by Ally James
As he walked through the home he usually considered his refuge, tonight he felt nothing but loneliness. She’d made him want things that he’d never desired before, and even though he blamed his reintegration for the restlessness that was driving him crazy, he knew it had little to do with that. No, the thing he was having the toughest time adjusting to was not the change from Iraq to Alaska. It was the transition back to solitude after feeling as if he were part of a couple. And the perplexing question that if they hadn’t been in a relationship, then why was this the hardest break he’d ever made?
* * *
• • •
Reality didn’t truly catch up with Sara until she exited the plane in Anchorage, Alaska, and it dawned on her that she didn’t know where to go. The last few days had been a hellish emotional roller coaster of anger, guilt, and finally excitement. She’d done it, she’d actually quit her job—or her family—and was following her heart. Chloe had been thrilled. In fact, none of this would have been possible without her encouragement. Not only had she backed Sara’s decision, she’d also managed to get her mother, Ivy, on board. They’d both shown up at Chris’s house to lend their moral support when Sara told her own mother what she was doing. As predicted, her mother had been speechless at first, then furious. Oddly enough, it was her aunt Ivy who soothed the troubled waters for her. In the midst of her mother’s guilt-inducing tirade, Ivy had walked up to her sister and thrown an arm around her shoulder. Then she’d said, “Joan, at some point in every parent’s life, we have to trust we raised our kids right and let them go. Momma and Daddy did the same thing with us.” She then turned to Sara and took her hand. “Your daughter is an amazing woman, and I know you’re proud of her. She’s given three years not only to her brother but to you as well. I know you’ll miss her, we all will. But it’s time for her to spread her wings and see where they take her.”
“But what will we do? Chris depends on her . . . and so do I. You know I’ve never handled my household stuff alone. I wouldn’t know where to start.”
“I’ll help you get organized,” Ivy said firmly. “I’ve always taken care of things like that, and there’s nothing to it. As for Chris, he can either hire someone from an agency or maybe it would be something you’d like to do. Kaylee is in school all day now, so the hours are less. And I think it would be good for you to have a purpose again.”
Her mother had been rather subdued after that. She hadn’t tried to discourage Sara, nor had she offered any assistance. She had agreed to watch Chloe for a day until Chris returned. They had all jointly decided not to tell him the news while he was on vacation. Ivy had even said she’d watch Kaylee until they made other arrangements. Everything had gone much better than Sara had imagined. Except saying good-bye to her niece. That had been sheer hell, and she’d come close to calling the whole thing off. Weirdly enough, it was her talk with Chris on the day Gabe had shown up that kept her from backing out. His unhappiness over not having a stronger bond with his daughter and his resolve to do better. Yet that would get pushed to the side with Sara there. They’d settle back into their old routine, and before any of them knew it, Kaylee would be grown. And second chances might be possible in some things, but you couldn’t relive a childhood once it was gone.
Even if things didn’t work out with Gabe, she had no intention of picking up where she’d left off. It was time for a new chapter—some kind of change was in everyone’s best interest. How simple it was to walk away from my life.
Sara shook off that depressing thought as she followed the signs to baggage claim. She was determined to surprise Gabe, but she had no clue how to accomplish it. She couldn’t show up at his house, because she didn’t know his address. She did know the name of the military base he worked at—hopefully she could find out more there. She collected her suitcase and walked outside to hail a taxi. When they reached the base, she asked the driver to wait for her near the gate while she walked over to talk to the soldier stationed there. His expression remained impressively impassive when she said, “Um—I’m here to see Major Gabriel Randall.” Before he could respond, she added quickly, “I know he’s supposed to be on leave for the next month, but I . . . don’t have his address, and I wanted to surprise him.”
She saw it then, a glimmer of amusement that was so brief, she wondered if she’d imagined it. “Do you have an appointment with Major Randall?” he asked, seeming to already know the answer.
“No, this is personal.” Lowering her voice, she added, “I came all the way from North Carolina. Major Randall bought my plane ticket, all right? I think that implies that he wants to see me.”
He glanced around to where a couple of other soldiers were talking a few feet away. “Listen,” he said in the same hushed tone she’d used, “even if I wanted to help you, lady, I couldn’t. We’re under strict orders that no one goes past these gates unless they’ve been cleared ahead of time. And I gather that Major Randall didn’t do that if he wasn’t expecting you. So you’ll need to contact him and make other arrangements.” When she opened her mouth for one last plea, he shook his head. “I’m sorry, but even if I let you pass, you’d be stopped and escorted out at the next checkpoint.”
She thanked him, then returned glumly to the car. “Where to, miss?”
“Well, unless you know how to find someone who lives here without an address, then I have no idea,” she grumbled.
“He’s in the military?” he asked, waving a hand around.
“Yeah. It’s a really long story, but I wanted to surprise him. And I don’t have his address. He, um, just moved here recently, and this is my first visit.” I sound like a stalker. “Er—he’s my boyfriend, and we had a fight a few days ago. So I didn’t want to let him know I was coming. Plus, he’s not likely to respond anyway—you know, due to the argument. But—”
“If you show up at his door, you figure he’ll have to hear you out,” he guessed, shaking his head as if to say, Women.
