A Man's Heart

by Lori Copeland

  “May I try and use the phone?”

  The reply came swiftly. “Yes.” A phone landed in her hand. Turning it on, she carefully counted off the buttons and punched in Crystal’s number. The phone rang four times.

  “Come on … Crystal. Pick up.”

  Five more unanswered rings.

  Jules closed her eyes and was about to click off when Crystal answered. “Oh thank goodness. Turn around and come back. The storm knocked the power out in the airport.”

  “How bizarre. Don’t they have generators?”

  “I don’t know — if they do they’re not running. Come back and get me. And call Cruz immediately and tell him my plane’s been delayed.”

  “Okay. I’ll turn around and come back. Do you want a burrito? I was just about to pull through a drive-in.”

  “I don’t want a burrito! Call Cruz and I’ll feel my way back to the front entrance and meet you there.” Even she knew the idea was ludicrous, but she’d do it. Somehow, she’d find that manual door she’d walked through fifteen minutes earlier.

  “Are you serious? That’s a big airport, and you’re not familiar with it.”

  “I’ll do it. Just turn around and come back.” She’d crawl to that door if she must. She reached out to return the phone. A hand took it.

  “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Mentally she retraced her steps with the help of stranded passengers to the arrival entrance. Easing through the darkness, she gently parted bodies with no faces or shapes; stepping on toes, making apologies when someone said something not so encouraging. Only the feel of fabric and audible grunts met her efforts. She had a strong sense of direction in her favor. One or two flashlight beams focused, momentarily blinding her, but she kept her pace.

  She had to find that entrance door.

  Crystal punched the Delgados’ home phone number as she wheeled off the exit ramp eating a drippy burrito. The phone rang five times before the answering machine picked up. “Hey, Cruz. This is Crystal. Jules’s flight is delayed. She won’t be in on time. There was an earlier electrical storm, and it’s knocked out power to the airport. She wanted me to call. So don’t go to the airport. She’ll let you know when air traffic resumes.” She clicked off and turned around, taking the nearest exit back to Fort Walton.

  When she pulled into the terminal, the place was dark. She sat with the engine idling, spooked. Nothing was stirring. It was like one of those horror movies when some alien force had struck and left only a few survivors.

  She was one of them.

  Creeping the Fiat to the airline arrival gate, she wondered how Jules could possibly escape the dark cavern. Her headlights beamed on the airline employees standing around, some smoking cigarettes, others sitting on pieces of luggage. She pulled up and leaned over to crank down the window. “I’m looking for my …”

  Jules shot by the attendant and got into the car. “Step on it. If we hurry, I might be able to catch a flight out of Panama City yet today.”

  Crystal swallowed a yelp. Alien was her first thought. “What about your luggage?”

  “It’ll catch up with me. Just get going.”

  Crystal gunned the motor and the Fiat surged ahead.

  As the car pulled onto the interstate, lights in the terminal flickered, and then came on.

  Chapter 48

  Armed with a gold bracelet, wrapped with a large yellow bow, Cruz came out of the jeweler’s and headed for the mall patio. He checked his watch. Eight p.m. Still plenty of time before Jules’s flight landed.

  “What do you kids want to eat?”

  “Chicken!” they chorused.

  “You’re both going to turn into a chicken,” he teased, tickling Livvy under her chin. “Chicken nuggets, chicken strips, cashew chicken — no nuts or green onions, chicken drumsticks.” Olivia held out her hand and wiggled her fingers.

  “Okay. Chicken it is.” His eyes scanned the patio, and then focused on the teenage server. “A round of chicken strips, my good man, and make those extra crispy.” He was feeling generous tonight.

  “This weather is murder!” Crystal scooted closer to the steering wheel and tried to clear the fog off the windshield. The wipers could barely keep up with the now falling rain. “I’m dying of thirst, Jules. Can’t we take a moment to hit a drive-through and get something to drink? I was in such a hurry to get you I forgot to order a soda.”

  Jules was caving in, herself. It had been hours since breakfast, and then she had only eaten a protein bar. But if they hurried, she could still make it home tonight.

