Until Tomorrow (Boot Creek Book 3)

by Nancy Naigle

  Devastated. That’s how she’d feel. “I think I have a call to make.”

  Her grandmother smiled so broad that every wrinkle seemed to disappear. “We can go now, nurse.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Flynn wanted to make that call, to tell Ford she’d be back, but part of her still wasn’t sure. She’d left without a goodbye and she couldn’t work him like a fish on a line. That wasn’t fair. He was a good guy. A great guy. He didn’t deserve that.

  She held off. There was time to make that decision.

  She and her grandfather waited for an update on the surgery. As they sat watching television, all the news was about a storm system mucking up travel along the coast. It sucked to have your flight cancelled in Florida, where the temperature was hovering in the seventies with blue skies, only to be told that the problem was weather. But that was going to be the case for a lot of people today.

  Mother Nature seemed to be trying to make a point.

  “Mr. Crane?” A doctor in scrubs walked over toward them. “Everything went perfectly fine. She’s in recovery now. Will be for a while, and then we’ll move her back into her room.”

  “Thank you so much, Doc. That’s great news. How long of a recovery will it be?”

  “She’ll rebound from this surgery way sooner than that broken hand.”

  “That seems wrong in some way, doesn’t it?” Flynn observed.

  “Kind of does. Her neck might be sore for a few days, and we’ll keep her on a soft-food diet for a bit. I’ll probably just keep her in here one more day and then you can take her home, Mr. Crane. Do you have any other questions?”

  “So she’s not in any danger?” Flynn needed the confirmation.

  “Not at all. She did great. She’ll be as good as new.”

  “Thank you.”

  The doctor walked off and her grandfather turned to her with a smile. “I told you she’d be fine. Now she’s going to be fussing to get you out of here to go reunite with Ford. You know that.”

  “I do.”

  “You should leave now.”

  “Before I see her again?”

  “Yes, that would be the best present you could give her.”

  Her phone vibrated on her lap.

  Angie: Are You Okay? Ford Called Jackson. Said You Disappeared.

  Flynn: I Didn’t Disappear. I Left.

  Angie: What Happened?

  Flynn: Long Story. Gran Was In The Hospital. On My Way Home Now. Will Fill You In.

  Angie: Call If You Need Me.

  Flynn stood and hugged her grandfather. “Promise me you’ll call if there’s anything I can do for y’all. You know I’ll fly right back down to help out.”

  “We’re going to be okay. But I promise.”

  She took in a deep breath. The last few days had been an emotional roller coaster and she was exhausted.

  She went back to the hotel to get her things. Standby was probably her only chance of getting out today, but by the time she got to her room, sleep was the only thing on her mind. Maybe tomorrow would be better anyway.

  Lying on the bed, she brought up the website, which was showing nothing available at all. After nearly forty minutes on the phone with the airline, she wasn’t any closer to getting home, and one thing was for certain—she was too tired to make the drive.

  She was finally able to get confirmed on a five o’clock flight the next day, and would try standby in the morning. It wasn’t a great plan, but at least she could sleep now.

  The next morning, the terminal swarmed with grumpy people and cranky kids, and that wasn’t helping her mood. Those people had probably roughed it all night in the terminal though. At least she’d gotten some much-needed rest. She put her earbuds in to lower the volume of her surroundings and tried to concentrate on the home magazine she’d picked up in the airport bookstore.

  Angie: Do You Like Him?

  Flynn should’ve expected that from Angie. She wasn’t sure what answer she’d rather give. No, that she’d stuck to her guns and hadn’t fallen for the handsome bachelor, or yes, that she had because Angie approved of Ford as a potential suitor. That was saying something too, because Angie hadn’t liked any of the other guys Flynn had dated.

  Was there a one-word answer to that question?

  Flynn stared at the question.

  Flynn: Yes.

  Angie: I Mean Really Like Him. Like Love.

