Daughter's Return

by Rebecca Winters

  “Your dad was already happy when we met. I never saw anyone as proud of a son. You two were so close, I didn’t think there was room for anyone else. Please don’t let my being here interfere with your plans.”

  “Don’t be absurd. I’m glad you’ve moved in. I wouldn’t want it any other way. This is a big apartment, and it’s been like a tomb.”

  “Just be careful you don’t let Maggie think you’re shutting her out.”

  “Except for a few stolen moments, our relationship has been on a more professional basis.”

  She nodded. “I had those same stolen moments with your father in between long periods of being treated like an acquaintance. It was a very painful experience.”

  “Maggie’s not ready for anything more yet.”

  “Want to make a bet?”

  While he pondered her words, she kissed Jared’s neck before laying him down in his bed. “I think your big brother wants us to leave the subject of Maggie McFarland alone. We will for a while. Thank goodness you’re too young for me to worry about your love life, little lambkin.”

  “Kamila?” She raised her head and looked over her shoulder at him. “I love it that you care.”

  “All your father ever wanted was your happiness. I feel the same way. I miss our old talks. If you need a person to confide in, even if it’s the middle of the night, I’m here.”

  She was here.

  She’d brought him a present. A little brother.

  For almost two months he’d been living with a hard rock in his gut knowing she’d disappeared. Only now did it dawn on him he didn’t have to worry anymore.

  Maggie.

  It was all because of the magnificent woman who’d dropped them off in her car before heading to her penthouse alone. One day he’d live with her there, or any place else she wanted.

  Jake would give her as many children as she wanted.

  He’d only had to look at the hunger in her eyes when she’d insisted on tending Jared to know how much she craved to be a mother. Maggie had been so enamored with the baby, she hadn’t even noticed how long he and Kamila had taken to shop for the necessities in Frankfurt.

  “I’m going to hit the shower, then go to bed. Don’t be alarmed if you wake up early and discover I’m not here. I always get a run in before I come back to get ready for work.” He kissed their cheeks before leaving the bedroom.

  Later, when he climbed in bed, the temptation to phone Maggie and wish her good-night was almost overpowering. But he knew there was only one thing she wanted to hear from him.

  Why in the hell hadn’t that Realtor called him back yet?

  MAGGIE HAD ALWAYS BEEN ABLE to phone Cord at any hour when she needed to talk. But he had a wife now. Kit wouldn’t appreciate being disturbed at one in the morning.

  Totally wired after all they’d been through, she did something unprecedented and went into the study to watch TV. An old western featuring Hopalong Cassidy was on the movie channel. It was ancient.

  Maybe that was what she needed to get her mind off Jake for two seconds.

  Ten minutes later she shut it off.

  The only time on the trip he’d kissed her had been to put on a performance in front of Sabina. Getting Kamila out of Prague had been his sole objective. With his stepmother and little brother ensconced in his apartment, his pain had vanished.

  Other than having to be patient while he continued the therapy for his shoulder, he was free. He could do whatever he wanted when he wasn’t helping Maggie track down Antonin Buric. He could be with anyone he wanted.

  She knew he ran up City Creek in the mornings. A lot of women did the same thing. Good-looking women. Ben’s warning came back to haunt her.

  Nine years a widower is long enough for a man to fall madly in love all over again. Don’t let his past diminish what’s happening now.

  Did she have the guts to run at the same time and hope she bumped into him? Would he leave Kamila and the baby on their first morning in Salt Lake to get in a run before he went to work? Did he even plan to put in time at the office tomorrow?

  There was only one way to find out.

  She forced herself to go bed. In case she did fall asleep, she set her alarm for six.

  At times, other women went to extremes to get in a man’s face, but that wasn’t something Maggie had ever done. She was too much her mother’s daughter and Ben knew it. That was probably why he’d jolted her with a piece of unsolicited advice the other day.

