Beach Reads Boxed Set

by Marie Force

  Between his Business Aviation magazine and the latest issue of Time was a small cream-colored envelope. He picked it up and noticed his name and Capital Airlines written in Olivia’s handwriting. Underneath, someone else had scrawled his home address. He took it with him to the living room, sat on the sofa, and held it for a long time.

  Gazing up at her sketch of their trip to San Francisco, he got lost in a sea of memories that made him ache with regret. He missed her so much. Sometimes he thought he’d lose his mind if he had to spend another day without her. He was also tormented by the idea that he might’ve left her alone and possibly pregnant.

  He opened the letter. When he saw the date they met and her neat, precise words, his heart slowed to a crawl.

  Dear Cole,

  I wanted to thank you again for what you did today. I hope you weren’t too badly injured. If you’re receiving this note, it’s because your airline wouldn’t tell me anything about your condition and I couldn’t let what you did go by without a proper thank you.

  I also wanted to say that no one has ever done anything like that for me. That you were willing to risk your own safety to defend me was brave, to say the least. If you find yourself at Reagan National again, I’d love to know how you are. Look for me at the NewsStop in the main terminal. I’m there most afternoons.

  Sincerely,

  Olivia Robison

  He read the note over and over until the words ran together. Then he dropped his head into his hands and wept.

  On Valentine’s Day, Olivia shipped off the last of the pieces Paolo needed for her show, which was now just over a month away. She had worked all weekend to finish them and was hopeful that Paolo would like them. Her new work had a definite edge to it since life had ripped off her rose-colored glasses. She had no idea what her mentors in San Francisco would think of them.

  She was on the Metro between school and the airport when Jenny called.

  “Hey, happy VD,” Olivia said.

  “Liv, where are you?”

  “Almost to the airport. Why?”

  “Honey, listen, I hate to do this to you, but Cole’s plane has declared an emergency.”

  Olivia gasped. “What happened?”

  “Apparently, they were getting ready to land at Reagan and couldn’t get the front landing gear to deploy properly.”

  Olivia’s heart literally stopped for a moment. “The third thing.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “He believes things happen in threes. Oh God, Jenny, how do you know?”

  “It’s on CNN. They’re making a big deal about Captain Incredible having another chance to be a hero. They’ve got cameras following the plane as it circles the airport. I guess they’re trying to make a plan to get them down safely.”

  “What do I do?”

  “Go to the airport and ask the people at Capital. Tell them you’re his fiancée. If that freak show Natasha can do it, so can you.”

  “What if he dies? He could die without ever knowing how much I love him.”

  “He’s not going to die. Pull yourself together, Liv. I’d come there to be with you if I could, but Billy’s asleep and Will’s in Richmond for the day.”

  “I’m getting off the Metro now. I’ll call you when I know anything.”

  “Please do. I’ll be praying for him, for both of you.”

  “Thanks.”

  Olivia sprinted into the terminal and ran straight for the Capital counter, which was mobbed with media and the frantic families of people on the plane. Since there was no way to break through to anyone who could help her, she took off for the Capital lounge.

  Inside, she ran straight past the attendant to find a group of Capital pilots and flight attendants glued to the bank of televisions. Among them, Olivia saw Jake Garrison, the pilot Cole had introduced her to before their trip to San Francisco.

  “Miss, you can’t be in here,” the attendant said to Olivia as she approached Jake.

  “Excuse me.” When he turned to her, she said, “I’m not sure if you remember me, but I’m Cole Langston’s—”

  “Girlfriend,” he said. “Olivia, right?”

  She nodded.

  “It’s fine,” he said to the attendant who hovered next to Olivia. “She’s my guest.”

  “Thank you. What’s the latest?”

  “We just got word they’re going to divert them to Dulles. It’s a bigger airport with a larger emergency-management capability.”

  “In case they crash?” Olivia asked softly.

  “They won’t. I’ve known the captain for years. He’s a good friend of mine and one of the best pilots I’ve ever flown with. And I’ll tell you the same thing I told CNN—if I was in this situation, there’s no one I’d rather have in the right seat than Cole Langston.”

  “Jackpot.”

  “Pardon me?”

  “That’s what they called him in the Navy because he never missed his targets.”

  Jake smiled. “Suits him. He’s an ace, honey. You’ve got nothing to worry about.” He put his arm around her shoulders. “Since they’ve grounded us for the time being, some of us are catching a shuttle out to Dulles to meet the flight. Why don’t you come along?”

  For the first time, Olivia hesitated. She had no idea how she’d be received by Cole if he managed to get through this unharmed. Then she realized she didn’t really care if he’d be happy to see her. She needed to see him. “I’d appreciate that.”

  Olivia called in sick to work and boarded the shuttle with Jake. As she watched the miles fly by on Route 66 during the forty-minute ride, all she could think about was what must be running through Cole’s mind at that moment. They said there were eighty-nine passengers and six crewmembers on board. They must be so scared, but I’m sure Cole and the captain are doing all they can to reassure them.

  “The good news is they got a perfect weather day for something like this,” Jake said. “No snow or precipitation of any kind. Rare in February.”