  Flynn knew now that she’d overreacted to her grandfather’s call. And leaving without discussing it with Ford hadn’t been the right way to go about things, but she knew he’d have wanted to come with her and she just hadn’t been, still wasn’t, sure she could dedicate herself to a life with him that far away. Maybe just knowing how far away she was had freaked her out a little. But the truth was, if it had been an emergency, she would not have been able to get there in time, and that would have been a catastrophe.

  On the other hand, Gran’s lecture about the right man made things even more confusing. She barely knew Ford. Why did she think for one hot second that he could be the right guy? There were a lot of things going against them, and Alaska was only one of them.

  Flynn: Too Complicated To Text.

  Angie: Call Me.

  Flynn: At The Airport. Headed Home. We’ll Get Together There.

  Angie: What Time?

  Flynn: On Standby. Seven Thirty At The Latest.

  Angie: Keep Me Posted. I’ll Come Pick You Up.

  Flynn: Thanks.

  There’d be five hundred questions from Angie, but there was no one she’d rather see at the airport. Flynn flipped through her magazine. She stopped at a before-and-after feature about a home in Nantucket that caught her eye. A nursery to be specific. Well lit and painted the softest baby blue, with white furniture. Perfectly coastal. But that’s not what caught her eye. Above the crib hung a glass mobile. Not exactly like the one in Ford’s house, but similar in style, this one had orange seahorses, blue dolphins, black and white orcas, and pretty blue sand dollars.

  She scanned the article. The artist wasn’t mentioned, but it said enough—that the artist was known for his specialty glasswork and the piece had been contracted after seeing a similar piece while on vacation in Alaska. That was Ford.

  Was someone up there trying to make sure that she was thinking about Ford today?

  Her phone pinged again.

  Gran: Are You Home Yet?

  Flynn: No Ma’am. Weather Delay.

  Gran: Sorry. Call Me When You Get There.

  Flynn: Are You Okay? I Can Call Now.

  Gran: Fine As Wine. Kiss The Prince.

  But Flynn’s prince wouldn’t be there when she got home. Nope. She’d left him in Alaska. Poor Gran had been on so much pain medication she’d probably already forgotten that Ford lived in Alaska, or that Flynn had up and left him with just a note. You don’t really fly clear across the nation after something like that without an invitation.

  Picturing her life with Ford made her believe that love was all hers for real this time, but her life wasn’t in Alaska. Megan had packed up and moved to California to be with Noah. She hadn’t even hesitated, but then Megan was impulsive. And, worst-case scenario, she could keep on working on her candles no matter where she was.

  If Flynn gave up the B&B, she’d have nothing. What would she do in Alaska? Even if Ford’s house was big enough to turn into a B&B, that would be very seasonal. What would she do all winter? How would she earn money? She wasn’t a mooch. That wasn’t her style.

  She’d have the money from the B&B if she sold it. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to at least talk to Chrystal down at Yates Real Estate. If anyone knew the market in this region of North Carolina it was Chrystal. Plus, she dealt in commercial properties often.

  Was she actually entertaining going to Alaska?

  She’d miss Angie, but since she and Jackson got married, they didn’t really spend that much time together anymore. Billy would go nuts at the thought of seeing sled dogs.

  What were her key ques
tions about Ford?

  She pulled out a notebook from her overnight bag and started a list. When they called her with a seat on the standby flight, her page was still empty.

  Angie was standing at baggage claim when Flynn came down the escalator. “Thanks so much for picking me up.”

  “You look like you’ve been on a four-day bender.” Angie reached up and fussed with Flynn’s hair.

  “I feel worse than that.”

  “You’ll feel better after having a good meal and some rest.” Angie pinched Flynn’s arm. “I can’t wait to hear everything about your trip.”

  “It’s been a whirlwind. How much time do you have?”

  “All the time you need.”

  Flynn grabbed her bag off the conveyor. “I didn’t even get a chance to buy everyone souvenirs in Alaska, since my trip got cut short.”

  “No one cares about that.”

  “I thought you loved that shirt I brought you back from Hilton Head Island,” Flynn said with mock insult.

