Runway Romance (Love in the Air Trilogy)

by Merri Hiatt

  You don’t have to explain it to me. I know how you feel. Why don’t you go tell him?

  “Yeah, right. Now, that’s a good idea. I just made a public scene and humiliated him and embarrassed Becka. I’m sure he’d love to see me right now.”

  I didn’t mean this very second, but soon. Don’t wait too long or your window of opportunity may very well be closed forever.

  Jenny tossed and turned, thinking that she was either losing her mind having a full-on conversation with herself out loud or she had the smartest inner voice ever.

  “Why does it always come back to I’m sorry? When am I going to learn to assess a situation in the moment rather than after the fact?

  Rich has been truthful, honest, kind, funny and at every turn I’ve believed the worst about him. Was it some kind of test to see how much of my shit he would take before calling it quits? Am I that manipulative?”

  Jenny got up, slipped into her robe and headed for the kitchen. She rummaged through cupboards and then the freezer. “Isn’t there any chocolate in this house?”

  “We ate it all,” Patricia said. “The day of Kate’s doctor appointment, when we were going out of our minds worrying about her.”

  “Oh, that’s right.”

  “You okay?”

  “I think something is seriously wrong with me.”

  “There’s something seriously wrong with all of us.”

  “No, I mean it. I had this long conversation with myself tonight and I think I either have a split personality or I’m going insane.”

  “There’s another option.”

  “Lay it on me.”

  “You’re in love.”

  “Don’t start.”

  “Okay, I won’t. But, you are. It’s only a matter of time before you realize it. Jenny, don’t let pride hold you back. Go talk with Rich. You guys got through your first misunderstanding and you’ll get through this one, too.”

  “I swear I should just walk around with duct tape on my mouth twenty-four, seven.”

  “That wouldn’t be any fun. You wouldn’t be able to give your man sweet kisses.”

  “Do you think we really have a chance?”

  “Of course.”

  “He hasn’t tried to call or text.”

  “Have you?”

  Jenny shook her head.

  “Maybe he’s waiting for you to make the first move.”

  “Wouldn’t it be easier just to walk away?”

  “And never know what might have been? Now that would drive you insane.”

  “Why are you up anyway?”

  “I was feeling kind of bad about the way Malelough left. I don’t like having harsh words be the last thing we said to one another. I mean, what if he was in a plane crash or something?”

  “Hey, hey, hey, you know the rule. We never talk about airplane crashes.”

  “Sorry, forgot that one. You and Kate gave me quite a list of rules when I first got here. I figure I’m doing good if I remember half of them.”

  “You’re doing fine. Actually, better than fine. You seem to fit right in here. Was it hard at first?”

  “You and Kate are so tight, I definitely felt like the odd one out.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “No, you didn’t do anything intentionally. I think it was just natural that you’d have this connection, inside jokes, know what each other was about to say. I didn’t know if I’d ever be able to crack the secret code to join the club.”

  “You found a way. How’d you do it?”

  “I quit trying. I just let it be what it was going to be and hoped for the best.”

  “Worked like a charm. Truth is, I liked you from the moment we met, otherwise I never would have introduced you to Kate. I figured if we clicked, then all three of us had a better chance of getting along together.

  Kate liked you from the get go, too.”

  “Really? I sure didn’t think so.”

  “She doesn’t wear her heart on her sleeve. She told me the first night that she was really glad you were here.”

  “I wish we’d had this conversation a few months ago.”

  “I guess I just figured you knew. It never occurred to me that you were anything but self-confident.”

  “I wear confidence like a sweater; sometimes it’s in the wash.”

  “More layers being peeled back on the onion that is Patricia Ruskin.”

  “Oh, make that an apple, they’re sweeter.”

  “An apple it is.”

  “I’m going to head back to bed, unless you want to talk more.”

  “Nope. I’m talked out. I think it’s time for some action.”

  “Intriguing.”

  “Not yet, but I hope it’s going to be.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Jenny curled up in her favorite recliner with a pen and paper trying to write her feelings for Rich down until they made some kind of sense.

  She needed some kind of gesture. Something to make him laugh, or at least smile, and make him understand that she knew she wasn’t perfect, far from it, but she wanted to be in a relationship with him.

  Patricia was right, she wasn’t a sit-at-home-wondering-what-if kind of gal. She needed a plan.

  Paper after paper was written on, then crumpled up and tossed on the floor. “I’m going to need to find another legal pad if this keeps up.”

  It was almost four a.m. when an idea hit her so hard, she almost tipped over the recliner when she jumped up from it. “That’s it!”

  She scurried around the house finding all the materials she’d need to mail a package to Rich. FedEx would be the quickest way.

  Letters were great, but she just wasn’t good writing words on a page, she needed to be face-to-face with the person.

  She found the permanent marking pens and decorated the small box that would house her gift with hearts and flowers. It was cheesy, she knew, but she wanted her intention to be clear.

  Once the package was ready she sat it on her bedside night stand. “I will mail you tomorrow. Then I’ll know if Richard understands my flaws and is still willing to make this relationship work.”