  “There’s a truck stop up-ahead. Pull in there.”

  “I’ll take anything.” The Fiat rolled off the exit ramp and pulled into the big lot where rigs were nearly stacked on top of each other. “It’s the rain,” Crystal explained. “When it comes down like this, the truckers stop and eat.”

  When the women entered the building Jules spotted a case with hot food. Corn dogs, chicken strips, tater tots, some dried-up macaroni and cheese, baked beans. She glanced at the restaurant door situated between the men’s bathroom and showers. A hamburger wouldn’t take that long, and she was most likely going to fly stand-by on a red-eye flight.

  Minutes later Jules slid on a stool next to a burly looking driver. He glanced over, smiling.

  Nodding, she ordered a burger and two large drinks to go while Crystal visited the ladies’ room. When she returned, she had to sit on the driver’s opposite side. Jules peered around him. “Did you call Cruz?”

  “I did, but nobody was home. I left a message.”

  Jules frowned. “But what if nobody goes home before it’s time to meet my flight? I’ll be very late getting in … he has to know.”

  “I don’t know, Jules. I called, and nobody was home. He’ll find out when he gets to the airport.”

  “Did you try his cell phone?”

  “No …”

  She reached over the driver. “Give me your phone.”

  Crystal handed it over and she punched in Cruz’s number.

  “Come on, Livvy. Give back my phone, and eat your dinner.” Cruz reached for the cell, Olivia’s favorite toy. She fiddled with the ringer off and on and babbled to her imaginary friend. She was telling “Tote” everything that happened in the last five minutes. Cruz forbid her from touching the keypad and the child was content with Tote’s end of the conversation. The imaginary friend knew they were now sitting at the mall, eating chicken at the Dairy Queen before they picked up Aunt Jube at the airport.

  Olivia covered the mouthpiece. “Can Tote get Aunt Jube with us?”

  “Sure.” Cruz took a bite of fry, used to deciphering her kid talk. “Tell her we’ll swing by and pick her up at the gas station.”

  “Kay.” She relayed the message. “You can come, Tote.” She crossed her leg. “But you hafta tell Cruz when you have to go potty.” She pretended to hang up. “Drink?”

  “If I get you a drink, you’ll have to go potty again.”

  Ethan nodded. “Just eat your fries.”

  “Drink.”

  Mentally groaning, Cruz got up and ordered a milk. When he set it on the table, the child’s face wrinkled. “Orange.”

  “Drink your milk.” Maybe if she didn’t fill up on caffeine, it would cut down on the potty stops.

  Livvy crossed her arms. “Orange.”

  “No can do. They don’t have orange,” he fibbed.

  She pointed to a child at a nearby table. The clear plastic cup clearly indicated that somewhere nearby had orange soda.

  Livvy met his eyes and he saw Sophie’s determination. He glanced at his watch. Then shoved back from the table. “A small one.”

  The little girl grinned and wiggled her fingers. “Orange.”

  Jules clicked off with disgust. “He doesn’t answer.”

  “But you left a message?”

  “I left a message.” Jules handed the phone back to her. “I’d feel more comfortable if I could reach him.”

  �
��I tried Adan earlier. He doesn’t answer either.”

  The trucker beside her turned to address her. “Got problems, lady?”

  Jules briefly relayed her dilemma.

  “You gotta get to Washington tonight?”

  “It isn’t a matter of life and death, it’s a matter of keeping my word. I promised the man I love I’d be back tonight, and I’ve let him down too many times in my life. I am going to be there if I die trying.”

  A grin broke across the trucker’s face. “Ah … a lady in love. I can’t get you there by truck, but I got a friend who flies for Wings Express. I might be able to get you a hitch on his plane tonight.”

  Jules sat up straighter. “Does he fly to Pasco?”

  “Pasco? Nah, he goes into Salt Lake City but you could hop a commuter from there and be in Pasco probably not much later than your original flight.”

  She’d be late—and technically not there on the dot, but she’d be there.