  “I did, but I’d have been just fine hearing the stories about the trip. You know that.”

  How many T-shirts from random vacations other people had taken does one need? “I know, but it’s my way of letting you know I was thinking of you while I was away.”

  Angie sneered as they got into her car. “I was kind of hoping you hadn’t had time to think about us. You really liked it up there though, didn’t you?”

  “I did. I can’t lie. It was gorgeous and everybody I met was so nice.” With the exception of the people trying to fix the bids on the building, but there were those kinds of people everywhere.

  “And Ford?”

  Flynn’s nose tickled. She blinked back the emotion that threatened to tell the story before she was ready to. “Angie, he is the best man I’ve ever known. Everything feels so right. It’s not about him. It’s not about me. It’s who we are together. Even little things feel special. A kiss on the forehead. The way he holds my hand. He trusts me with his secrets. I’d never felt happier when I was with him in Alaska.”

  “But?” Angie’s brows pulled together.

  “Stop that. You’re getting that line across your nose. You’ll need Botox.”

  Angie raised her brows. “Better?”

  “Yes.” Flynn sighed. “But it’s Alaska. It is so far. I’d miss you. I barely know Ford. Why do I have such strong feelings for him?”

  “When it’s right, you know it. Remember how quickly things happened for me with Jackson?”

  “I do.”

  “And I had the brakes on because of Billy. I was trying to be extra careful. Look how happy we are. I want that for you so badly.”

  Flynn reached over and turned up the radio. She couldn’t have this conversation all the way back to Boot Creek. It made her sad to think she wouldn’t be with Ford, even though she knew it was her own fault. His life was in Alaska. Why had she allowed herself to get swept into his arms? Why had she let him into her heart?

  When they got to the Boot Creek exit, she had begun to feel back at home. There was comfort in the same old, same old. But Angie turned off toward her own house.

  “Did you forget I’m in the car?” Flynn laughed easily. Wasn’t like she hadn’t let herself go on autopilot before.

  “No. I’m going to take you to our house and feed you before you go home and collapse.”

  “You don’t have to do that. I’ve got stuff in the freezer. You know me. I could survive the famine off of my pantry.”

  “That’s true,” Angie said with a groan. “But Jackson wanted to do this for you, since I’d done it for Ford when he came. I thought it was really sweet of him.”

  “Are you sure? I thought for sure he’d be mad at me for leaving Ford the way I did. I had to. You know that, right?”

  “I understand, Flynn.”

  Only Flynn’s mind went right back to her and Ford talking about how the only thing he’d really wanted that night was rest. Now she knew exactly how he felt. She also understood how hard it was to turn down such a nice gesture. She forced a smile.

  “I’ll take you home after we eat.”

  “Okay, I’m just going to leave everything in the car.”

  “That’s fine.”

  They walked inside, and Billy came running across the room, hugging his mom and then Flynn. “We’re going to serve you girls dinner tonight.”

  “You are so good to me,” Flynn said, laying a loud smooch on his cheek.

  He giggled and ran back into the kitchen.

  “Hey, babe,” Angie yelled. “We’re here.”

  “Heard you drive up.” Jackson poked his head out of the doorway. “You two sit down. I’ve got wine.”

  “Well, isn’t this special?” Flynn sat down and pulled her wineglass toward her. One glass and she’d probably sleep until tomorrow.

  Jackson walked in with a dishtowel over his arm like the wine sommelier, only it was a rooster dishtowel, and he was wearing a Budweiser T-shirt.

  “Redneck wine guy?” Flynn raised her glass. “You sure I’m not going to end up with moonshine?”

  “Girl, you should be so lucky. If you ever tried Uncle Bo’s apple pie moonshine, you’d be hooked.”

  “I’ll stick to the wine.”

  “Whatever the lady likes,” he said in an exaggerated tone.

  He poured a healthy glass for Angie. “I’m expecting you to make a play for the sommelier later,” he said with a wink.

  “He is pretty cute,” Angie teased.