  Jenny stripped off her robe and got back into bed. This time she fell asleep within minutes and slept until noon. When she wandered down the hallway, sunlight was flooding the kitchen.

  “She walks!” Kate said. “She breathes! She stands upright!”

  “Don’t you have somewhere to be?” Jenny said.

  “Nope, not until tomorrow.”

  “Where are you going?” Patricia asked from the window seat book nook they had created in the living room.

  “Madagascar.”

  “You never told us that before,” Jenny yelled from the bathroom.

  “You think I tell you guys everything?”

  “Yes. At least you’re supposed to,” Jenny mumbled.

  “What?”

  “When do you leave?”

  “The flight leaves at o’dark thirty.”

  “Can you just give us a straight answer?” Patricia said.

  “Cranky today, aren’t we? I have to be at the airport at two-thirty.”

  “I hate those kind of flights.”

  “Me, too,” Jenny said as she joined Kate in the kitchen. “Coffee?”

  “On this hot day? No way. Iced tea.”

  “It’s got caffeine, works for me.”

  “Are you heading over to Rich’s?” Kate asked.

  “Not today.”

  “You mean I’m going to have to wait to find out how this whole thing ends up?”

  “I’ll text you.”

  “It’s not the same. I need a play-by-play.”

  “We can Skype. I assume you’re going to linger in the city.”

  “You bet your boots. I’ve never been there before.”

  “I still don’t get how you had two amazing destinations and I’m stuck with Portland, Boulder and Las Vegas.”

  “Vegas is fun.”

  “Not if you don’t like gambling.�
�

  “The shows, woman, it’s all about the shows. Skip the gaming tables and head for the buffet and the entertainment.”

  “Kate’s right. I’ve seen Cirque de Soleil, Celine Dion, Elton John…”

  “All right, I’ll give you Vegas, but everywhere else has been dullsville.”

  “Maybe you’re not sleeping with the right people,” Kate said.

  “Weren’t you on a flight to Milwaukee last month?” Patricia said.

  “Duly noted.”

  “Well, I wish you safe travels, as always, and I’ll be in touch about a time to Skype.”

  “Going somewhere?” Patricia asked.

  “Maybe.” Jenny smiled, then headed to the bathroom to take a shower before heading out.

  When she returned from mailing her package, she wondered what Rich would think when he received it. The ball would be in his court and she wasn’t sure he’d hit it back to her. She’d know by three p.m. the following day.

  Before going to sleep, Jenny wished Kate a safe trip again and gave her a hug.

  “Everything’s going to work out,” Kate said.

  “I have my fingers crossed.”

  “Call me.”

  “You know I will.”

  When Jenny woke up the next morning, the house seemed to know one of its inhabitants was missing. “It’s sad Miss Kate is gone.”

  “What should we do to make it feel better?”

  “Give it chocolate. Yep, definitely chocolate.”

  “And just how does a house eat chocolate.”

  “Well… I think we eat the chocolate for the house and then tell the house how wonderful it tastes.”

  “I like the way you think.”

  Jenny glanced at the clock on the wall.

  “That’s the twentieth time you’ve looked at the clock, what are you expecting to happen and when?”

  “I don’t exactly know, but it won’t happen until after three o’clock.”

  “Then why are you looking at the time now?”

  “Because I can’t not look.”

  Patricia laughed. “It’s no wonder men don’t understand us. Come on, let’s watch a movie. It’ll take your mind off Rich. I know just the one.”

  When she popped the DVD into the player and “Club Dread” came up on the screen, Jenny practically squealed. “You liked it that much?”

  “Kate and I already watched it again.”

  “I’m so glad. I was afraid you’d think it was horrible. It’s just fun, campy stuff.”

  “It goes better with margaritas.”

  “Then we must have margaritas.”

  “I’m on it.”

  The next few hours were spent watching movies and sipping luscious, fruit drinks. It was almost enough to distract Jenny from thoughts of Richard. Almost.

  “It’s three o’clock,” Patricia said.

  “I know.”

  Three-ten came and went, then three-fifteen and three-thirty. Jenny began to think her clever idea wasn’t so great after all. Or maybe, just maybe, she had been right about her assessment of Rich and Becka’s relationship.

  As the minutes ticked by, Patricia wasn’t sure what to say, so she remained silent. After an hour, she poured another drink and settled back into the window seat book nook.

  At five o’clock on the dot, Jenny exploded. “Where the hell is he? Why hasn’t he called?” She checked her cell phone for the umpteenth time. No missed calls. No messages. “I just never expected this. I mean, it’s supposed to work out. Where’s my flippin’ happy ending?”

  The disappointment on Jenny’s face had Patricia wrapping her arms around her friend to console her. “I’m so sorry. It’s his loss.”

  “It’s not supposed to end like this. Happily ever after, that’s what I want.”

  “Maybe that’s just for fairy tales.”

  “I want to believe. I need to believe. I don’t want to live in a world without hope.”

  A knock on the door startled them.

  “It could be him,” Patricia said.

  “What if it’s not?”

  “What if it is?”

