Walland

by Andrea Thome

  She was even more beautiful than he’d remembered. He must have had an odd look on his face, because the cashier looked up when he didn’t answer a question and followed his gaze to the television. Her eyes got big and round.

  “Oh goodness, I’ve been waiting for this segment to come on! It’s the owners of Blackberry Farm! On the Today show! Do you mind if I watch this real quick?”

  She waited for Wyatt to answer, but he couldn’t, so he just shook his head. He couldn’t take his eyes off her.

  She grabbed the remote, turning up the volume so they could hear the interview that was already in progress. Finn was saying something about how he and Susan were honeymooning in New York, when he suddenly grabbed at his chest, leaning forward off his stool and collapsing onto the floor. Susan gasped and scrambled down beside him, crying his name over and over. India somehow managed to collect herself, her stunned face drained of all color.

  “We’re going to take a break. We’ll be back in a moment,” she managed to say before rushing across the floor to where Susan was now covering Finn’s motionless form.

  The television went black, and a local commercial popped up, bleating about a furniture sale of some kind. The hardware store was eerily quiet, the few people who had gathered around to watch standing together in stunned silence. Wyatt couldn’t understand what had just happened.

  He grabbed his keys off the counter and sprinted out the door to his truck. He drove directly to the airport, praying he’d be able to get a flight.

  CHAPTER

  TWENTY-NINE

  Susan stayed by Finn’s side as the ambulance prepared to rush him to Mount Sinai on the west side of town. India promised she would get in touch with Wyatt, but Susan asked her to please wait until they knew more about Finn’s condition. India reluctantly agreed, but she was conflicted. She knew Wyatt would want to be there to support his family. She decided that she had to tell him, but when she tried to call, his phone rang four times before going to voice mail. She decided to call the farm to see if they knew how to reach him. They didn’t but promised to deliver her message.

  Thankfully, her coanchors were still in the building, so they were asked to finish out the remaining segments of the show since India was too visibly shaken to go back on the air.

  She’d told Susan as the ambulance prepared to pull away that she would meet her at the hospital but that she needed to make sure her shift was covered before leaving. The fear on Susan’s face made India’s blood run cold. Finn was still lying pale and unconscious next to her, surrounded by the paramedics in the rig. India watched as they closed the back doors in a hurry and the ambulance screeched down the street and out of sight. She wrapped her arms around herself and rushed back into the building.

  Stanley Ruff had immediately come downstairs after seeing the drama unfold live on the television from his office, and he found India gathering up her belongings, ready to leave for Mount Sinai. He blew out a breath, strangely thrilled about the events that had just transpired.

  Any attempt to contain his excitement was thinly disguised, and he was wringing his hands in obvious delight. He grasped India on the shoulder as she was about to walk out the door.

  “If you’re planning to go to the hospital, I hope you’ll make sure to secure a follow-up interview? The viewers are going crazy, wondering what’s happening. That was incredible live television! I’ll expect to see you back here tomorrow morning with a full report for our first segment. They might want something for the evening news too, so make sure to check in with us later.”

  India didn’t speak. She couldn’t, afraid of what she might say. She rushed out the door and headed to the hospital with a foul taste in her mouth the whole way.

  Wyatt cursed the traffic. He’d made great time driving through Virginia and Maryland but found himself at a standstill a few miles west of Allentown, Pennsylvania.

  He’d arrived at the Knoxville airport just after the morning flight to New York had departed, and couldn’t imagine waiting seven hours for the next plane to leave, especially since thunderstorms in the area were threatening delays. He couldn’t risk a cancelled flight, so he’d driven as far as he could before stopping to gas up, where he’d grabbed two large black coffees along with several maps. He was pissed that he’d left his cell phone at the hardware store and didn’t have Google Maps at his disposal.

  The station attendant was kind enough to lend him a phone, which he used to call the farm to find out if anyone had information on where Finn had been taken. The staff at the front desk said they’d heard from India a couple of times and that Finn was still in surgery, but they hadn’t gotten any other updates in the past hour or so.

