by Judith Keim
As the announcer read the note to himself, I held my breath.
“And here it is, the very latest news. Vaughn Sanders has been found alive. He’s seriously injured, but he’s alive. The rescue team is carrying him out on a stretcher now. He will be airlifted to the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle.”
I clapped a hand over my heart with relief. “Thank you, thank you,” I whispered over and over again.
Rhonda jumped to her feet. “Yay! I knew it!” She pulled me up and did a little dance around me. Laughing, I joined her.
Liz grabbed hold of my hand.
The three of us were dancing in the middle of the room when Elena and Robbie rushed over to us.
“Vaughn is alive! Vaughn is alive!” I cried and swooped Robbie up into my arms.
“Wonderful,” said Elena. Liz took hold of her arm, and the two of them danced together while Rhonda and I caught our breaths.
When they stopped, and Elena had been filled in with the news, she said to me, “Does this mean you’re going to Seattle?”
“Yes. I’ve got to call Roger Sloan for the details. He has a private jet waiting for me.”
“Do you want me to go with you?” asked Liz.
I shook my head. “No, thanks. I have no idea what I’ll be facing and how long I’ll be gone. It’s best for you to finish up your school year. I promise I’ll keep you updated.”
“I’ll handle everything with the hotel,” said Rhonda. “Now, let’s see about your packing.”
My laugh was almost giddy. “First, let me call Roger.”
Before I could punch in the numbers to call him, my cell phone rang. It was Roger.
“Guess you’ve heard the good news,” he said without identifying himself. “I’ve called my guy in Miami. He’ll pick you up in Sabal this afternoon at one o’clock. Be ready. I’ll meet you in Seattle. We’re going to make this work to our advantage. It’s the most we can do to make something good come out of a lousy situation.”
That was more like the Roger Sloan I knew, I thought. Still, I was grateful for the easy flight to get to Vaughn. He might be alive, but I still didn’t know what I faced.
###
Flying in a private jet would have been the thrill of my lifetime if it were being made under different circumstances. As it was, I enjoyed the ability to stretch out, the availability of food and drink, and most of all, its cleanliness. But beneath all the appreciation was the urgent need to get to Seattle to see Vaughn. Being alive was one thing. Dealing with perhaps awful, permanent injuries was another.
As we flew into Seattle, I craned my neck to take in the majestic sight of Mt. Rainier. Tall and snow-capped, the mountain was very much a part of the scenery even after we landed. Roger met me, and we headed up I-5 to the University of Washington hospital where Roger had been told Vaughn was.
The closer I got to the hospital, the more nervous I became. Vaughn’s condition was listed as serious.
When we arrived, Roger spoke to someone at the reception desk, and we were ushered into a back hall onto an elevator that took us to the surgical floor.
We found seats in the surgical waiting area. Restless, Roger left me to see what information he could find out. In moments, he came back. “Dr. Rathbone will meet with us shortly. They’re working on Vaughn now.”
I tried to swallow in a mouth gone dry. It sounded so ominous.
Moments later, a tall, gray-haired man in scrubs entered the waiting room. “Ann Rutherford?”
“Yes,” I said, and rose.
“I’m Dr. Jason Rathbone. Won’t you and Mr. Sloan come with me? We’ll discuss Mr. Sanders’ case there.”
Roger and I exchanged glances and followed Dr. Rathbone into a small conference room off the waiting room.
Dr. Rathbone took a seat opposite us at the table. “Vaughn Sanders is one lucky man. He has a concussion, four fractured ribs, and his left arm is broken. His spleen was injured, but we were able to surgically repair the tear without removing it. He’s going to be very sore for some time, but he’s in remarkable shape and should recover nicely. When he’s out of the recovery room, you can see him.”
“Thank you, doctor,” I said, brushing away the tears that were spilling down my cheeks.
The doctor smiled. “He’ll be glad to see you. He mentioned your name several times. Any questions?”
“Will Vaughn have a full recovery?” I asked, knowing how unhappy he’d be as a long-term patient. And then, there was our wedding to consider.