  “Yes,” she said, appreciating his efforts to keep her spirits up.

  “Of course, he’ll hate all the renewed media attention,” Jake added, chuckling. “Twice in just over a year with a punch-out in the middle. The guy lives on the edge.”

  Olivia nodded in agreement, but she yearned with all her heart for the sound of Cole’s voice, for any sign that he was okay. When she couldn’t bear it another minute, she dialed his cell phone number from memory and waited for his message to pick up.

  “Hi, this is Cole. I can’t take your call right now because I’m probably in the air. Leave a message, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I’m back on terra firma.”

  Her eyes flooded as she waited for the beep. “It’s Liv. I just…” Words failed her for a moment, and then she knew exactly what she had to say. “I love you. I needed you to know that. Please be safe. I couldn’t stand it if anything happened to you. That’s all I wanted to say. I love you.”

  She ended the call and held the phone tight against her chest as tears spilled down her cheeks.

  Jake put his arm around her. “It’s okay. He’s going to be just fine.”

  Olivia was grateful for the comfort but couldn’t help but wonder if Cole would care that she still loved him. Hopefully, she’d get the chance to find out.

  They waited an endless hour as the plane circled over Dulles, which had been closed to other aircraft.

  “Before they attempt to bring her down, they’re going to fly by the tower real low so the controllers can get another look at the gear,” Jake explained.

  “Can they land without it?”

  He nodded. “But because it’s not fully deployed, it’s going to want to collapse under the weight of the fuselage. The worry is that the metal will drag and cause sparks. That’s why they’re covering the runway with flame-retardant foam—as a precaution.”

  Olivia’s heart lodged in her throat as she watched the flyby and listened to the speculation from the other pilots, who’d welcomed her into their ti
ght circle after Jake introduced her as Cole’s girlfriend. The pilots had gathered in a lounge that overlooked a runway lined with emergency vehicles. The passengers’ families were in the room next door.

  “Gotta keep all the weight on the back for as long as they can,” one pilot said.

  “And get everyone out of there stat,” another replied.

  Olivia couldn’t listen to any more. She wandered away from them to the window in time to see the big jet banking up and away from the airfield. The addled wheel was obvious to her now, angled as it was at about thirty degrees.

  “This is it,” someone cried. “They’re making one more loop and then bringing her in.”

  Olivia clasped her hands together and prayed like she never had before. Please, she begged, just let him be okay. Let them all be okay. I’ll do anything, give up anything. Anything at all.

  “Here we go,” she heard Jake say. His voice was tight with tension. His eyes, when she glanced over at him, were glued to the runway. “Easy does it. That’s the way.”

  Olivia held her breath as the back wheels touched down.

  “Good,” Jake said to no one in particular. “Keep that nose up.”

  Finally, as the plane slowed, they eased the nose down. Sparks and flames shot from under the wheel as it dragged along the foam-covered runway.

  She gasped.

  “Just the tires blowing out,” Jake said. “That’s to be expected.”

  “Oh, my God.” Olivia looked away as fire trucks sped toward the plane to aim more foam at the smoldering front tires. She braced herself for a huge explosion that never happened.

  “It’s okay, honey,” Jake said, his voice euphoric. “You can look now. They did it!”

  Olivia took a deep breath before she allowed herself to look at the runway where the plane was surrounded by fire engines, ambulances, and other emergency vehicles.

  “Jackpot,” she whispered.

  Chapter Thirty

  Another hour passed before the flight crew was delivered to the terminal. Most of the other pilots had left, but Jake stayed with Olivia. After what they had been through together that day, he felt like an old friend. Over the last hour, she had told him about her breakup with Cole.

  “No wonder why he’s been such a grouch lately,” Jake said. He jumped up when he saw Cole and the captain come through the door from the tarmac. “Damned fine job, you two,” Jake said, hugging them both. “Damned fine.”

  “Thanks,” Cole said, returning Jake’s embrace. He looked up and froze when he saw Olivia standing there. “Liv?”

  Jake stepped aside. “She’s been waiting a long time to say hello. You’d have been proud of her today, Langston. She was a real trouper.” He kissed Olivia’s cheek.

  “Thank you, Jake. For everything.”

  “The pleasure was entirely mine, honey. Tell him what you told me. He needs to hear it.” Jake threw his arm around the captain’s shoulders and walked away with him saying, “Now let me tell you how I would’ve done it.”

  Their laughter echoed through the hallway as Cole and Olivia stared at each other.

  “What’re you doing here?” he asked.

  Olivia had never seen him looking quite so exhausted—or handsome. “I, ah, found Jake at Reagan. He remembered me and offered to bring me here.”

  “That’s not what I meant.”

  She took another step toward him, her hands twisting with nerves. “I’m here because I love you so much, and when I thought you might die, I wanted to die, too,” she said, not caring that she sounded like a blithering fool and must have looked like one, too, with tears cascading down her face.

  “Liv,” he sighed.

  And then she was in his arms. She had no idea if he moved or if she did—or maybe they both did. Who cared? There was the scent that belonged only to him and the strong arms that held her just right, the way no one else ever could.

  “I’m sorry you were so scared,” he said.