  To her surprise she did sleep, but her inner clock must have been attuned to Jake’s because she awakened at quarter to six ready to go for a run.

  Donning a short-sleeved top and shorts, she hurried to her car and drove around the loop to the small parking area at the entrance to City Creek.

  A dozen people at least were jogging up and down the trail. There was no sign of Jake so far. After two miles, she stopped to catch her breath. Filled with disappointment, she decided to return to the car.

  “Hi,” a male voice called to her. She turned around to discover a blond man staring at her with open interest. He had the build of a tennis player.

  “Hi.”

  Probably any other woman would have been flattered, but they hadn’t met Jake or they would understand why no other man could compare.

  He smiled. “I hope you’re not going back yet.”

  “Actually I am. I’m due at work shortly.”

  He blocked her path. “I haven’t seen you running up here before.”

  “This is my first time.” It would be her only time. The plan to run into Jake had turned into a fiasco.

  “Why don’t you come here again tomorrow, same time, and we could go to breakfast after. My name’s Jim Peterson.”

  “I hope that invitation includes me,” sounded a deep, familiar voice directly behind her.

  Jake.

  She spun around. He’d obviously gone up the canyon farther and was on his return run.

  “Sorry I’m late, sweetheart.” He bounded right up to her and gave her a hard kiss in front of Jim. “You should have waited at the bottom, but I’m glad to know you missed me enough to come all this way.”

  “Sorry.” The other guy hunched his shoulders before continuing his run up the trail.

  “You should be,” she heard Jake mutter before he flung his arm around her shoulders for the walk back. His possessive tone sent a delicious shiver up her spine.

  With their bodies touching from shoulder to thigh, this was better than being in the Cessna 185.

  “It’s a good thing other people are around or you wouldn’t be safe with me.”

  “That’s a great line, Mr. Halsey,” she teased, wanting him to mean it, wondering if he did.

  In the next breath he led her into some heavy underbrush behind a clump of pines. With his hard body, he forced hers against one of the trunks.

  Desire, hot and unmistakable, turned his eyes dark before his head descended. On a little moan, her mouth lifted to meet his. Their deep kiss, like slow burning logs, suddenly burst into flame. She wrapped her arms around his back to bring him closer.

  “I could devour you right here,” he admitted on a shallow breath. His lips roved relentlessly over her hot cheeks and throat. “If this isn’t the reason you came to find me, then don’t tell me because I don’t want to know.”

  Maggie remained silent because she refused to lie to him. She’d waded into deep waters. It was a heady new experience. Right now nothing was more important than satisfying her need, which seemed to grow with every hungry kiss.

  “Let’s go to your apartment,” he whispered into her hair.

  “I wish we could, but I have to get to the office right away.”

  “Have dinner with me and Kamila tonight after work. Later we’ll go to your place where we can have uninterrupted time alone.”

  “All right.” Her voice shook.

  He pressed his forehead against hers. “I’m glad you agreed, because if you’d said anything else…”

  “I
wasn’t about to.”

  She felt his body trembling. “Come on. Let’s get you back to the parking area before we draw more of a crowd.”

  Runners were watching them?

  With her cheeks hotter than ever, she eased out of his arms. Jake grasped her hand and pulled her back to the trail. He didn’t let her go until they reached the bottom of the canyon.

  “See you at six.” He helped her into her car, then leaned inside the window and drew another kiss from her before heading for his. They’d reached a level of passion that could only have one outcome because she didn’t want to fight what she was feeling for him any longer.

  A half hour later, she entered her office. Steve was hard at work. She walked over and put a hand on his shoulder. “Guess who’s back?”

  “It’s good to see you.”

  “Ditto. Do you remember when you told me I worked too hard? That everyone needed to take time off now and again?”

  He grinned. “I remember, and I haven’t changed my mind about it.”

  “Well, I’ve decided you are going to take your own advice. I want you to get out of here and enjoy this beautiful day. I just came back from a run up City Creek. I saw a lot of females about your age beating me by a mile.