  So India had called. He’d wondered if she would try his cell phone, and he kicked himself again for having left in such a rush. He needed to keep a cool head, to be ready for whatever Susan needed when he arrived. He prayed that Finn could hold on, for both of their sakes. He couldn’t think about himself or India right now. He needed to focus on getting to New York as quickly as possible.

  India and Susan huddled together in the family waiting area for most of the afternoon. It had been nine hours since Finn had collapsed on set, but it may as well have been nine days. Minutes felt like hours as they waited for news while the surgeons worked hard to save his life. Finally, just before seven in the evening, the automatic doors opened with a whoosh, and Finn’s surgeon appeared like a mirage in the desert. Susan grabbed India’s hand as they both rushed to their feet.

  “You have a very tough husband, ma’am,” he said, pushing the mask down below his chin.

  “The surgery went well, but Mr. Janssen did suffer a heart attack. We were able to perform a triple bypass, and from the looks of things, he’s doing very well. He only suffered minimal damage, so we expect him to make a full recovery. We’re taking him up to the ICU recovery area now. I’ll let you know when you can see him.”

  Susan clasped her hand over her mouth, finally letting the tears flow. India had marveled at how strong she’d been all afternoon, and seeing her vulnerability now made her appreciate this remarkable woman even more. Susan embraced the doctor, thanking him profusely. When he left them, she turned to India, tears still brimming in her eyes.

  “Thank you for being here for me today. I was terrified that we were going to lose him, and I honestly can’t imagine my life without that stubborn mule.”

  She wiped her tears, her resolve seeming to strengthen right before India’s eyes.

  “I suppose I should call Wyatt now. I couldn’t bear the thought of calling him with bad news. I’m so glad I don’t have to.”

  India reached over and stopped her from dialing. She gave Susan a sheepish smile.

  “I’ve already been trying to call him all day; I know you asked me not to, but I knew it was because you couldn’t tell him yourself. He’s not answering his phone for some reason, but I know he’s been checking in at the farm. I’ve been leaving word at the front desk, and they said he’s called in a couple of times to find out what’s going on. I’ll call again now to tell them the good news.”

  India gave Susan a squeeze before walking down the hall to find a quiet place to make the call.

  The elevator doors opened, and Wyatt found himself standing face-to-face with her.

  “Susan! How is he? Is he out of surgery yet?” Wyatt pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly.

  Susan hugged him back, so grateful to see him there.

  “He made it through OK, Wyatt. He’s going to be OK. Oh God, I was so scared, but he’s going to be just fine.”

  She pulled back to look at his face. He was clearly exhausted.

  “Why haven’t you been answering your phone? How did you get here so fast? We’ve been trying to reach you all day.”

  Susan looked around for India, but the hallways were empty. She led Wyatt back to the family waiting area.

  Wyatt reached up, dragging his hands through his hair, and then stretched his back.


  “I couldn’t get a flight, so I drove straight here. I was at the hardware store when I saw you on TV. Scared the shit out of me. I took off so fast, I left my cell phone sitting on the counter. I’ve been stopping to check in at the farm every time I got gas. I guess they’ve been getting regular updates.”

  He glanced around the waiting room, wondering where India was. Susan grabbed his hand.

  “India’s been here with me all day. She just went to call the farm to give them another update, but I’m sure she’ll be back any minute. I couldn’t have done it without her, Wyatt. I can see why you love her so much.”

  Wyatt cleared his throat and looked out the window.

  Down the hall, India had just finished up her call when Finn’s surgeon rounded the corner.

  “Miss Evans, I can take you and Mrs. Janssen up to see Mr. Janssen now. He’s doing well and might be waking up soon. I’m sure he’d love to see you both there.”

  They started walking down the hall, but India stopped short.

  She could see Susan talking to Wyatt in the waiting area. He was running his hands through his hair, his face darkened by several days’ worth of whiskers. She had the sudden urge to run to him, but she stopped herself. In that instant, she knew. But she wasn’t ready to see him yet. Not like this. Not here.