“I see no reason he shouldn’t recover well,” said the doctor.
“When will he be able to travel?” Roger asked. “I’ve arranged for private transportation to Florida for Ann and him.”
“Nice,” said the doctor. “I would think he’d be able to make the trip in a day or two. He’ll most likely heal best at home. As you know, we don’t keep patients in the hospital any longer than we have to.”
“Great,” said Roger. “Thank you.”
After the doctor left, Roger turned to me. “We’ll set up a little news conference before we head to the airport.”
At my frown, he hastily added. “Whenever Vaughn feels ready, that is. He has thousands of fans waiting to hear from him.”
Trying to hide my dismay, I nodded. Apparently, that was showbiz.
###
An aide entered the waiting room awhile later. His gaze swept the room. “Ann Rutherford?”
I stood. “Yes.”
“You can come with me to see your patient.”
Roger stood and joined me as I followed the aide out of the room.
“Mr. Sanders has been taken to his room,” said the aide. “I’ll take you to him.”
Roger and I followed the aide down a series of hallways into a wing of the hospital.
My heart leaped inside me when he stopped at a door and indicated for me to enter.
I took a deep breath, stepped into the private room, and choked back a gasp. The doctor hadn’t mentioned how bruised Vaughn would be. His face looked like he’d been in a boxing match that he’d lost. A series of scratches marred his cheeks, adding to the effect.
“Hi, sweetheart,” I said softly as I approached him.
He gazed at me sleepily and smiled. “I knew you’d come. Oh, God, Ann! It was terrible.”
“Shhh,” I whispered. “We’ll talk later. Right now I want you to rest. You’ve been through so much.” Tears rolled down my cheeks. “Thank God you’re alive.”
“Sam and Jim didn’t make it. There was nothing I could do. Not with the way the plane landed and how badly they got hurt.”
I took hold of his hand and squeezed it. “I know you, Vaughn Sanders. And if you could have done anything to save them, you would have.”
“That’s right, buddy,” said Roger, joining us. “We’re just glad you made it. When you feel better, I want to hear all about it. Others and I think you’re some kind of hero to have survived on your own.”
“I had to,” said Vaughn in a drawl induced by the drugs they had given him. “Ann and I are going to be married soon. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
A chuckle bubbled out of me. God! He was the sweetest man I’d ever known.
Vaughn smiled. “I mean it, Ann. The whole time I was shivering in the cold, the memory of us together is what kept me warm inside. You saved me.”
“No, darling. You saved yourself—for me.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
When I went to see Vaughn the next morning, he was more alert. He and I exchanged several kisses, then I pulled a chair up to his bed and sat holding his good hand. After being so afraid I’d lost him, I never wanted to let go.
“How is everything back home?” he asked. “Liz called me earlier this morning. Guess I scared her and everyone else, huh?”
“Oh yes. You have a whole bunch of people back home cheering for your recovery. And, Vaughn, thousands of fans are waiting to hear from you. Before we go home, and when you’re ready, Roger Sloan is h
olding a press conference for you.” I couldn’t hide the look of distaste I felt crossing my face. “Some kind of payback for the private jet service he’s offered.”
“He and I have discussed it. Apparently, this is the best exposure the soap has had in some time. They’re writing some of it into next season’s scripts.”
At my look of disgust, Vaughn continued, “I don’t mind. Not really, I’m just happy to be alive.”
“Of course.” Tears filled my eyes. “I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to you. You’re so precious to me.”
He looked away and then turned back to me. “We weren’t scheduled to go on that flight. At the last minute, Sam wanted to try his hand at shooting some film at a wilderness camp he’d heard about. Jim was a little leery about the weather, but Sam was one of those guys who could talk anybody into anything, and soon we were on our way.”
I squeezed Vaughn’s hand. “What happened?”
“We went from clear skies to cloudy, and then the plane was completely enveloped in dense fog. The engine made a funny noise, and we were suddenly spinning in the air. Next thing I knew we were nose down and Jim was hollering for us to hang on. I’m not sure what happened next. I awoke to find the front of the plane crushed with Jim and Sam inside. I was lying beside the tail of the plane, hurting like hell.”
