“You missed your plane, didn’t you?”
She nodded.“You wouldn’t believe the traffic jam my cab got in.I missed my flight, my lunch, my—”
“The plane crashed.There were no survivors.I thought you were dead.”
She paled and then clutched at his arm, fixing her gaze on the shape of his mouth and the words coming out.She shook her head, finding it difficult to believe what he was telling her, but he was too distraught to ignore.Goose bumps broke out on her skin as the impact began to sink in.
“When my cab got stuck in traffic, the first thing I thought was if I missed my plane, I wouldn’t get to go home, and if I didn’t get home, I would have to spend another night away from you.”
Ryder’s heart skipped a beat.“I missed you, too,” he said softly.
“No, you don’t quite understand,” Casey said.“I did something selfish, very selfish, as I sat in that cab.I prayed for a miracle so I could get home.When I missed my plane, I was certain my prayer had not been answered.”Tears filled her eyes.“Oh Ryder, why me?Why was I spared when so many others had to die?”
He crushed her to him.“I don’t know, and I don’t care.All I know is.five minutes ago I was trying to find a reason to take another damned breath and now…” Unable to finish, he held her close as a shudder swept through his body.
Suddenly, Casey felt like crying.“Ryder?”
He eased up, but was unable to quit touching her and began brushing the hair from her face.“What is it, honey?”
“Will you take me home?”
He held out his hand.
CHAPTER 11
Casey kept trying to focus on the familiarity of the countryside through which they were driving, but all she kept seeing was the look on Ryder’s face when he’d turned around at the airport and seen her.It hadn’t been filled with concern, it had been torn by devastation.To her, that meant only one thing.He cared for her as much as she had learned to care for him.Oh God, please don’t let me be setting myself up for a fall, she thought.
“I’m going to let you out at the big house,” Ryder said.“You need to let your family know that you’re safe—just in case they’ve heard broadcasts about the crash.”
Casey couldn’t quit trembling.For some reason, her life had been spared and she didn’t understand why.Ryder’s presence was solid, unwavering; she felt a need to stay within the sound of his voice.“Where will you be?”
Just for a second he took his eyes off the road.“Right where I’ve been for the last three days.Waiting for you to come home.”
She looked out the window and started to cry.“Oh Ryder, why?All those people.They’ll never come home.”
He saw Micah’s face in his mind and as he did, suddenly realized that the pain of the last few months wasn’t as sharp as it had been.Ever conscious of the woman in the seat beside him, he had to face the fact that if it hadn’t been for a tragedy, he and Casey would never have met.He tried to imagine his life without her and couldn’t.Something inside him clicked.
“I don’t know, but I’m beginning to accept that everything that happens to us in life happens for a reason.”
Her voice was shaking.“What could possibly be the reason for so many deaths?”
His voice was gruff as he turned off the highway.“Damned if I know.Maybe it was just their time to go.”
Moments later, the gray slate roof of the main house appeared over the tops of the trees, and soon afterward, the house itself was visible.
“You’re home,” Ryder said.
Casey’s gaze moved from the mansion to the small, unobtrusive apartment over the garage.“Yes, so I am.”
* * *
It was the red blinking light on the answering machine that drew him into the apartment.He knew what it said, but he played it anyway, reliving his joy as he waited for the sound of Casey’s voice to fill the room.
“Ryder, it’s me, again.This day couldn’t get much worse.I missed my flight.”
He closed his eyes, listening to the rest of the message and feeling awed by the twist fate had taken on their behalf.When it was over he put her suitcase on her bed, then looked around.Some changes had taken place since he’d left to pick her up.
The apartment was clean.Bea had probably seen to that.A fresh bouquet of flowers was on her bedside table, more than likely thanks to Eudora.She was big on flowers.He walked out of the room and into the kitchen.There was a note on the refrigerator door.Thanks to Tilly, there was food inside, ready to be eaten.