  Her sister gave her a warning look. “That seems a little drastic, Jules. Cruz will get your message and understand, and even if he doesn’t get the voicemail, the airport will inform him of the delayed flight.”

  “Crystal, for once in my life I intend to keep my word to that man. I know he’ll understand when I tell him what’s happened, but if I prove that I can keep my promise regardless of circumstances, that will go a long way in winning him back.”

  The trucker snorted. “Why can’t I meet a female like you?”

  “I know it’s insane, but I’m going to do it.” Jules turned to the man. “Can you set it up?”

  “I can try. It’s against all regulations, but my buddy owes me one.” He flipped his cell phone open. “Can you be at Bay County International by three o’clock?”

  “That’s where we’re headed. I can be there.”

  He punched in a cell number. Shortly he said, “Hey, buddy. Remember the time when I told your new girlfriend that your old girlfriend—the one you were still dating—had left you for another man? Do you recall how I told that blonde how heartbroken you were, and how hard it was to find a good woman?”

  Chapter 49

  Cruz walked into Tri-Cities Airport thirty minutes before Jules’s flight was due to land. The kids were tired and fussy, but insistent they see Jules tonight. The closer to the hour of her arrival, the more anxious Cruz felt. A long time had passed when he’d felt good around Jules. He’d never stopped loving her, but fighting those feelings all these years had become a habit. A hard one to break. She would be here this time; he didn’t have a doubt in his mind, yet maybe he did. Once she walked off that plane, into his arms, he could rest. He could start to plan for the future, a future he wanted with this woman. He wondered what would have happened if Jules had raised the perfect potato. Would she have married one of those jerks chasing after her? Over his dead body. He didn’t want her perfect potato, he wanted her. Just her. He checked his watch. And he’d have her in twenty-eight minutes. Back in his arms where she belonged.

  He located three vacant chairs and set the kids in two. Ethan was already asleep.

  Curling up beside him, Olivia rested her head on his chest. Her upper lip was rimmed in orange soda. They’d stopped twice on the way here. “Aunt Jube? Home.”

  “She’ll be here soon.” He patted the little girl’s head. “When she gets here we’re never going to let her go again.”

  Minutes ticked by. Cruz watched the clock. Five minutes before arrival time, Jules’s flight landed. The PA system said the plane was on the ground. Taking a deep breath, Cruz straightened his collar, brushed back his hair, and waited.

  Jules grabbed the ballpoint from the monkey’s finger and held on. “Let go, you pesky little thing!”

  The tenacious monkey held tight.

  She jerked, wrestling the pen away from the animal as the overnight express plane bounced through turbulent skies. She was strapped in a funky looking seat, beside a cage of monkeys. She bent, trying to read the shipping label. They were going to a zoo. The plane dropped and took her stomach with it.

  Clamping her eyes shut, she took deep breaths. She was going to be sick. Her eyes scanned the cargo bay. Everywhere she looked she saw eyes peering back at her. The plane was carrying nothing but animals. Stinky, noisy animals. She now smelled worse than the afternoon she’d spent in the Pasco landfill looking for Lucille’s ratty old mattress. She stared at a cage of hybrid roosters.

  Cruz, I hope you know what I’m doing for you …

  She glanced at her watch, heartsick. Ten p.m. Had he gotten her message? Of course he had. If he were out earlier, he’d have gotten it when he came home. If by chance he hadn’t gone home, he would have checked his cell messages and found hers waiting. Still, she had so wanted to be home on time. She gasped as the plane hit another air pocket and lurched.

  A furry hand snaked out to reclaim the ballpoint.

  She snatched it back, and the thing reached around and threw a handful of excrement.

  Dodging the missile, she shrugged out of her jacket and draped it over the cage.

  Thieving monkey.

  Chapter 50

  The wall clock hands jerked to 10:30 p.m. Cruz sat in the airport waiting area, lost in thought. A large screen television broadcast an old movie. She hadn’t shown. Her plane had landed. And Jules wasn’t on it. So he’d stayed for the last incoming flight. He been so certain that she’d come back to him — as sure as the first time he’d asked her to marry him. As confident and full of hope as the second time, but the last flight landed twenty minutes ago, and she wasn’t on it. What was it with her and promises? Was she like Pop? So wrapped up in her problems she couldn’t distinguish daylight from dusk? She loved the kids. He had no doubt about that. It was him she couldn’t love, him she couldn’t commit to.