“Yep, that pretty much covers it. Only now, I don’t see that happening. I hadn’t counted on this area being so big and the military being so . . . uncooperative.” God, he must think I’m an idiot.
“They can’t just let anyone in, right? But I do have a suggestion. My aunt runs a restaurant in town called Maxi’s. Lot of the soldiers hang out there. If anyone’ll know your guy, it will be her. And if she doesn’t, she could ask around for you.”
“Really?” Sara said excitedly. “That would be amazing. Could you take me there? Heck, I’ll even buy you lunch.”
He nodded, giving her a big smile in the rearview mirror. “You got yourself a deal. My name’s Hank. How about you?”
“It’s Sara. You have no idea how much I appreciate this, Hank. I was about ready to go back to the airport and fly home.”
“No promises,” he warned. “But my aunt never forgets a face, or a story connected with it. If your man has been in there or is known to anyone around these parts, then she’ll remember it. Plus, she’s buddies with every local business owner, and I know if I ask, she’ll check around for you.”
“Thank you, Hank. Truly, I’m very grateful that you’re doing this for a stranger.”
“Hey, we all need a helping hand sometimes. And you seem like a nice person. I hope everything works out for you.”
As it turned out, she owed Hank a huge debt of gratitude. Maxi didn’t know Gabe personally, but as Hank had promised, she had a vast network of connections. One of which turned out to be Gabe’s neighbor. Hank stuck around, appearing just as anxious as she was to know what would come next.
“So what are you gonna do now, kiddo?” Maxi asked from behind the bar that Sara had been sitting at for the last hour. “Hank can take you to his place if you’re sure he’s home, or you could call and ask him to swing by and pick you up.” She scratched her head thoughtfully before adding, “But that would ruin the surprise.” Then she snapped her fingers so loudly that Sara jum
ped. “I got it, give me his number and I’ll tell him he needs to head this way.”
“What will you say when he asks why?” she asked, thinking surely Maxi’s request would seem a little unusual to Gabe.
“I can talk my way around anyone. Boy won’t even realize ’til later that he doesn’t know any more than he did to begin with.”
Hank nodded in agreement, obviously having firsthand experience with it.
Sara wrote down Gabe’s number and handed it to the other woman before turning to the man who had been so much help to her.
“How much do I owe you, Hank?”
She was surprised when he waved her off. “No charge, my friend. This is the most fun I’ve had in a long time. I should be paying you.”
“No way.” She frowned as she began peeling off bills. “I don’t want you to get into trouble with your employer. I’ve tied you up for hours now.”
He turned sideways in his chair, giving her a kindly smile. “I work for myself, so it’s not an issue. Really—I want to do this, all right?”
Sara was so touched by his kindness that mere words didn’t seem adequate. As if sensing her struggle, Hank got to his feet, probably wanting to avoid a sappy moment. But she stood as well and gave him a shy hug. “Thank you so much, for everything. You have no idea how much I appreciate it. I couldn’t have gotten this far without you.”
His face reddened. “You’re welcome, Sara. Call me if you need a ride . . . or anything else. I’m happy to help,” he added as he handed her his business card. “I hope everything works out. I’m sure my aunt will update me later,” he said, and laughed. They chatted for a few more minutes, and then he was gone, and she felt rather forlorn without her new friend.
“All right, I’m going to call your fella. Keep quiet so he doesn’t hear your voice,” Maxi instructed as she pulled a phone from under the bar and pressed some buttons. “Hey, Gabe, this is Maxi from Maxi’s Diner. Listen, I’ve got something of yours here. So you need to swing by and pick it up. And don’t be putting this off ’til tomorrow, it can’t wait. We’re open until ten tonight.”
When Maxi put the phone down, Sara asked the question she feared the most. “What if he doesn’t come?”
Maxi shrugged, not appearing concerned in the least. “Then I’ll take you to his place on my way home. But I’m betting he’ll be here. Just a feeling I have. Now, why don’t you go freshen up in the restroom, and when you come back, I’ll get you some dinner. It might be a while before he makes it here, so you can take a nap on the sofa in my office after you eat. Poor thing, you must be tired by now.”
“That sounds amazing,” she said. She felt oddly at peace as she walked to the back of the diner. This whole thing might blow up in her face, but she’d done it. She was taking charge of her life and doing things on her own terms.
Whether things worked out with Gabe or not, she knew she’d be okay. She was no longer a secondary character in someone else’s life; she was the star of her own. She’d taken the risk, and she desperately hoped that Gabe was going to be the reward.
Chapter Seventeen
Gabe was exhausted when he walked to his truck. He’d been at the base since five that morning, and it was nearly nine at night now. They decided not to spend the night in the field due to the fresh snowfall and some computer problems, so he was headed home. He started his truck, hoping it warmed up quickly, as he was chilled to the bone. He pulled his phone from the glove box, since they weren’t allowed to have them during training sessions. The screen showed he had a voicemail from a number he didn’t recognize. He considered leaving it until later, but it could be one of his soldiers. So he clicked the button to listen. Then he replayed it twice more. What could he possibly need to pick up at Maxi’s Diner? He’d have thought it was a wrong number if she hadn’t said his name. “Shit,” he mumbled as he turned his truck toward town instead of his place.
