“Oh, Auntie Skye, I really did,” Janey assured her.“And I like Jordan a lot.”
“I’d be more than willing to drive you to the airport,” Brad offered, but the look he exchanged with Jordan showed he understood his wish to be alone with Skye.
Within a few minutes they were on their way.Brad, Peggy, and Janey stood on the porch waving; Skye focused her attention on the fading figures as long as possible.
Jordan was strangely quiet, as if there was something on his mind.Skye more than carried the conversation, babbling inanities that were totally irrelevant to anything.
The reality of his leaving hit forcefully when they approached the airport.Skye could no longer deny the tears burning for release.This was stupid; why was she getting so emotional?It wasn’t like Jordan was heading off to war.A lone tear forced itself free and rolled down her cheek.Fiercely she brushed it away before Jordan could notice.
The security line seemed twenty miles long; Skye chatted continuously.
Stopping her abruptly, Jordan gently touched her wet cheek.“Why are you crying?”he asked.
“I am?”she questioned.“Oh, I always cry when I’m happy.”She’d promised God and herself she wouldn’t lie again, but her resolve crumbled under the first attack of pride.“I’ve never been so happy,” she said in a kind of desperation.“Peggy’s pregnant, Janey’s birthday...and look at you, Oscar the Grouch, your arm is healing and...”A bubble of laughter quickly became a sob.
The line was crowded with people waiting to have their property scanned.Jordan stepped out and maneuvered Skye to a far corner offering them as much privacy as possible.
“I’ve listened to your Pollyanna chatter all the way here.Now I’ll ask you again—why are you crying?”His hand tightly gripped her arm, the line of his jaw tight and controlled.
Everything suddenly went very still; the wall he backed her against felt hard and unyielding.Skye held her breath, concentrating on the top of his shoe.She didn’t know what had gotten into her.She was normally a very composed woman.
“Skye,” he groaned impatiently, and his finger lifted her chin to read her watery blue eyes.“Please tell me why you’re crying,” his low voice coaxed as he gathered her into his arms.Hersoftness molded against him, welcoming the comfort of his embrace.His hand rubbed her back in a soothing circular motion.
Held protectively, Skye accepted the solid strength and buried her face in his shirt.
“I’m sorry,” she attempted in apology.“I’m being ridiculous.”She could feel the gentle pressure of his lips kiss her hair.
“No, you’re not.”His own voice sounded strained and faintly raw.
“Oh, Jordan, I don’t honestly know why I’m crying.I can’t believe how stupid I’m being.”
“I have to go, otherwise I’ll miss my flight,” he said impatiently.But he didn’t relax his hold on her.When he did lift his head, an expanding frown darkened his expression.
Skye stared back wordlessly, but when she tried to pull away he caught her shoulder, fixing his gaze upon hers.With a fierce kind of gentleness, he cupped her face, his mouth seeking hers.
“I’ve got to go.”The emotion in his voice was so ragged, it startled Skye.
A frail smile formed.“I know.”Using the back of her hand, she wiped the remaining tears aside.She studied him, committing to memory every detail of his rugged face.
“I didn’t mean to blubber all over your shirt.”She wiped his chest, as if to erase the wet stains her tears had made.
His eyes regarded her with a languorous warmth.Glancing over his shoulder, he noted the long security line.
“There are things I want to tell you,” he admitted with forced patience.“And now all I can think about is how long it’s going to be before I can kiss you again.”Quickly he checked the progress of the receding line and jerked his attention back to her.“If I fly back next weekend, will you be here?”
“Yes.”Her voice sounded choked and small.Then, gaining verbal strength, she repeated, “Yes, of course I’ll be here.”
They began to ease their way toward the TSA agent.
“I have to go,” Jordan said, gazing deep into her eyes.
“I know.”Fresh tears misted over her eyes, and her mouth trembled in an effort to smile.
“I’ll phone you,” he promised, backing away from her.
“Okay, good-bye, Jordan,” she finally managed to say, her voice a tortured whisper.She watched him disappear into the long Jetway that ushered him inside the plane.
She remained looking onto the brightly lit runway for several minutes after his plane had made its ascension into the night.
