The waiting was hard. She tried to imagine where Sam was and what he was doing, but that made her nervous. Then she tried to imagine what kind of accident had befallen his family, which members were involved, and what condition they were in, but that was worse.
By the time an hour had elapsed, she’d realized two things. The first was that she wasn’t sure she wanted to be involved with a police officer if it meant waiting, wondering, and worrying while she was totally out of touch. The second was that she wasn’t sure she couldavoidinvolvement with one, since the level of fear she felt on his behalf was directly related to the depth of her love.
When the phone finally rang, she jumped, then snatched up the receiver. “Sam?”
“This had better be good,” he warned.
“Thank God they could reach you,” she breathed. “A Captain Divine called from the Butler Police Department. There’s been an accident, Sam. He said it involved your family. I don’t know the details, but he left a number. He said you should call him as soon as you could.”
Sam was silent for a minute before quietly asking for the number.
She gave it to him. “Will you let me know what’s happened?”
“Let me see first,” he said in that same quiet voice. “Thanks, sweetheart.”
Susan replaced the receiver, swallowed hard, then headed back toward the large leather chair. Her eye fell on the Chivas, and she was sorely tempted to reverse the effects of the caffeine and fresh air by taking a healthy dose of the stuff. Except that she didn’t feel she could drink a thing. Her stomach was tied in a knot of worry.
But the worry wasn’t all. She’d been fumbling through her relationship with Sam, wishing she had more to offer. This was her chance. If he needed her, she wanted to be sober.
Scooping up the bottle of scotch, the glass, and what remained of the bowl of ice from the floor, she put them away, then sank into the sofa to await word from Sam. It came thirty minutes later, but not in the phone call she’d expected. Sam, himself, walked through the front door.
One look at him told her the news was bad. His face was pale, his eyes confused. His shoulders sagged, as though suddenly burdened with an awesome weight.
Taking his hand, Susan held it in both of hers while her eyes asked the question she couldn’t quite voice.
“There was an automobile accident,” he told her. “My parents were in the car with my sister, Lynn, and her husband. My mother is the only one alive.” Susan gasped. “The other three were killed outright. I have to go.” Closing his hand around hers, he drew her with him toward the stairs.
“Will she be all right?”
“I don’t know. She’s in critical condition.”
“Oh, Sam,” Susan whispered, “I’m so sorry.”
He didn’t say anything, but he clung to her hand until he’d reached the bedroom, where he dropped it to take a duffel from the closet. “I’m driving straight through,” he said as he went to the dresser. “With waits and transfers, it’d take just as long to fly.”
Wanting only to help, Susan said, “I’ll charter you a plane. I have a friend who’s in the business.” Then she realized what she’d said. “Forget that. I’ll drive with you.” She went for her own overnight bag.
Sam went on with his packing. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I want to do it. If I’m along, one of us can drive while the other sleeps.”
“I don’t think I’ll be doing much sleeping.”
“Still, you shouldn’t be alone.”
“I’m used to it.”
“Not at a time like this.” She took a skirt, then a pair of pumps from the closet, infinitely grateful that she had a fair supply of clothes there. Sam would never have considered her going if they had to stop in Newport first. “Besides, I’d rather be with you than stay here.”
She was pressing the skirt into her bag when Sam put a hand on her arm. “This won’t be fun,” he cautioned. “I’m going to have to arrange three funerals. At least.”
Tears came to her eyes. “That’s why I should be there,” she said. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she gave him a quick hug. “I love you, Sam. I want to be with you.”
For an instant, arms trembling, he completed the embrace and held her tightly. Then he released her and returned to his packing. After another minute and without looking up, he said in a low voice, “Could you phone your friend? If he can get someone to fly us there, it would save hours.”
Susan didn’t have to be asked twice. With a single phone call, she’d arranged for the flight. They’d be going in a private plane, one that was smaller and less luxurious than that in which she, Savannah, and Megan had flown to Florida, but she didn’t mind, and she was sure Sam wouldn’t. She didn’t think he’d see his surroundings at all. His mind was in Butler.
The flight was an uneasy one. The plane had to plow its way through rain clouds that thickened the night. But they landed safely, and an unmarked police car was waiting to drive them directly to the hospital, where a doctor apprised Sam of his mother’s condition.
