“I saw the news … I was so afraid …”
“Hell, you know it’ll take a lot more than some assholes in fancy black duds and peashooters to take me down.” He wanted to sound upbeat, reassuring, but thoughts of Jocko would dampen his bravado. He pulled away and looked into her eyes. “What are they saying? Jocko was hurt bad … any news?”
“Oh no!” She lowered her head. “They’re just saying someone is in emergency surgery. I had no idea who it was.”
“At least they got him to the hospital. He’s got a chance,” he sighed with just a touch of relief. Guilt would not allow anything more than that.
“Are you hurt?” she asked, pulling his coat open, looking for any concealed wounds.
“Just a few bumps and bruises. Nothing a handful of painkillers and a double shot of whiskey won’t cure. I’ll feel it in the morning though.” He took her by the hands, stilling her search for injuries. “Tallulah.” The tone in his voice stilled her. She looked up into intense, steely eyes. “I’m putting you in a lot of danger being here. All of you.”
He looked up and past her, and her eyes followed his back inside to her two children, who, of course, had ignored her orders to stay in the other room. Suddenly, all the warm and fuzzies melted away in an instant, as the gravity of the situation came back to her with the harsh abruptness of hitting a brick wall face first. Just minutes ago, she would’ve traded her life’s savings to hold this man one more time in her arms. Now, everything important in her life stood in the balance. What was she to do?
“It might’ve been a mistake coming.” He saw the uncertainty on her face. “I wasn’t thinking. I guess I just wanted to see you—”
“Tiger, please …” No! Don’t go! I know it’s the right thing to do. I know it would be best. But still …
He put a hand to her neck, just under her ear, his thumb against her cheek. He would hold her face in exactly the same way in the old days. It was part of their goodbye ritual before he would blast off. He would caress her cheek and look into her eyes as they stood on the launch pad until her knees went wobbly and her eyes teared. Then he would pull her into his arms and they would kiss … Kiss like it was the last time they would ever see each other. They always reminded each other of that. They always swore each goodbye kiss would be just like that. Because every time could’ve easily been the last.
As they stood there, she felt that old feeling stir inside her. And with it, that same old fear she’d used to feel. He was leaving again. Walking out of her life one more time, just as he always had. Like all the men in her life were prone to do. Only this time he was leaving a fugitive, running from bad men who’d made it known that they would kill him if it came to it.
“It was good seeing you again,” he said, as he pulled her back into him. The kiss was coming. He was leaving. There was a sadness now in those eyes. He sighed dejectedly. “It seems like there’s never enough time anymore.”
He leaned in and kissed her.
No! No! Her mind battled with her heart and her gut instinct fought both. What was she to do? Behind her, the children that meant everything to her stood, while the man she would always love and always lose was saying goodbye once again. And as always, it seemed far too soon. The fabric of her very soul felt as if it would rip apart.
“No!” She pulled away from him. With tears in her eyes, she looked up into his. She was probably making a terrible mistake, a deadly one even. One she might not even live to regret. Yet, too many decisions in the past had been made based on what was best … what was safe … what was secure.
How’s that worked out for you? You’re a single divorced mom … lonely and fixing to let the love of your life walk away … one more time.
“No!” she repeated. “Don’t! Stay here! At least for the night.” She felt a smile break across her face, something that surprised her. “Please. I would like that, Tiger.”
He smiled back, and then looked from her to Blake and Brittain, the girl giving him a big smile of her own. Her mother’s smile! He smiled back.
You could’ve been mine. You should’ve been mine. If only things had gone a little different. He looked back to Lulah. “You sure it’s ok?”
“I’m not sure of anything.” There was no need for dramatics or false bravado. She was a small-town girl raised by hard working people. Her father had been a man who told it like it was and kept it to the point. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree.
Tiger had always admired this trait in her. He forced a tired chuckle. “That makes two of us, doll.”
“You mentioned a drink earlier?” she stood aside, allowing him entrance. The night air indeed had a chill in it. It was time to retire back inside. “I could use one myself.”
The sound of someone suddenly clearing their throat startled her, and
