shooting out of the engine and being jostled about on the hard landing to skidding off the runway, had sucked all of the energy out of him.
When it was at last his turn at the information table, he gave his personal information.When they asked if he wanted to be rebooked onto another flight, he said no.When they asked for an address where they should send his luggage, he told them Bayberry.He had some unfinished business there.
He also explained that he needed to make a phone call, but his phone was lost on the plane.One of the airline employees took pity on him and offered their personal phone.The only problem was that he didn’t know anyone’s number.Everything was programmed into his phone, so he didn’t have to memorize any phone numbers.
The only number he could think of was his mother’s home number.She still had the same landline that she’d had since he was a kid.But she wasn’t home.She was off on her cruise, and hopefully, she wouldn’t hear about any of this until she got home.He didn’t want anything to ruin her vacation.
He returned the phone and asked if the car rental was still open.Before they answered him, he heard someone calling out his name.Then again, there were a lot of people standing around, maybe one of them was also named Brad.
Still he turned around.And he was glad he did because his gaze met Abby’s.The next thing he knew he was taking long quick strides toward her, and she was running into his arms.
Not so long ago, he thought he would never feel her in his arms again.He pulled her close and lowered his face to the nape of her neck.
In that moment, time stood still, and the noise of passengers reuniting with their families faded into the background.All he was aware of was that he was holding onto his future.He still wasn’t exactly sure what the future looked like.But he did know that Abby would be front and center—if she wanted to be.
He pulled back and looked at her.“You got my message?”
Her brows drew together.“What message?”
He briefly wondered why she hadn’t got the message.But he decided that it worked out for the best because now he could tell her in person.
“So, how did you know to come here?”He searched her eyes.
“Reed and Sadie told me about the accident.It’s all over the local news.”She reached up and touched the side of his face.“You’re cut.”
“It’s not bad.The paramedics said it was minor.”
“Do you need to go to the hospital?”
He shook his head.Other passengers had broken bones and had been transported to the hospital.He’d stayed on the plane to help them until the paramedics reached them.
