“With all of these relatives you’re learning about you don’t happen to have a blind one do you?” she asked as she opened the Bloody Mary mix.
“No, why?” His voice had a hint of humor.
“You handle me differently than most people who just met me do. You treat me normal.”
“You are normal,” he replied quickly and that had her heart racing.
“Thank you.”
She heard the ice in his cup against his lips as he drank. If she said much more she was sure he’d be trading seats with her traveling companion, but she didn’t want that. Though the solider assigned to fly with her brother was a nice man, she’d rather keep Tyler as company.
“Tell me about your brother,” Tyler said as she began to pour her drink.
Courtney could feel her hands shake. She let out a breath. “I will. Will you make this for me? I seem to be a little shaken up.”
“My pleasure,” he said softly and she was damn near sure it just might be his pleasure.
When he’d mixed it he set it in her hand. “There’s still half the mix and half the Vodka left.”
“Thank you.” She took a sip and it was perfect. It was just what she’d needed. “Fitz was wonderful.” She didn’t know how else to say it.
She sipped her drink again and then let out a relaxed sigh. “He was younger by four years. So there were times when he was a royal pain in my butt, but he still took care of me—especially after I lost my sight.”
Courtney rested her head back against the seat, closed her eyes, and smiled. “Oh, I can’t tell you how many times he got suspended defending me. But he always stood up for me. He took really good care of me.”
Tyler placed his hand on hers and gave it a squeeze. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you. He was where he wanted to be. I can’t be sad. But damn I’m going to miss him. Especially since we shared a house. Though he wasn’t ever there. But it was ours.”
“You know, I’ll be around. If you ever need to talk, you could call me.”
A warmth filled her body from head to toe. “You mean that?”
“Of course.”
A smile played on her lips, but she didn’t want to seem eager, but she couldn’t help it. “I’d really like that.”
“Do you have your phone? I can put my name into it.”
Courtney reached into her pocket and took out her phone. She powered it up and handed it to him.
A few moments later he handed it back to her. “It’s in your contacts.”
“Did you tag it under cute guy on airplane?”
He laughed. “I’ll let you do that.”
And she figured she just might.
As the flight began its descent, Tyler noticed a change in Courtney. She hadn’t said anything for nearly twenty minutes. Her fingers were entangled on her lap and she kept her head toward the window.
The closer she got to home the harder it was, he knew what she was feeling.
As soon as the plane landed the pilot asked everyone to please remain seated until the soldier and his escorts were off the plane.
Courtney turned her head toward him and placed her hand on his arm. “Thank you for the company.”
“It was my pleasure.”
The soldier who was meant for his seat was standing next to them in the aisle. Both Tyler and the other passenger stood and moved out of the row so that Courtney could pass by. As she did, Tyler reached for her.
“Don’t forget. Anytime,” he said hoping that she’d actually call him.
She nodded, took the arm of her traveling companion, and headed for the door. The pilot stood outside the cockpit and gave his condolences to Courtney and then a hug. A moment later she was gone.
Tyler sat back down in the seat Courtney had occupied. He could see people gathered around the luggage conveyor. Soon she was there with her companion and what he assumed were her parents.
The casket draped with a flag was taken from under the plane and loaded into the hearse that waited next to the family. Tyler was sure his heart and his breath stopped as he watched. Courtney had to be hurting worse than he could ever imagine.
Her father put his arm around her shoulders and held her mother’s hand in his as they walked to a black SUV which also waited. Then Courtney stopped, turned back to the airplane, and waved.
Tyler knew it was meant for him and he waved back, though he caught himself and knew she didn’t see it.
He sat back in his seat and closed his eyes. Before he even stopped to see his own mother and father he would go by his sister’s house. At that moment, he knew he needed to see her first.
Chapter Three
A rental car made Tyler feel a little more at home. At least he wasn’t arriving at his sister’s house in a cab.
When he pulled up to the house, he let out a long breath. There were cars parked everywhere and the car parked in front of the house was his father’s. Then he realized it was Sunday. That meant a large family meal and time together. Since Ed owned his grandparents’ house and they lived in a retirement community, that meant those dinners were still held where the tradition had started.
If he drove on, no one would ever know. He had a hotel room lined up. If he walked into his father’s office tomorrow no one would be the wiser.
He slowed the car, saw a parking space, and decided now was the time. His entire family was in that house. Courtney was somewhere in Nashville mourning.
Tyler parked his car and climbed out. Sucking in the air filled him with home. This was where he was rooted. This was where he belonged. No matter where he’d traveled in the past three years or what job he’d done or sight he’d seen, nothing compared to Nashville.
Still considering getting back into the car and driving away, the front door opened and his cousin Clara stepped out onto the front porch with her cell phone to her ear.
He couldn’t hear the conversation, but there was a smile on her lips. Could that mean her husband wasn’t inside, but on the phone?
For a moment he watched her absent mindedly play with her hair and laugh easily. He’d followed her career, bought her music, and watched her on TV. She’d done very well for herself. Tyler was proud of her.
Then, as if maybe she knew he was watching, she lifted her head and looked in his direction.
“Oh, my, God! Warner, I have to call you back. Tyler’s home!” She pushed a button on her phone and ran toward him.