  “You know what Hollywood says about Utah women. They’re the most beautiful in the world. So put on your running shoes. I don’t want to see you back here until tomorrow.

  “Of course if running up City Creek isn’t your thing, ask Cord to take you to his athletic club. He’ll introduce you to a couple of attractive CEOs and doctors working out. But if they’re not your style, then mosey on up to the U and take advantage of their athletic facilities. A skillion female students hang out there.”

  “A skillion?”

  “That’s an old Salt Lake term for a whole bunch.”

  He got to his feet chuckling. “In other words, you want me out of here.”

  She winked. “I told you you’re brilliant. Since I’m already impressed by the job you’ve been doing, I want you to enjoy yourself. All work and no play…”

  “I’m gone,” he quipped before disappearing from her office.

  So am I, Steve.

  Blown away.

  I didn’t know I would feel like this when love happened to me.

  Milwaukee, Wisconsin

  August 27

  ANNA HELD HER BREATH WAITING for the doctor who’d operated on her yesterday to make his rounds. The nurses kept her sedated for pain, but the medicine didn’t do anything to relieve her anxiety about missing class.

  Finally he breezed in the room looking disgustingly healthy and energetic. “Good morning, Anna. How are you feeling?”

  “I’ll be a lot better when you tell me how soon you’ll let me get up on crutches. Yesterday was supposed to be my first day of classes at the university. I can’t afford to miss more than a day or two.”

  His professional gaze studied her speculatively. “Before I operated, you told me you wanted to be able to ski this coming winter.”

  “I do! In fact I’ve already made my reservations.”

  “Then you have to obey my instructions to the letter if you want to heal properly. I understand you don’t have anyone to take care of you.”

  “No, but it’s all right.”

  Actually she had all her Skwars and Buric relatives, but they were the last people she would impose on. Not after all they’d done for her. Not since she’d begun her new life.

  “I’m afraid it isn’t. You sustained a nasty break in that car accident. For the next week you need to be in bed with your leg elevated. That means someone must wait on you, so I’ll arrange for you to be transferred to the hospital’s rehabilitation wing in the morning. Your student insurance will cover the cost.”

  She lifted her head off the pillow. “A whole week?”

  “That’s not all. You’ll need another two weeks with a therapist who’ll help you with your crutches.”

  Hot tears trickled out of her eyes. “Now I’m going to have to withdraw from my college classes.”

  He smiled at her with compassion. “I know you didn’t plan to end up in that collision yesterday, but remember you’ve still got your life. There’s always next semester.

  “We’ll get an X ray in a week. If everything’s fine, I won’t need to see you until you’re released in three weeks. Take the painkiller and relax. This period will pass. In time you’ll be good as new.”

  “Thank you, Dr. Brewer.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  The staff didn’t give her time to indulge in her grief or the loss of her totaled car. It seemed like someone came in every few minutes to take her vital signs. Before she knew it, they’d brought her a dinner of liquids. The broth turned her stomach. She managed a Popsicle and Sprite.

  “Is there anything else I can get you?”

  “Could you phone the student housing at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee? I need to talk to the supervisor.”

  “Sure.”

  The nurse returned a few minutes later and got her on the line. She handed the phone to Anna.

  “Hi. This is Anna Buric. I’m in building B, number twenty. Yesterday I was hit by a speeding car that went through a red light. I ended up in Milwaukee West Hospital with a broken leg and won’t be coming back to college this semester. Is there some way for my things to be cleared out and brought to the hospital? Then another student will be able to have my room. I’ll pay someone to do it.”

  “I’ll take care of it and come by tomorrow to see you. The important thing is for you to get better.”

  “Thank you so much. Shall I just phone the registrar and cancel my classes?”

  “Since it’s not too late to drop them, why don’t I help you do that when I come over.”

