He sat at the kitchen table with his head in his hands for hours, willing her to return. When he finally heard the key in the latch, he thought he recognized Ireland's voice and ran to meet her. His joints had become stiff, sitting for so long, but he ignored the pain and jerked on the knob. A startled Donald met him, alone.
"Where is she?" James asked, frantic, looking over his dad's shoulder towards the automobile parked in the drive.
"She's gone, Son."
Chapter 16
-Into Thin Air-
No one heard from Landi after Donald dropped her off at her apartment. She'd told Mr. Crimshaw she was leaving town to clear her head. He figured she only listened to part of Jim's story the night he brought her to Palmdale. She'd gone back to her room, distraught, before she could hear him admit that he loved her. He tried to let her know how much his son cared for her and how he regretted his poor judgment, but she'd have none of it. In the end, he thought it better to support her decision rather than alienate the girl.
Katrina and Robert returned from their honeymoon, and still, Ireland did not surface. James staked out the Gemology Institute, with no luck. When he called to try and locate her, the receptionist informed him she'd withdrawn from the school. The DIA tracked no calls to Greg, either. He even sat through another convicting sermon in order to ask her pastor if he knew of her whereabouts. It was as if she'd disappeared into thin air. The girl had always seemed other-worldly to him and now she'd vanished like a fairy.
His sister took it easy on him, even though she'd have to train a new assistant. Katrina had never seen her brother like this—despondent. The happy newlyweds took up residence in Robert's place and allowed Jim to stay in the old apartment in case Landi tried to contact her there. Kate even called her museum friends, the ones Ireland corresponded or spoke with, asking if they'd had any recent interactions with her. It became clear how highly her clients thought of her associate through these conversations. But it was as if she'd fallen off the earth. Even Kiki, now in Amarillo, hadn't heard from the girl.
After several weeks, the DIA officially cleared Greg of any wrongdoing, and later, James flew to Bethesda to see his friend. Things were awkward at first, but the man came to realize that Jim was only doing his job and actually tried to clear him of the suspicion that hung over him. The naval intelligence officer had improved and now walked several times a day, assisted by just a cane.
James stayed on the East Coast for a week, visiting Greg and making his final report on the case. The DIA approved his transfer to their Southern California office, along with a promotion. He would now plan and coordinate investigations for the organization as well as train new agents.
The afternoon before he flew back home, James sat on the edge of Greg's hospital bed, explaining his relationship with the convalescent's sister. His friend listened in silence until Jim finished.
"I can't believe you ran into each other like that," Greg said at last.
"I couldn't either," James said softly. "I mean, I even had to blink twice to make sure I wasn't hallucinating. " He paused before continuing, "I'll tell you one thing, Buddy. You sure make a gorgeous girl!"
Greg and Jim both laughed, easing some of the tension in the room.
"So, we could be twins, huh?" the injured man asked.
"Just about. I mean, I knew right off the bat that she had to be your sister."
His friend looked off, staring at a hospital wall. He waited a few moments to speak.
"Do you still love her, Jim?"
James didn't hesitate to answer.
"With all my heart. I don't know how I mucked everything up so badly. I'm sorry I doubted you. I feel most guilty about robbing you two of a relationship. I know she needs family, Greg. She once told me she'd always wanted a brother. I got mad because I thought she was shoving me into the friend zone, but now I think it's because somewhere deep inside, she missed you."
"Ha! You're not used to a woman turning you down. Are you certain that's not the attraction here? Maybe you think you love her because you can't have her."
"No, Greg. Your sister's unlike anyone I've ever met. I only want the best for her, and if that's not me, well, I'll just have to find a way to live with it. I pray for her every day—I've even started attending her old church, if you can believe that."
He waited for Greg's reaction. He knew he deserved any cynical comment his friend would choose to fling at him. He remained silent, staring at his sheets.
Jim continued, "The pastor preaches on sin and repentance, rarely touching on grace. I guess the Lord knows what I need to hear," he said with a chuckle.
His friend's lips twisted into a perplexed expression, with one corner of his mouth pointing down and the other up. His eyebrows almost met above his nose. Jim sensed that Greg struggled with some thought, some idea, and he kept quiet, allowing the man time to decide if he'd speak.
Greg shook his head in resignation and leaned over the side of the bed, reaching towards his night stand.
"Please stop apologizing—to me, anyway. I know my story seemed far-fetched."
"Easy there, Buddy. I don't want you to fall off," James said, scooting further up the bed to prevent Greg from rolling out.
His pal pulled open a drawer and removed a stack of cards, tied with a pink ribbon.
"I'm not sure if I'm doing the right thing or not, Jim. But these are from Ireland."
James's jaw dropped.
"How on earth—”
"Don't ask. Just assume you're not the only one with a way with the female persuasion," Greg said with a twinkle in his eye, passing the letters to Jim.
Some nurse must have intercepted these for him, hence the thin pink sash. James untied the ribbon and fanned the correspondence out on the bed. He looked closely at the envelopes, taking note of the black ink stamped with the date and location from where each came. They'd been mailed from all over the southern US. He looked at his friend, his eyebrows raised.