  Flynn’s heart ached. Billy ran into the room, his tennis shoes slapping against the hardwood floor. He hooked a finger into the air and Jackson bent forward. Billy whispered something to him.

  “We’ll be right with you, ladies.” Jackson and Billy walked out of the room and Angie raised her glass. “To best friends,” Angie said.

  “Like family,” Flynn said, remembering her conversation with Ford. Flynn took a sip of the wine. “This is really good.” It made her think of the other night. A bit of her ached to relive that night and never let it stop. “Kiss the prince” echoed in her mind. If only it was that simple.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Ford stood in the kitchen with Jackson and Billy. “Do you think she knows I’m here?”

  “No way,” Jackson said. “Angie would never have told her.”

  “I hope I’m not making a fool of myself,” Ford said. “If I do, this better stay between the two of us.”

  “Me too,” Billy said.

  “Yeah, the two of you plus me,” Ford corrected.

  “You’re not going to make a fool of yourself, but promise me you’ve thought this through. I don’t want you to have any regrets.”

  “I won’t. I know what I’m doing.” He was dumbstruck when he’d read the note from Flynn and realized she’d left without him. And as he softened the blow at the expense of his liver, not only had Missy and Chet told him he was crazy to let Flynn get away. Louisa had given him an earful too. She’d said, “You’re an idiot if you let geography get in the way of your happiness. If Alaska is meant to be, you will both decide together to come back, but is it worth losing her now? Get your butt on a plane. Love will take you where you’re meant to be. Don’t dig in your heels and lose it all. It’s not worth it. I’ve made that mistake.”

  When he’d told her he’d thought he’d finally found everything he wanted since he’d placed the winning bid on the gallery, she’d poked him in the chest with her finger and said, “Look here. You can end up like me. In the place you love, old and all alone. It’s not all it’s cracked up to be.”

  He’d drank so much that night that he’d had to sleep on Chet and Missy’s couch Saturday night. He woke up with the worst hangover. Although Chet assured him the pain he was feeling was only half hangover. The worst part was the broken heart.

  Chet had poured him a stiff drink. Hair of the dog and all that mess, but it had helped.

  He hadn’t even bothered to drive home. Instead, he made a couple calls. A few ho
urs later he had a plane ticket and a plan.

  Thank goodness for friends.

  Ford turned the fried pork tenderloin over in the cast-iron skillet and gave the white pepper gravy one good, last stir. Billy smashed the potatoes. A few lumps let you know they were homemade. No harm in that.

  Angie stepped into the kitchen and looked back over her shoulder. Ford, Jackson, and Billy all stared at her. “What?”

  “You’re supposed to be out there,” Ford said.

  “I know, but you’re taking so long I started to think you were changing your mind.”

  “No way. I’m ready.” He used a fork to take the meat out of the pan and lay it on the platter. “I don’t know how I’ll ever thank you for this.”

  “Just make her happy,” Angie said. “Don’t you dare break her heart.”

  “Not going to happen. I think I knew there was something there that night at your rehearsal dinner. I never realized it was that strong until I had the chance to think about it not being there.”

  “I’m not one to talk. Katie still swears when Jackson and I saw each other that first day when I took her out to Criss Cross Farm that she could feel the sizzle between us. Neither of us realized how intense it was. Maybe it’s just so far-fetched that you don’t allow yourself to believe it. But it was true. We had something special, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

  “I don’t want to lose Flynn before I even have a chance to make her happy.”

  “You’re really serious about this.”

  “Completely,” Ford said. And the worry that he’d had as they waited to hear when Flynn would be back, and even when she was on the way here, fell away. “Let’s hope she doesn’t break my heart. Now, go sit down.”

  Angie walked toward the door and then turned and blew a kiss.

  Billy caught the kiss in the air and blew one back to her.

  Ford high-fived Billy. He couldn’t wait until he and Flynn had one of their own to share every happy moment in their lives with.

  Jackson went out first with the bowl of greens.

  “That smells good,” Flynn said, and then she looked up and her mouth dropped open as Ford stepped into the dining room with the platter.