  “You’re very kind.”

  “That’s what I’m here for. We don’t want your first days at the university to be blighted by this experience. What a lousy deal.”

  “It was horrible. The driver of the other car has a broken back.”

  “Better that person than you, when you were just minding your own business. Don’t worry about anything.”

  “I’ll try not to.”

  It was a lie. Right now Anna was feeling overwhelmed. Tomorrow she would have to call the hospital lab and tell them what had happened. If they were going to give her the job, would they hold it for her?

  “That’s the spirit. See you in the morning.”

  When the supervisor hung up, Anna handed the phone back to the nurse with a thank-you.

  Three weeks in the hospital before she had to look for another place to live? What an irony to think she’d wanted a job in the lab to get a feel for hospital work.

  Who would have dreamed that while she was having a wonderful time on the ferry, tooting around Wisconsin in her new car, she would end up here yesterday on the receiving end of the hospital’s services.

  Anna knew she should be thankful she hadn’t been killed, but tonight the future looked bleak. If the lab job was out, it would be at least a month before she could get another job and start bringing in money. Her skiing trip was definitely out now. Hopefully she’d be able to get some of her money back.

  The terrible loneliness that sometimes crept through her was running rampant.

  Most people had family to turn to. A relative. But Anna had no idea where she really belonged. The Skwars and Burics had helped raise her, but they were bonded to their own families. She was bonded to no one.

  The only thing saving her sanity was the possibility that she’d been kidnapped by Antonin Buric. Ever since her talk with Mr. Markham, she’d been imagining the family she’d been born into.

  She had blue eyes—did her parents have blue eyes, too? She was a natural blonde with chin-length hair styled in a casual cut for college. It was lighter in summer as a result of helping in the orchards beneath a full sun. She stood taller, more slender than the women at Skwars farm.

  Was her mother tall, or did her height com
e from her father? How many brothers and sisters did she have, or was she an only child? How terrible for her birth parents if that had been the case.

  Anna tried to imagine where they might live. East Coast? West Coast? Somewhere in between? Maybe overseas. In a big city or a small town?

  What did her father do for a living? Did her mother work? What were their talents?

  Did they have a family pet?

  Was Anna the oldest? The youngest?

  Were her siblings married? Did she have nieces and nephews?

  What was her real name? Was she of English or Scottish stock? Maybe Scandinavian?

  Had her father served in the military? Where did her family stand on politics? Did they attend a church? If so, which one?

  The questions went on and on until the nurse came in to give her more painkiller and she lost cognizance of her surroundings.

  Salt Lake City, Utah

  August 27

  WITH HIS MIND ON THE EVENING to come, Jake almost collided with Wendell in the hall outside his office.

  “There you are, Jake! I just put something on your desk I think you’ll be excited about.”

  “New information on the Buric name?”

  “No.” He chuckled. “It’s the 1746 will of your Halsey ancestor. I printed off a copy for you to keep with your own family records.”

  Jake had to fight his disappointment. With Kamila and Jared safely under his roof, nothing was more important than finding new evidence on Kathryn’s whereabouts. When he saw Maggie tonight, he wanted to bring her something that meant she was a step closer to being united with her sister. He refused to believe Kathryn was no longer alive.

  “That’s very thoughtful of you Wendell. I really appreciate it.”

  “I knew you would.” He followed Jake inside. “Go ahead and read it out loud.”

  Jake smiled. Wendell was one of a kind. Resigned to this little task because he liked him so much, Jake picked up the paper and began reading.

  “In the name of God, amen. I, Nathanial Halsey of Southampton, in Suffolk County, England, a farmer, being well in health, leave to my son Recompense?” Jake’s head reared.

  Wendell started to chuckle. “Go on.”

  “I leave to my son Recompense all my houses and lands at Meacox, and a half of a lot of meadow at—Accabog in Jumping Neck?—which I bought off Edward Philips by deed.”