“The doctor mentioned you had a concussion,” I said.
“Yes, it took me a while to be able to size up the situation. After making sure there was nothing I could do for the others, I figured I should get away from the plane. I grabbed a couple of our sleeping bags, and I made it by foot to a small, cave-like space in the side of the mountain somewhere nearby. I knew it was a wildlife area and thought it might be dangerous to stay near the dead bodies.” Vaughn stopped talking and gazed into the distance.
I stood and gave him a kiss. “I know it’s hard for you to talk about it.”
He shook his head. “No, I need to get it out.” Tears filled his eyes. “Sam and Jim were crushed inside the plane. I’ve never seen anything like it. I tried to pry them out of there, but I couldn’t. That’s when I realized I’d broken my arm. I don’t know how anybody would’ve been able to do it. Later, as the rescuers carried me out of there, I realized the plane had caught on fire. It must have happened during one of the times I blacked out, because I wasn’t even aware of it happening.”
“I’m sorry you had to go through this and sorry for Sam’s and Jim’s families. But, Vaughn, I’m so glad you were spared.”
Vaughn’s face displayed the misery he was obviously feeling. “Why, Ann? Why was I saved and they weren’t?”
I shook my head. “I don’t know. But you’re still alive and we’ve been given a very precious gift.”
Looking totally exhausted, he fell back against his pillow. “I promised myself that if I got out alive and saw you again, I’d make every day count.” His gaze rested on me. “We have to live well, be together, raise a little boy who needs us.”
“Yes, Vaughn, we do. And I promise I’ll always be there for you.”
He blinked away tears. “Sorry to be such a crybaby, but that means everything to me.”
“And to me,” I said softly as his eyes closed.
###
I was still sitting beside Vaughn’s bed when Ty and his fiancée, June, came into the room. I stood to greet them. Tall like his father, Ty had the same dark curls and strong features. Though I hadn’t yet met him, I liked him right away. I’d also never met June Chang. We’d talked on the phone, and now, seeing her in person, I could understand why Ty was so attracted to her. Her sparkling dark eyes hinted of intelligence and a sense of fun. Her wide smile lit her delicate features, inviting friendship. I was thrilled to think these two would be part of my new family.
“Glad you could come,” I said quietly.
Ty introduced me to June and we exchanged quick hugs.
Vaughn stirred and opened his eyes. At the sight of his son, a grin spread across his bruised face. Ty went over to Vaughn and gave him a gentle hug. June joined them.
“I think I’ll give you all some time to yourselves,” I said.
“You’ll be back?” said Vaughn.
“I’m just going to get some coffee.”
Downstairs in the cafeteria, I grabbed a croissant and a cup of coffee and sat at one of the tables. As I lifted out my cellphone from my purse, it rang. I smiled when I saw it was Rhonda and picked up the call.
“Hi, Annie. How’s it going?” said Rhonda. “Is Vaughn looking better today? They’ve announced there will be a press conference sometime tomorrow. Isn’t that a little soon? Give me all the details.”
I couldn’t help smiling. “Vaughn is looking a lot better, but, Rhonda, he feels so guilty for not being able to help the other guys. The accident trapped them in the plane, and he couldn’t get them out. I believe it’s going to take him some time to work through all of this.”
“You’re bringing him home to heal, right?”
“As soon as the doctor gives us the go-ahead, we’ll take a private jet back to Florida. That’s why there’s a news conference.” I told her about the deal Roger Sloan had worked out.
“Roger’s right, though,” Rhonda said. “Vaughn has a lot of fans. They want to make sure he’s all right. Guess he’ll continue to be the star of the show for some time to come.”
“Probably.” I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.
“Angela just walked into the room,” said Rhonda. “She wants to say hello.”