"Close your mouth before you catch a fly, Jim.
"What does she say?"
Greg laughed—a good, long, hearty laugh. It was great to see his friend gaining strength.
"Prolific, ain't she?"
Jim could hardly resist tearing open one of the letters to see for himself, but he knew it wasn't his place to do so. She hadn't chosen to write him.
"Does she mention—?"
"Nope. Not once, not even a hint. I know that's a blow to your ego, Pal." Greg grinned, answering before Jim could finish his question. He continued, "What she does discuss is her upbringing, her experiences, her feelings, her likes and dislikes, her hopes and dreams. She wants to be a geologist. She's a bright girl, there's no doubt."
"Ha! I discovered that for myself some time ago."
"She says she hopes to get to know me one day, but for now she wants me to know her so I can decide if I want to be her brother. Can you believe that? I want to be her brother more than anything, but I have no way to tell her—no way to contact her." His friend gesticulated violently, then collapsed back on his pillow, exhausted.
"I'm sorry, Greg. It's my doing. She thinks I only pretended to care for her to get information."
"Jim, you can't blame yourself for everything. No doubt, you are partially at fault, but she had enough bad experiences before she met you to cause her to feel this way. You, my friend, were just the icing on the cake!"
He glanced from the letters to Greg, hoping to find some mercy and forgiveness in his buddy's countenance. The patient smiled.
"Greg, if you ever get the chance, will you tell her that—"
"Don't worry," he interrupted. "I'll get around to telling her how you feel. I'm in your corner, you know," he added.
"Thanks."
The two said their goodbyes, with Jim promising to show Greg around Southern California as soon as he was able to travel. James drove straight to the airport in Baltimore and caught the last flight home. A late night layover in Las Vegas only made him feel worse.
&nb
sp; Please find your way back to me, Landi.
He took the next two weeks off before starting his new position. James assumed his sister's lease in Santa Monica, figuring he'd live there during the week in case Landi ever came back. He spent his vacation fixing up his mountain cabin. It would be a nice place to get away from it all whenever he needed a break from the city. He found himself using the retreat most weekends. Months went by, and whenever he didn't need to be in the office, he headed north and spent time alone on the lake.
The place had been built in the 1920s, on the back side of Big Bear Lake in the town of Fawnskin. The little burg had seen better days, but the view from his cabin and the isolation on the quiet side of the resort meant he could find some peace there. When James purchased the property several years before, the location grabbed him. Right on the water, his deck was the perfect place to enjoy a sunrise, sunset, or cast a fishing line. The old-style cabinets and appliances didn't bother him, and since he refinished the floors and replaced some of the lighting and furniture, the tiny lodge showed real charm.
He'd been enjoying the quiet for two days when he decided to take his canoe out at dawn. A loon had made some calls recently, and he hoped to locate its nest or at least catch a glimpse of the bird. A light fog hung over the water as the boat slid across its glass-like surface. James had learned to handle a canoe, solo, in the Boy Scouts. His Eagle Scout project involved raising money for and building dikes in order to establish a water fowl sanctuary in the San Gabriel Valley. For years, it was a great success, until a freak rain storm caused flash flooding that washed away the berms.
This morning, his target remained silent. When the sky faded from inky blue to light grey, he decided to head back. A hot cup of coffee would hit the spot about now. He kept his eyes on the shore as his canoe approached the cabin, and he ceased paddling, allowing the vessel to coast slowly up the pebbles that formed a shallow beach to the side of his deck. The familiar sound of the fiber glass grating against the small rocks brought James to the front of the canoe, where he grabbed its line and leapt onto the shore. He pulled the boat onto dry land and tied it to a large iron hook that was drilled into a pine tree by prior owners. A cold morning breeze blew the fog from the water towards his side of the lake, decreasing visibility.
He looked towards his deck and thought he saw someone standing at the far end. The ghostly apparition disappeared in the mist when another fog bank rolled in. James took the steps that led up to his wooden patio three at a time. He made it half way across the area when another draft cleared the air. He stopped, dead in his tracks, unable to believe his eyes.
"Come here," he commanded.
She hesitated a moment and then obeyed, gliding towards him as if her feet didn't touch the wooden planks that made up his deck. She stopped within arm's reach, a long, pale dress flowing about her.
James cocked his head, still not sure if his imagination played tricks on him.
"Are you real?" he finally asked, not daring to hope that Landi stood before him in the flesh, but also fearing he'd lost his sanity.
Many nights, he'd dreamed that he'd found her, only to have her dissolve before him when he tried to touch her. While he awaited her answer, he wondered if this was a dream, too. He watched her face intently, his gaze fixed on her lovely green eyes as a smile broke across her pink lips.
"Yes." He heard her familiar sweet voice.
He waited no longer. Jim grabbed Ireland's arm and drew her to him, holding fast to the girl as if to prevent her from melting away.
"Landi, Landi, why did you stay away so long? I've waited for you for months and months. Tell me you'll never leave me again," he gasped into her ear, his voice ragged.
He slipped his free arm around her waist and drew her into a kiss. His lips were hard and hungry, but she didn't resist, allowing him to have his fill of her mouth before he slowed down and gently deepened their kiss. An electric current ran up and down her body, exciting every nerve she had.