  “Why don’t you take Mrs. Janssen up with Finn’s son, Wyatt? He’s just arrived. Please tell them I’ll see them later, but I’m afraid I have to go now. Thank you, Doctor.”

  She turned and headed for the set of elevators at the other end of the floor.

  By the time Wyatt came looking for her, the hallway was empty.

  CHAPTER

  THIRTY

  Susan and Wyatt spent the next few hours at Finn’s bedside, leaving only to use the restroom or take turns getting coffee. Finn opened his eyes shortly after they’d arrived and recognized them right away, squeezing each of their hands. Doctors had taken him off the ventilator, which had made him much more comfortable. He was getting his color back and starting to look like himself again, and they were relieved when doctors confirmed that he was on his way to a lengthy but full recovery.

  Wyatt intended on staying the night at the hospital, but Susan insisted he check in to the hotel for the evening to rest up after his long drive. She’d managed to finagle a private room for Finn in the ICU and was determined to sleep on the pullout sofa herself, insisting there wasn’t enough room for both of them. She walked Wyatt out into the hallway, the two of them embracing just outside Finn’s room. Susan put her hands on his arms.

  “We have a room at the Carlyle, at Seventy-Sixth and Madison. I’ve already called over and reserved you a room too, so they’re expecting you. Get some sleep, Wyatt. He’s going to be resting all night anyway, and you’ll be yourself again when you see him in the morning.”

  She placed her hand on his cheek, unable to ignore the pain in his eyes any longer.

  “She’s giving you space, Wyatt. I’m sure she’ll be here to see Finn tomorrow. The two of you can talk then.”

  Susan leaned in and kissed him on the cheek before turning to head back into Finn’s room. Wyatt stood there for a moment, debating whether or not to hang around the hospital in case India returned that evening. He decided that if she’d chosen to avoid him once already, it was probably better if he made himself scarce to avoid any awkwardness.

  Walking out of the hospital, he couldn’t help but wonder what the people at the fancy hotel would think when he pulled up to check in to their five-star hotel, leaving Olive behind with the valet.

  He was glad he’d had the presence of mind to stop at the hospital gift shop first, considering he’d left home without so much as a toothbrush. He purchased the few things he would need to get cleaned up and then grabbed a change of clothes in the Carlyle’s shop, which they’d kindly opened up for him after hours when he’d arrived.

  He rode the elevator to the seventh floor, wondering the entire time why India hadn’t at least said hello at the hospital. He’d just pulled the keycard from the lock, pushing the door to his room open with his knee, when he felt the weight of it pull away from him.

  India was standing inside, her eyes soberly locked on to his.

  He froze for a moment before stepping inside, letting the door slam behind him. He saw her flinch at the sound and instinctively dropped the bags he’d had in his hands, closing the gap between them in two broad steps.

  She pulled him against her, and they embraced, holding each other for a length of time. When he lifted his face to hers, they both had tears in their eyes, his brimming with questions for her. She answered him with her kiss. Her hands caressed his face as she softly ran her tongue along his bottom lip before taking full possession of his mouth. He groaned at the taste of her, not needing answers now.

  He walked her backward until her knees hit the bed, clipping her legs out from under her, the weight of his body on hers a welcome sensation. They fit together perfectly, each of them wondering how they’d survived the past nine days. He loved her then, with everything he was made of, letting his body tell her just how much. She felt cherished, cared for, safe. He was her true north, and it had taken her feeling lost to find him again.

  Nothing else mattered when he slid inside her, the two of them connected, body, mind, and spirit. They moved together, slowly at first, then with urgency, never taking their eyes off one another. When they reached the peak together, they knew that neither of them could live without the other. The rest of it was just details.

  They lay in each other’s arms afterward, Wyatt running his fingers through her hair, her head on his chest. She knew she had some explaining to do. But first she wanted to know about Finn.

  “Were you able to see Finn? I know how much that must have meant to both him and Susan that you managed to get here so quickly.” She tilted her head so she could see his face.