“Hi, Ann,” said Angela. “I just want you to know that Reggie and I are ready to help you in any way. You know how I feel about Vaughn. He was a big supporter of my marriage to Reggie. We both appreciate that, and we love you too. Tell him to hurry home.”
“Thanks,” I said, fighting emotion. She was such a sweet girl.
After we hung up, I called Liz. “How are you doing, hon?”
“Good. Chad has been a good support for me. How is Vaughn doing? I talked to him this morning and he sounded a little out of it.” Liz laughed. “He told me how much he loves you and me and Robbie and Trudy.”
I smiled. “He’s so grateful to be alive. We may be home tomorrow. I’ll let you know as soon as I can when we’ll arrive. How is Robbie?”
“He misses you, but we’re doing our best to keep him entertained. Chad and Troy have been playing with him in the pool.”
I looked up as Ty and June entered the cafeteria. “I’ve got to go. Ty and June are here and I want to talk to them. I love you, Liz.”
We hung up, and I waved Ty and June over to my table. Ty sat in a chair opposite me while June went to get them something to eat.
“What do you think?” I asked Ty.
Ty shook his head. “Dad looks awful, and he’s feeling bad about the other guys.” His eyes watered. “I’m so glad he made it out alive.”
“It’s been such a scare for all of us. I’m so glad you’re here. I know it means the world to him, and I’m pleased to have the chance to meet June. She’s wonderful.”
His smile was so like Vaughn’s my breath caught. “Yeah,” he said, “I think so too.”
June joined us carrying a tray of food. She placed the food in front of Ty and in the empty space in front of her chair and, after setting the tray on another table, sat down.
“Ann, I’m so glad to meet you, even if it isn’t under the best of circumstances,” she said. “I’d hoped you’d be able to fly out for the engagement party, but I understand how demanding the hospitality industry can be. I worked as a front desk clerk at one of the big hotels downtown for one summer.”
I smiled. “Rhonda and I have a small operation, but it’s been more than a full-time job for both of us. Now, things are changing.”
“We’re excited to come to your wedding, aren’t we, Ty?” June said.
“Yeah. It’s great to see Dad happy again after Mom died.” He gave me a steady look. “I think Mom would’ve liked you.”
I clapp
ed a hand to my heart. “Thank you. That means a lot to me because Vaughn really loved your mother. She sounds like such a nice person.”
“Yeah, she was. But so are you.” Ty smiled at me and turned to June. “And so is this woman, who’s going to be my wife.”
I smiled at the adoring looks they gave one another. “Looks like it’s going to be a year of weddings.”
“Yes,” said June. “We’ve finally decided on a date. We checked the Chinese calendar, and April 1st is an auspicious day for a wedding.”
Ty laughed. “I know it’s April Fool’s Day but, hey, I’m no fool. If June says it’s a good day for us, I’m game.”
I chuckled. It was so like something Vaughn would say.
Ty looked at me. “I guess I’m getting a new brother, along with a new sister.”
“I think you and June and Nell and Liz will all get along famously. And Robbie is a cute little boy who’s learning to follow rules. It was your father who thought he should be ours. As you might know, he is my ex-husband’s son, which makes it a little unusual, but we’ve all fallen in love with him.”
“So sweet,” said June. “Wait until you meet my family. I’m the youngest of three.”
“I can’t wait,” I said sincerely. “I was raised by my grandmother and it was a pretty lonely existence. Having all this family is wonderful.”
“And don’t forget about Nell,” said Ty. “She and Clint are serious.”
“Is she planning on coming here to see your father?”
Ty shook his head. “She’s going to meet you in Florida. While you were here in the cafeteria, she called Dad. That’s what they arranged.”
“Wonderful. We’d like to be able to get back to Florida as quickly as we can.”
“We’re not able to stay here,” said June.
“Yeah, we’re flying back tonight. Is there anything we can do for you?” said Ty.
“Your being here for your father is so appreciated.”
June clasped my hand. “It’s for you too, Ann.”
“Thank you,” I said. “I’m lucky to have found a family like this.”
I left Ty and June in the cafeteria and headed back to Vaughn’s room.