  She pulled back to look up at him. “Were you? Scared?”

  “For the first time ever, I really was.”

  “At least you won’t have to worry about that third thing anymore.”

  His face lifted into a small, tired smile. “True enough.”

  She reached up to frame his face with her hands. “I’m so happy to see you. I’ve missed you so much, and then when I thought I might never see you again…” Shaking her head, she couldn’t continue.

  He brushed the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs. “I hate to say it, but I have stuff I need to go do. The NTSB is waiting to talk to us,” he said, referring to the National Transportation Safety Board. “They like to get to us while it’s still fresh in our minds.”

  She let her hands fall from his face. “I understand.”

  “How will you get home?”

  “I’ll grab a cab.”

  “From here?” He raised an eyebrow. “That goes against everything you believe in.”

  “That’s okay. Being here was worth it. If you need a place to stay after you’re done, I’ll leave the door unlocked.”

  “It’s apt to be really late.”

  “Doesn’t matter. I’ll be there.”

  The captain he had flown with came around the corner. “Langston, are you coming?”

  “Be right there.” When Cole brought his eyes back to her, she noticed they were dark with fatigue and what might have been emotion. He kept them fixed on her for a long, breathless moment. “I’ve got to go.”

  “Okay,” she said, even though she wanted desperately to kiss him. Just once.

  He brushed his finger over her cheek in a gesture that left her breathless. “It was good of you to be here. I appreciate it.” He attempted the half smile she loved, but his eyes were sad, so very sad. “I’ll see you.”

  Heartbroken, she watched him walk away. For the first time, he hadn’t said, “next time.” She had poured out her love for him, but he hadn’t clung to her and professed his undying love the way she had pictured during the endless hours she had spent praying for his safety.

  In a daze, she walked through the deserted airport and into the freezing cold night to find a cab. Forty-five minutes and fifty dollars later, she arrived at home. As promised, she left the door unlocked for him, changed into her pajamas, and got into bed. She sat up all night, hoping he would come home to her. But by the time the sun rose the next morning, she had accepted he wasn’t coming then or ever. The scent of his cologne still clung faintly to her hands as she realized it was really over this time, and somehow she had to find a way to go on without him.

  Olivia decided to take her mother’s advice and threw herself into her schoolwork over the next two weeks. Her classes were interesting and challenging, her professors supportive and encouraging, and in her classmates she discovered a network of likeminded artists who made going to school each day a joy.

  Paolo had gone wild over her latest work and had reported the gallery was in full preparation mode for the Olivia Robison debut show.

  Her parents, her brothers, Jenny, Will, and Billy were all flying to San Francisco for her big day. She tried to stay focused on the excitement and not dwell on the fact that Cole wouldn’t be there, that nothing would be as they had planned.

  Fifteen days had passed since she had seen him, and all she’d had of him since then was the new flurry of media coverage that followed his latest heroic episode. Obviously, he had made his decision where she was concerned, and she was determined not to let it ruin her life the way her mother had let grief ruin hers.

  Someday she would find love again, and while it might never be like it had been with him, she’d make it work. With every passing day, she felt stronger and more determined to survive without him.

  The last day of February dawned bright and unseasonably warm. Jenny called as Olivia was getting ready to leave to do some work at the campus studio.

  “What’s up?” Olivia asked her cousin.

  “We found it!”

  “Found
what?”

  “A house! Oh, Liv, it’s absolutely perfect—four bedrooms, two bathrooms, right in Del Ray. The neighborhood is full of kids and young families.”

  “I grew up down the street from there, remember?” Commonwealth Avenue ran right through the eclectic neighborhood. “I love Del Ray.”

  “I got the key from the Realtor, and I’m dying to show it to you. Will you meet me there? Do you have time?”

  “Sure. I don’t have class until later. What’s the address?”

  “Twenty-two East Custis.”

  “Thirty minutes?”

  “I’ll be there.”

  “See you then.”

  Olivia took the Metro to King Street and walked past her old house on Commonwealth Avenue. The new owners had painted the outside and put in some new shrubs. The place looked well cared for, and Olivia felt a twinge of melancholy as she glanced back over her shoulder for one last look. Despite the few highs and many lows, that house had been her home for a lot of years. But it wasn’t her home any more. At some point during the last month, her cozy little apartment had become home.

  She continued along Commonwealth toward East Custis, feeling the warm sun on her face. It could be months before northern Virginia would see another day as nice as this one, and Olivia planned to enjoy every minute.

  As she approached the corner of East Custis, she noticed a black Mustang GT wedged in between two other cars and was flattened by the memory of cajoling Cole’s keys from him in Chicago. With a look around to make sure no one was watching, she ran a finger over the bright black paint and gave herself permission to remember. Just for a minute.

  After a deep cleansing breath to absorb the memories, she took another long look at the car before she turned the corner in search of number twenty-two. “Oh!” she said when she saw the house. “I love this one!”

  The two-story gray-shingled house had a wide porch and big, open windows. A few years earlier, it had been completely renovated and updated, and she’d wondered what it looked like inside. Skipping up the front stairs, she turned the knob and found the door unlocked.