  Jenny wiped the tears from her eyes and slowly crossed the room and opened the door. Richard Novatney stood on the other side.

  “Jenny, I want you to hear me. No, not just hear me, but listen to me. I want to get one thing straight right here, right now. I love you. It doesn’t make any damn sense, but I do. We’ve done nothing but have misunderstanding after misunderstanding, but I can’t stop thinking about you. I swear you are some kind of infection that I can’t get rid of.” He paused. “That didn’t sound quite right.”

  Jenny wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. Her body clung to him as if he was the only other person on earth. And to her, he was. “I love you, too.”

  Rich’s facial muscles relaxed, showing his relief. “I never thought you’d say that to me.”

  “I never thought you’d say it to me.”

  “I knew you’d both say it to each other. I’m shutting my mouth now and leaving you two alone.” Patricia headed down the hallway, grinning from ear-to-ear. When she reached her room, she texted Kate with the news.

  “What took you so long?” Jenny asked, opening the door wider so he could enter the living room.

  “Well, I’ve wanted to say it since the night at the hospital.”

  “No, I mean to respond to my FedEx.”

  “What FedEx?”

  “I sent you one, guaranteed delivery by three o’clock today.”

  Rich shook his head. “I didn’t get it.”

  Jenny began to laugh, lightly at first and then full belly laughs.

  “What’s the joke?”

  “You’ll understand when you finally get it.”

  “Tell me now.”

  “I’d rather kiss you again, and never stop.”

  “Well, if you insist.”

  They held each other close as words from the past lost their heat and anger, replaced with feelings experienced in the here and now.

  “You’re so beautiful. I never tire of looking into your eyes or seeing your smile.”

  “We do have some things to talk about.”

  “Yes, we do. The most important thing you need to know is that I love you. I want to be in a relationship with you. You can trust me.”

  “I know. Sometimes I get all wound up and there’s no real way of unwinding me easily.”

  “This seems to help,” he said, kissing first one cheek and then the other lightly.

  “Just wait until I’m all jacked up, then try a stunt like that. You’ll be lucky to have your hand back not severed from the wrist.”

  “You do have a fire inside you that knows exactly where to aim itself for maximum impact.”

  “Carefully worded.”

  “I’m not stupid.”

  “No, you’re not. You’re a caring, compassionate, thoughtful man. If I ever say otherwise, remind me of this moment.”

  “I’m going to hold you to that.”

  “I’m counting on it.”

  Chapter Thirty

  After ordering in for pizza, Jenny and Rich snuggled on the love seat. “Is now a good time to talk?” Rich asked.

  “Good as any.” She turned so they were facing each other. “I’m jealous of your relationship with Becka. I didn’t know it. I just thought I was really pissed off the other day when I saw you kissing another woman, but it was more. I want what I saw you two had. There’s an intimacy and familiarity that was painfully obvious to me. We don’t have that.”

  “It didn’t happen overnight. We built that over time. You and I’ll do the same thing.”

  “What if we don’t?”

  “There’s no reason to believe we won’t. Shared life experiences are what create that bond. Becka and I had a lot of soul-searching moments together. Times when Maya was in the hospital with breathing issues and we didn’t know if she’d live or die. You can’t create that on a moment’s notice.

  Remember h
ow it felt when we were in the car together?”

  Jenny nodded her head.

  “That was one of our moments. We’ll have tons of them.”

  “Like the night in the hospital, in the recliner?”

  “Exactly like that. I don’t just want you to believe that you can trust me, I want you to know in your gut that I would never do anything to hurt you intentionally.”

  “You’d never invite me to dinner and then invite Becka to dinner a half an hour later in case I don’t show?”

  “I’d never do that. I’d never even think about doing that. Becka thinks you’re awesome, by the way.”

  “Yeah, I’m sure of that. I’m the crazy woman who humiliated and embarrassed her. I’m sure she’s dying to see me again.”

  “She thinks you have spirit and that the only reason you were so het up is because you love me and don’t want to share me with anyone else.”

  “She’s right. I’m not proud of that, mind you. How am I supposed to get over it?”

  “I think time will do that, and getting to know Becka. My guess is the two of you will become great friends, given some time.”

  “Is she still with Roger?”

  “Yeah. He even called me this morning and asked for my blessing for their marriage.”

  “He asked her?”

  “Not yet, but he’s going to.”

  “But you’re still married to her.”

  “We’ll get a divorce.”

  “Just like that?”

  “Well, the paperwork will be simple. Becka and Maya will always be in my life, they’ll always be my family. It’ll just be a bit larger when you’re added into the family, too.”

  “You’re being awfully nice to me. I’m not sure I can take it.”

  “Get used to it. I’m a nice guy.”

  “You really are, aren’t you? I’m so sorry I assumed the worst about you.”

  “When you get to know me better, I think that’ll stop happening.”

  “What if it doesn’t?”

  “Then I’ll have to find some way to get you to stop arguing with me and listen.”

  “I liked the kissing plan. Kissing is good.”

  “Kissing is very good.”

  They pressed their lips together, sealing the beginning of their new life together, filled with promise for the future.