  He glanced at the sleeping children. Sophie, I tried. I love her with all my heart, but it’s not in the books for us. A man couldn’t love a woman who couldn’t or wouldn’t love him back.

  It was late. He needed to get the kids home and in bed. He glanced at the empty gate. The vacant reservation desk. Nobody manned the station. No more incoming flights tonight.

  Running his hand through his hair, he tried to swallow his frustration. A man didn’t get depressed. He got fed up. Straightening, he reached for his hat. A moment later, he’d gathered the two sleeping kids in his arms and started out of the terminal.

  “Where do you think you’re going?”

  At the sound of Jules’s voice, he whirled to see her standing in the terminal, chicken feathers wedged in her hair. She had—what on the front of her blouse? And she looked mad enough to eat a rhino.

  “Jules?”

  “Obviously you didn’t get my messages.”

  “What messages?” He lowered the sleeping children into a couple of empty chairs. She was here. How, he wasn’t certain. She wasn’t on any flight that had come in since eight-forty. But she was here. For him.

  “Crystal left one at your house, and I left one on your cell phone.” She picked up her purse and started walking toward him. The stench of monkey washed over him.

  “I gather you didn’t check your phone messages tonight.”

  “No — I went shopping, took the kids to eat, and then here, to the airport —” He paused, his eyes scanning her appearance. “Where have you been?”

  “In a plane trapped with animals, then on a packed commuter from Salt Lake City. I got the last seat on the plane, and this woman in front of me got her carry-on stuck in the overhead bin — oh, never mind. You wouldn’t believe the story if I told you.”

  “Oh.” He nodded as if the explanation made perfect sense. He opened his arms. “Welcome home.”

  She stepped into them, holding on to him as if he were a life vest in a stormy sea. “Oh, Cruz.”

  Holding her tightly, he closed his eyes as her essence washed over him. It didn’t matter why she was late; she was here this time. She’d found her trust. “I thought you weren’t coming.”

&n
bsp; “Never,” she vowed. “I’m sorry I’m a little late. It’s a long story, but I’ll tell you all about it after I’ve kissed you senseless.”

  “Yeah, I was thinking I’d ask — after I kissed you senseless.”

  “You’re not mad that I’m late?”

  “No — you’re here.”

  “You never doubted that I would be?”

  “No — yes.” He held her tighter. “Yes. I thought you wouldn’t come, and I didn’t see how I was going to live the rest of my life without you.”

  “You couldn’t,” she murmured. “I wouldn’t let you.”

  He held her so tightly he was afraid he would break her.

  “I’m sorry, Cruz. I know that I’ve broken your heart twice, but never again.”

  “I’ll hold you to that.”

  “You won’t have to.” She pulled back to gaze into his eyes. “I’ll hold myself to it.”

  The hue of his eyes deepened. “Let’s go home.”

  “I’m more than ready.”

  Jules scooped up Livvy, and Cruz carried Ethan on the way out of the airport. The children stirred momentarily, long enough to say hi and pat Aunt Jube’s cheek before they dropped off again. It was difficult to hold Livvy and cling to Cruz, but Jules managed to voice what had been weighing on her mind during the bumpy flight. “What about the Parkers? If they file suit to claim the children —”

  “They won’t,” Cruz said. “The judge and his wife are reasonable people. When they think about it, they’ll come to the same conclusion that any court would: the children will be better off with younger parents, parents who can keep up with all the activities a child involves.”

  “Then there’s Adan and Crystal,” she reminded. “They love these two little imps as much as we do.”

  He glanced over with a youthful grin. “What’s wrong with a child having four parents? One of us will have primary care, but Crystal and Adan will always be a part of these children’s lives.”

  She noticed that he seemed to take for granted that they would be the custodial pair.