prompted.
Janey closed her eyes tightly, then announced excitedly, “I wished for a baby brother.”
Standing behind his wife, Brad laughed. “I don’t know.” His arms slid contentedly around Peggy’s still-flat stomach. “I wouldn’t object to another girl. It’s not many men who can claim to live in a harem of beautiful women.” Playfully he nuzzled Peggy’s neck, making growling noises.
The gifts were opened, including the necklace Skye had bought with Jordan the first night they’d gone to dinner. Janey also got a new game and a pair of pajamas.
The adults moved into the living room, and when Skye brought Jordan his coffee, his arm circled her waist, bringing her down to sit on the arm of his chair. His grip held her there, his eyes smiling into hers.
“Where’s Brad?” she asked, returning his warm gaze with one of her own.
“He’s gone to phone for a taxi. My flight is leaving soon.”
Skye’s heart floundered at his casual announcement. “Already?” she asked hesitantly, and swallowed down her disappointment. She wanted to look away, afraid he would read her regret, but his gaze held hers.
“Come to the airport with me?” he asked.
“Okay,” she returned lightly, although her smile wavered dangerously. “I … I can drive us.”
A short time later they said their good-byes on the porch. Jordan and Brad grasped hands with the familiarity of good friends.
Skye hugged both Peggy and Janey. “I hope you had a very special birthday, cupcake.”
“Oh, Auntie Skye, I really did,” Janey assured her. “And I like Jordan a lot.”
“I’d be more than willing to drive you to the airport,” Brad offered, but the look he exchanged with Jordan showed he understood his wish to be alone with Skye.
Within a few minutes they were on their way. Brad, Peggy, and Janey stood on the porch waving; Skye focused her attention on the fading figures as long as possible.
Jordan was strangely quiet, as if there was something on his mind. Skye more than carried the conversation, babbling inanities that were totally irrelevant to anything.
The reality of his leaving hit forcefully when they approached the airport. Skye could no longer deny the tears burning for release. This was stupid; why was she getting so emotional? It wasn’t like Jordan was heading off to war. A lone tear forced itself free and rolled down her cheek. Fiercely she brushed it away before Jordan could notice.
The security line seemed twenty miles long; Skye chatted continuously.
Stopping her abruptly, Jordan gently touched her wet cheek. “Why are you crying?” he asked.
“I am?” she questioned. “Oh, I always cry when I’m happy.” She’d promised God and herself she’d wouldn’t lie again, but her resolve crumbled under the first attack of pride. “I’ve never been so happy,” she said in a kind of desperation. “Peggy’s pregnant, Janey’s birthday … and look at you, Simon Legree, your arm is healing and …” A bubble of laughter quickly became a sob.
The line was crowded with people waiting to have their property scanned. Jordan stepped out and maneuvered Skye to a far corner offering them as much privacy as possible.
“I’ve listened to your Pollyanna chatter all the way here. Now I’ll ask you again—why are you crying?” His hand tightly gripped her arm, the line of his jaw tight and controlled.
Everything suddenly went very still; the wall he backed her against felt hard and unyielding. Skye held her breath, concentrating on the top of his shoe. She didn’t know what had gotten into her. She was normally a very composed woman.
“Skye,” he groaned impatiently, and his finger lifted her chin to read her watery blue eyes. “Please tell me why you’re crying,” his low voice coaxed as he gathered her into his arms. Her softness molded against him, welcoming the comfort of his embrace. His hand rubbed her back in a soothing circular motion.
Held protectively, Skye accepted the solid
Janey closed her eyes tightly, then announced excitedly, “I wished for a baby brother.”
Standing behind his wife, Brad laughed. “I don’t know.” His arms slid contentedly around Peggy’s still-flat stomach. “I wouldn’t object to another girl. It’s not many men who can claim to live in a harem of beautiful women.” Playfully he nuzzled Peggy’s neck, making growling noises.
The gifts were opened, including the necklace Skye had bought with Jordan the first night they’d gone to dinner. Janey also got a new game and a pair of pajamas.
The adults moved into the living room, and when Skye brought Jordan his coffee, his arm circled her waist, bringing her down to sit on the arm of his chair. His grip held her there, his eyes smiling into hers.
“Where’s Brad?” she asked, returning his warm gaze with one of her own.
“He’s gone to phone for a taxi. My flight is leaving soon.”
Skye’s heart floundered at his casual announcement. “Already?” she asked hesitantly, and swallowed down her disappointment. She wanted to look away, afraid he would read her regret, but his gaze held hers.
“Come to the airport with me?” he asked.
“Okay,” she returned lightly, although her smile wavered dangerously. “I … I can drive us.”
A short time later they said their good-byes on the porch. Jordan and Brad grasped hands with the familiarity of good friends.
Skye hugged both Peggy and Janey. “I hope you had a very special birthday, cupcake.”
“Oh, Auntie Skye, I really did,” Janey assured her. “And I like Jordan a lot.”
“I’d be more than willing to drive you to the airport,” Brad offered, but the look he exchanged with Jordan showed he understood his wish to be alone with Skye.
Within a few minutes they were on their way. Brad, Peggy, and Janey stood on the porch waving; Skye focused her attention on the fading figures as long as possible.
Jordan was strangely quiet, as if there was something on his mind. Skye more than carried the conversation, babbling inanities that were totally irrelevant to anything.
The reality of his leaving hit forcefully when they approached the airport. Skye could no longer deny the tears burning for release. This was stupid; why was she getting so emotional? It wasn’t like Jordan was heading off to war. A lone tear forced itself free and rolled down her cheek. Fiercely she brushed it away before Jordan could notice.
The security line seemed twenty miles long; Skye chatted continuously.
Stopping her abruptly, Jordan gently touched her wet cheek. “Why are you crying?” he asked.
“I am?” she questioned. “Oh, I always cry when I’m happy.” She’d promised God and herself she’d wouldn’t lie again, but her resolve crumbled under the first attack of pride. “I’ve never been so happy,” she said in a kind of desperation. “Peggy’s pregnant, Janey’s birthday … and look at you, Simon Legree, your arm is healing and …” A bubble of laughter quickly became a sob.
The line was crowded with people waiting to have their property scanned. Jordan stepped out and maneuvered Skye to a far corner offering them as much privacy as possible.
“I’ve listened to your Pollyanna chatter all the way here. Now I’ll ask you again—why are you crying?” His hand tightly gripped her arm, the line of his jaw tight and controlled.
Everything suddenly went very still; the wall he backed her against felt hard and unyielding. Skye held her breath, concentrating on the top of his shoe. She didn’t know what had gotten into her. She was normally a very composed woman.
“Skye,” he groaned impatiently, and his finger lifted her chin to read her watery blue eyes. “Please tell me why you’re crying,” his low voice coaxed as he gathered her into his arms. Her softness molded against him, welcoming the comfort of his embrace. His hand rubbed her back in a soothing circular motion.
Held protectively, Skye accepted the solid
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