Payback and a Bottle of Merlot: Like Sisters Series Book One by Bria Marche Page A

out of the dispenser. He moistened them with hot water and held them against his face. It felt good. The steaming towel warmed his skin and woke him up. Matt rubbed his eyes and wiped his neck. Just as he shot the paper towel into the garbage can, he caught a glimpse of a man leaving the restroom. I swear that was Jack. He must have gotten in just now, and Mia’s picking him up too. Matt grabbed his backpack and looked both ways out the door, but the man already disappeared into the crowd.
    ***
    “Hey, gorgeous, do you want to make our way to the other concourse and grab a bite to eat before we head to our gate?” Jack asked, as Sasha exited the restroom.
    “That sounds great. We do have a two hour layover, right?”
    “That’s right. Let’s find a nice restaurant and relax over lunch.”
    Mia glanced up from the emails she was reading on her phone to see Matt approaching. “Hey, bro, how are you doing? How’s Liz and the kids?” she asked, as they embraced each other with a big hug.
    “We’re good, Sis. That was a long flight, and I’m beat.”
    “Well, let’s go then. It’s a short drive to the hospital but you can relax once we get there, unless you want to stop at Mom’s house and grab a nap for a few hours.”
    “No, I’m okay. I’ll wake up on the drive. I’m sure Jack will talk my ear off about his wonderful career. Where did he go anyway?”
    “Jack? Jack isn’t here. What made you think he came?”
    “I just saw him leaving the restroom. I swear it was him. I figured you were picking him up too because he worked during the week.”
    “No… Jack didn’t come. I haven’t even spoken to him since Wednesday. I bet you’re over tired.”
    “I guess so, but he must have a twin out there. They say everyone has one somewhere. Let’s head to baggage claim area, then we can be on our way. It looks like it’s downstairs.”
    Mia had an uneasy feeling about Matt’s alleged sighting of Jack. Could he really be here, and why would he be? He never said he was coming.
    Matt stepped on the down escalator with Mia right behind him. She took one last look around, before the floor they were leaving was above them. The long dark hair caught her eye. There they were. Mia could see them from the waist up. Jack and Sasha, arm in arm, walked past the escalator on their way to another concourse. They strolled by on the floor Mia just left. Mia held the handrail for support, frozen in place, with nowhere to go, but down. She stared at them from the descending escalator until they disappeared from her view. Oh my God… Matt was right. That son of a bitch and his lover are actually here.
    Mia couldn’t focus on the drive back to the hospital. Matt was talking her ear off, but she hadn’t heard a word he said.
    “So what’s your take on that, Sis?”
    “I’m sorry… what?”
    “Where the hell are you? I’ve been talking for ten minutes straight. Didn’t you hear anything I said?” Matt asked, as he closed the window. “There, can you hear me better?”
    “Sorry, I’m thinking about Dad.”
    “Well so am I. I asked you what we should do if Dad is permanently disabled.”
    “That won’t happen, at least the doctors don’t think so. But if he was, Mom and Dad would either have to move near you, or back to Tarrytown. I would love to have them, but they moved away to get out of the cold, not come back to it. Let’s be optimistic and see how he does. They can always make that decision later after he goes through therapy if he needs it.”
    “You’re right, Sis. I’m not trying to be negative about anything. I’m thinking ahead of the worst case scenario, if we actually have to go there.”
    “Here we are.” Mia pulled into the hospital parking lot and parked in an open visitor’s spot.
    “Wow, this is quite the complex,” Matt said, as he exited the passenger side of the car.
    “Yes it is. Dad is getting superior care, and the rehabilitation center is just over there to the left. He’ll be