  He looked down at her and nodded. “He woke up for just a minute, but he knew we were there. The doctors said he’ll be more alert in the morning, so Susan convinced me to come here to get some sleep.”

  He kissed her on the forehead and chuckled.

  “I’m pretty sure this is the opposite of what she had in mind, but I’ve actually never felt better.” India smiled.

  “I know you weren’t expecting to see me here. I saw you in the hospital with Susan, and it took everything I had not to go to you then.”

  He scooted back against the headboard so he could see her better, and she adjusted so she was lying on her side, propped up on her elbow looking at him. Wyatt looked confused.

  “Why didn’t you, then? I knew you’d been there, but I thought you left because you didn’t want to see me. I didn’t understand why you would do that.”

  India closed her eyes briefly, then looked right at him.

  “I knew we had so much to say to each other, and I wanted you to have that time with Susan and Finn. They needed you in that moment. I figured I’d waited this long, so what was a couple more hours? Turns out it was agony. I called Susan to find out a good time to come back, and she suggested I meet you here. She put my name on the room reservation. That’s how I got in. So I think she actually might have had this in mind. But what took you so long to get here?”

  Wyatt chuckled.

  “Well, seeing as I left home with nothing but the clothes on my back, I had a couple of stops to make. That’s what’s in those bags I threw to the floor when I saw you.” They laughed together before Wyatt grew serious again.

  “What does this mean, India? Are you here because of what happened to Finn? Or are you here for me?” His stomach clenched as he waited for her response.

  She sat up to face him, wrapping the sheet around herself. Taking a deep breath, she said, “I don’t know what I thought would happen when I left you. I can tell you, it was a thousand times worse than anything I could have imagined. Loving you has changed me, Wyatt, and I can’t seem to find my way back to my old self. The thing is . . . I don’t want to go back.
The life I left here two weeks ago isn’t the one I returned to, and I know that’s because of you.”

  She scooted closer to him, taking his hand in hers.

  “It’s like when you get a massage and you don’t know you have lower back pain until someone starts digging around? Meeting you, and loving you, showed me what I’ve been missing. My job was great, until it wasn’t. I don’t want to do it anymore. I forgot how much I love photography, and I’ve been spending a lot of time writing this week since I’ve been back. Maybe that’s what’s next for me. Or maybe it’s something I haven’t even discovered yet. Who knows?”

  She brought his hand to her lips as he sat up to face her.

  “I do know one thing. It’s not that I can’t live without you. I’m choosing not to. I’m ready for all of the adventures that life has in store for the two of us. I can’t imagine taking another trip around the sun without you.” She leaned in to kiss him just to the side of his mouth, then the other side. Wyatt pulled back with wonder in his eyes.

  “What are you saying, India? Am I hearing this right?”

  She smiled, kissing him square on the lips this time. She leaned in to whisper in his ear, “I’m asking you to take me home, Wyatt. With you. Take me home to Walland.”

  EPILOGUE

  Three seasons passed at Blackberry Farm, and India and Wyatt soon found themselves on the other side of a year. Spring brought new life once again, and as dawn broke that late-April day, they knew they were in for treat. The weeks leading up to that morning had been particularly warm, encouraging everything to bloom a little ahead of schedule. The meadows were filled with wildflowers, and the trees were budding, pregnant with the possibility of summer days ahead.

  Now, as the late-afternoon sun streamed through the windows, India was sitting at the vanity in Woodshed, where she’d stayed the night before. Violet was standing behind her, braiding small pieces of her hair and pinning them back with sprigs of lily of the valley. Sadie was twirling around in her little pink dress, thrilled to be a part of the festivities and happy her parents had brought her back to East Tennessee after a year away. Violet and Rex’s book was newly submitted to their publisher, having already gotten rave reviews from the people editing it, so the travel had been well worth it, but they were just glad to be home in Knoxville, especially for this day. It was exciting to think that this time next year, they could find themselves the proud authors of a bestselling book.