Page 23 of Landing Love

“Must you?” Ann rose. “It’s been such a pleasure getting to know you.”

“You’ve been a very generous hostess.” Thompson clapped Pritchard on the knee and stood. “But Pritchard is right. He and I should head out. We have to fly tomorrow.”

“Thank you so much for all your help. I hope we meet again.”

Thompson tipped his cap. “No trouble at all, ma’am. Congratulations on your new home.”

“Congratulations.” Pritchard followed suit.

Together, they headed out to Pritchard’s car and drove off. Bill was going to hear about this at length next time he saw them, he knew. But who cares? She kissed my cheek and baked me a cake.

Mary cleared her throat. “Bill, we should go too. I shouldn’t leave Mother with the children all day.”

Bill nodded. “All right.”

“I’ll see you soon, Ann. Don’t be a stranger.” Mary headed out to the truck, leaving him alone with Ann.

“I have to go.” He stepped closer to Ann, unable to resist the invisible tug between them.

“I know.”

“I’ll see you soon.”

“Yes, very soon.”

He bent down and kissed Junior on the forehead, then, unable to resist, he cupped her cheek and kissed her forehead, breathing in her apple-scented hair. Pulling back, he tipped up her chin. “Thank you.”

He took one last look, drinking her in. Knowing he had to leave now or risk losing all restraint, he turned and headed toward the door.

“Thank you,” she whispered as he walked out the door.

He paused, took one last look, and left, leaving his heart behind with her.

9

She had made a fool of herself. One and a half beers, and she had practically thrown herself at Bill. Never again, she swore. Alcohol was not her friend.

When she saw him for their date, she would have to swallow her pride and explain that she hadn’t been herself. She wasn’t ready for a romantic relationship. His friendship meant the world to her, but they would have to remain friends and no more.

She and Roger were teenagers together. His romantic interest in her was a slow burn. She couldn’t quite put her finger on when it began. She remembered their first kiss—Central Park in the spring of ’16. They were out for a walk, and he stopped under a bridge and touched his lips to hers, holding her close. She nearly swooned, it was so delicious. It felt as if the whole world was giddy along with her. All the daffodils and forsythias were bursting with vibrant yellow. Six months later, they were married. Six months after that, he went to war.

Now it had been six months since he passed, and her heart ached for him as much as ever. It was loneliness that drove her to seek comfort with Bill, and that wasn’t fair to him. He deserved to be with someone that fully appreciated him for who he was, not just for the comfort he could offer.

Besides, she wasn’t entirely sure they would suit even if she was ready. The beer hadn’t addled her enough to forget his friends’ comments about Bill’s roving eye. She needed to be able to trust the man she married fully and implicitly. While she’d seen nothing to indicate that what his friends said was true, she also couldn’t imagine why they would lie about such a thing.

Bill arrived right on time for their lunch date, but the uncharacteristically somber expression on his face told her that something was wrong.

“Bill, what is it? What’s happened?”

“I didn’t want to cancel on you, but my friend was in an accident. Something went wrong with his plane, and he crashed into the stands at Belmont Racetrack. He’s at Nassau Hospital.”

Emotions tumbled through her like waves in a hurricane. An injured pilot, just like Roger. He was in the hospital, hurting. Suddenly, she knew what she had to do. “I need to see him. If he’s able to have visitors, that is.”

He looked at her with a furrowed brow. “He is. He was awake and talking this morning. He has a concussion and a broken leg. His girlfriend is with him.”

She gasped. “His poor girlfriend! I know all too well what she must be going through.”

“I won’t deny she’s having a rough time of it, and for more reasons than one. I’m not sure if I’m allowed to divulge this, but his gal is Rory Belmont, and her father cut her off for her relationship with Hank.”