He wasn’t sure what he was expecting when he walked into the restaurant, but other than a few lingering patrons, it was almost empty. He stepped up to the counter just as a tall woman with short gray hair came out of the back. He thought he remembered her as the owner, but he wasn’t positive. She tilted her head to the side before saying, “Gabe, I presume?” Even though it was more of a statement than a question, he nodded. “You cut it kind of close. Were you at work?”
“Yes, ma’am. I got your message and came straight here. Would you mind telling me what this is about?” Why do I feel as if I’m on some kind of job interview? It wasn’t so much what she said but the way she appeared to be assessing him. He’d been in here only a few times with Jason, but he knew it was popular with the soldiers at the base. He wondered if one of them was playing a prank on him. So not the time for it.
She hesitated briefly, “How about I show you instead?” Damn, this is getting weirder by the moment.
His first inclination was to decline her strange offer, but he wanted to get the hell out of there. “Um—sure.”
She pointed to the rear of the building. “What I called you about is at the back table. Be quiet, though, you don’t want to disturb—it.” He could only stare at her retreating back in amazement. He almost left at that point. He was too damned tired for this bizarre intrigue.
But once again he ignored the voice in his head that urged him to run. Instead, he moved in the direction she’d indicated and was surprised to see someone either sleeping or passed out in the last booth. When one of his boots made a loud squeaking noise on the floor, not only was he startled, but the person a few inches away sat bolt upright. It can’t be. She was blinking at him as if just as shocked. “Gabe?” she finally croaked out.
“Sara? How—when did you get here?” She came. She took the flight. He still couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing. He never seriously considered that she’d actually do it.
“Er—around five, I think. I was sleepy, so I must have drifted off after I had dinner. I—I’m not sure how long I’ve been waiting.” The indentations in her face said she’d been out for some time.
“Shit, that was hours ago. Why didn’t you call me yourself? I almost didn’t come tonight since the message was so . . . odd.”
“I . . . was afraid you wouldn’t show up if you knew it was me. We didn’t exactly part on the best of terms.” She let out a huge yawn. “I’m not sure I’m making sense. I’ve been up forever. Well, other than the nap I took.”
It suddenly hit him that it was eerily quiet. When he glanced around, he saw Maxi, along with another couple of employees, standing next to her. And being caught eavesdropping didn’t seem to bother them at all. Heck, Maxi had the audacity to give him a jaunty wave. He was momentarily nonplussed. Stuff like this didn’t happen to him. What was the protocol? Take her to a hotel or to his place? He didn’t feel right about leaving her in a strange town where she knew no one. But he also hadn’t thought about how awkward it would be to have her stay with him. Wasn’t she his responsibility, though—at least for now? This could wait until they both had some rest and could talk without an audience. “Are these all your things?” he asked, pointing to the bag and suitcase near her.
When she said they were, he bent down to pick them up and then put an arm on her elbow to steady her when she stumbled to her feet. “Thanks, Gabe.” The shy smile she gave him was so damned sweet and trusting that he had to look away. She came. I don’t know what to do. “I’m going to say good-bye before we leave,” she said softly. Instead of joining her, he waited at the door. She hugged Maxi and said something before approaching him. “Okay, I’m ready when you are, Gabe.” He always liked hearing her say his name, but tonight he found it rather disconcerting. It implied an intimacy between them, making it difficult to remain aloof. Would you rather she call you Mr. Randall?
“It’ll take about half an hour to get to my house,” he said as he led her to his truck. He opened the passenger door and put her things behind the se
at. She stepped forward and placed one of her boot-covered feet on the side rail, but still struggled to pull herself up. He sighed and put his hands on her waist, trying not to look at her jean-clad ass only inches away. She squeaked in surprise, but didn’t protest when he lifted her up and onto the seat. He returned to his side quickly and noted that she had her seat belt in place and was staring straight ahead.
They’d been traveling a few moments when she broke the silence. “I know I blindsided you by showing up, but after what happened, it seemed like the best idea.”
He smiled ruefully, but kept his eyes on the road. He knew from experience that even though it appeared to be clear, there could still be black ice on the surface. “I can see why you’d want to do that. After all, it worked out so well for me.”
His hands tightened on the wheel when she laughed. He’d heard her do the same thing dozens of times on FaceTime, but it was different now. He felt like he was dealing with a sensory overload. He’d caught a hint of her perfume when he was picking her up and he’d come close to dropping her. Thankfully, she didn’t seem to notice the close call. There was no escaping it now, though. Her scent was all around him. Considering it was twenty degrees outside, he couldn’t very well roll his window down. And there was also her voice to contend with. Was it bad manners to ask her to remain completely silent until further notice? “When I didn’t have a clue as to how to find you once I got here, I thought it could be a sign that I should go back home.”