"I'm here now," she whispered when he finally released her.
James enfolded her in his powerful arms, preventing her from moving. He nuzzled his chin on top of her head, relishing the feel of her thick, glorious locks.
"Did you hear me calling for you, Darling? Is that why you came?"
He slid one hand up her back until he reached a thick tendril of hair and tugged, lifting her chin so her eyes would meet his gaze. He couldn’t get enough of her beautiful green orbs, delicate nose, small chin, and luscious, soft lips.
"No, James. When did you call for me?"
"Every night, in my dreams. I'd see you, but before I could reach you, you would fade away, and I'd wake up calling out to you. Tell me you won't leave, Landi. Even now, I'm not sure you're real."
She giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"I'm real, James."
"Say it. Say you won't ever leave me again, Landi," James demanded.
She would hate to admit it, but she loved his military bearing.
"Why should I agree to such a thing?"
"Because I love you, Kumquat. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want you to give me dozens of children—beautiful children with red hair." He paused, raking both his hands through her long tresses as if he couldn't believe her gorgeous locks were real. He continued, "I want to marry you, Ireland, as soon as possible. Now promise me you'll never leave me again."
"I promise," she said, allowing herself to melt into him.
She felt every muscle in his body tense before he lifted her chin and captured her mouth in another kiss. Landi lost track of space and time in his arms. It had taken her months to figure out who she was and what she wanted. Relief spread through her as James spoke, making her understand that he wanted her too.
Eventually, James led her into the cabin and told her to have a look around while he fixed breakfast. Over coffee and eggs, he asked her how she found him. He knew his family would have given him the heads up had she contacted any of them. They recognized how miserable he'd been.
"I remembered what you said about a bachelor pad in the mountains," she said, glancing around with a critical eye.
"I only called it that to get back at you, Kumquat." James flashed her a grin that made her knees weak.
"Well, there are only a few mountain resorts within striking distance of Los Angeles. I figured Big Bear could be the spot and drove around the lake, knowing a bachelor pad would need to be on the water. I spotted your sports car and knocked on the door. When you didn’t answer, I came around back and peeked in the windows. I was worried you might have some girl in here." She gave the room a quick scan, as if she might still spot one.
Jim, who had positioned himself next to her at the table, tapped her nose with his forefinger.
"There are no other girls, Ireland. You told me you wanted a brother right in the middle of a romantic moment. You really know how to crush a guy's ego. That's why I mentioned my bachelor pad. Katrina's the only girl who's ever been up here."
"Well, even if there had been, I'd determined to see you and have it out."
"Go ahead, then. Get everything off your chest," he said with a naughty smile.
She ignored his double entendre and sat up straight, stiffening her spine.
"I think your behavior was underhanded and—"
He caught her mouth in a kiss before she could finish her sentence. Moving his large hand to the nape of her neck, he tucked his thumb under her chin to keep her from pulling away. He kissed her long and hard until her breath became ragged and matched his.
Ireland felt the rough calluses on his hands scrape over her delicate skin. She loved the feel of his touch. His fingers about her neck drove her wild.
"And you acted like a—" she continued, not missing a beat when he released her.
He took her lips again, interrupting her complaint. This time, he moved his mouth over her jaw, dribbling kisses towards her ear, then down her neck.
"Stop it, James. The air is to
o thin at this altitude, and I can hardly catch my breath."
"It's not the altitude, Darling," he whispered, allowing his lips to linger on the sensitive spot behind her ear lobe.
A small moan escaped her, and he pulled back, not wanting to lose control of himself.
"I've got something to get off my chest," he said sternly.
She arched her eyebrows in disbelief.
"How were you traveling all over the country, and who were you with?"
Ireland laughed out loud.
"I thought you might find out about that. Actually, I never left Southern California."
James arched his brows in disbelief as she continued.
"I stayed with Doctor Morgan from the Gemology Institute and his wife. His daughter is a medical sales rep for the southern half of the US. She mailed my correspondence for me while on business trips.
"Why, you little Minx!"
In one quick move, James grabbed Landi, carried her out to the deck, and pretended he would chuck her into the lake.
"Wait, wait, James. I've got more to tell you!" she said between laughs, gasping for air.
"I'm not sure I want to hear any of it. I don't like getting outsmarted by an amateur!"
"Aren't you curious?"
He put her down and gave her another kiss, then a playful whack on the bottom.
"Fess up," he said with a sigh. "I know you want to brag about it. Oh, and I hope you didn't park the Filthy Beast out front. Don't want the neighbors complaining," he teased.
"Right next to your vanity car." She nodded then continued, "You were the one who generated all those complicated questions and comments on the blog, weren't you? You even pretended to be Katrina and gave me that long assignment so I'd have to cancel my date with Douglas, didn't you?"
"A man's got to do what a man's got to do, Kumquat."
Pride shone from James's face at the girl's intelligence. She really was a rare gem.
"Now, I think you're a little too smart for your own good, Minx. Why don't you put your mental prowess to work figuring out what to cook me for lunch?" he teased.
A Calculated Romance Page 16
