Flying Home

by T. R. McClure

  “I understand completely. Good night.” She strode toward the door.

  “Colleen.”

  She wheeled, ready to give him a piece of her mind.

  Matt moved around the desk and held out a magazine.

  With a jerk, she snatched it out of his hand without a word and left the room. She glanced at the title as she stomped up the stairs—Today’s California Agriculture—and tossed it over the banister. The magazine fluttered to the floor.

  ****

  After a night of tossing and turning, Matt awoke exhausted. The encounter in the den kept him awake longer than usual. He cursed himself for pulling her onto his lap. What had he been thinking?

  Maybe that was the problem—he hadn’t thought, he’d acted. Why the sight of her long legs inspired him to reach for her puzzled him. Leggy, flirty college girls surrounded him constantly and he had never been interested in any of them.

  What had he been thinking?

  Matt glanced out his bedroom window at the fog that still blanketed the ranch. He grabbed a T-shirt and shorts out of the dresser drawer and dressed quickly. The only possibility of revival was caffeine and a run.

  Carrying his running shoes, he descended the stairs. He followed the smell of fresh coffee to the kitchen, where a light shown. The early riser in the family, Stan always made the first pot.

  The unexpected sight of Colleen and his father drinking coffee at the kitchen table unnerved him for a minute. He appeared in the doorway just in time to hear the end of his father’s sentence.

  “—rather you didn’t go.”

  Matt couldn’t believe his ears. “Morning, Dad.” Matt stepped into the kitchen. “Colleen.” Her shoulders stiffened. He walked over to the counter and poured a cup of coffee. When he turned, cup in hand, Colleen stared into her coffee and Stan’s eyes blinked in surprise.

  “You’re up early, son.” With a head shake, he turned to Colleen. “Matt’s a night owl. Sometimes reads into the wee hours of the morning, like his mother.”

  Colleen finally lifted her head. “Really?”

  Matt couldn’t believe how fresh Colleen looked. If he hadn’t been there, he would never guess Colleen, too, had been up until the wee hours the previous night. She must have slept better than he had. Willing the caffeine to do its work, Matt took a long swallow of coffee.

  Her auburn hair was again pulled back into a high ponytail, the ends curled around her neck. A green tank top revealed strong shoulders and toned biceps. Her exposed chest was tanned as evenly as her legs. He pictured her lying on a European beach…one of the topless beaches…or do they have nude beaches—

  “Matt?” Stan’s voice seemed to come out of a fog.

  Matt dragged his gaze from Colleen’s tanned chest and focused on his father. “What?” Was his father getting senile?

  “I was telling Colleen about the tule fog, how sometimes you can’t see ten feet in front of you. We would be glad to run her into town once it lifts, but you know how your mother feels about—”

  “And for good reason, as you well know. Under no circumstances should anybody be driving in this fog.” Olivia Berk emerged from the hallway on silent slippers, kissed her husband on top of the head and Matt on the cheek before she poured herself a cup of coffee. She tightened the tie around her flowered robe and leaned against the counter next to Matt.

  A look passed between the older pair.

  “I don’t want to trouble you any more than I already have.” Colleen smiled at the couple. “I’ll call my sister.”

  “It’s not that we mind driving you into town.” Stan laid his glasses on the table and pinched the bridge of his nose. “We had…” He paused and glanced at this wife. “…an incident a few years back during a tule fog.”

  The schoolhouse clock over the dry sink tick-tocked, the only sound in the large kitchen. Matt wrapped an arm around his mother’s thin shoulders. “Are you getting shorter, Mom?”

  Olivia smiled up at her son and patted his cheek. “I know you’re trying to distract me, Matt, but Colleen needs to understand. Otherwise, she’ll think we’re trying to hold her hostage.”

  With a sigh, Matt realized he had failed in his attempt. He caught his mother’s eye and nodded. “I don’t want you to get upset, Mom. That was a long time ago.”

  “It’s been thirty-five years.” Olivia stared down at her cup and ran one finger around the edge. “By the fourth day of the fog, we were out of milk. We needed a good excuse to get out of the house, so Stan and I and our daughter Jane went for a ride in the car.”

  Matt set his cup on the table and pulled out a chair for his mother. As she sat, he refilled their cups from the carafe and realized his parents hadn’t spoken of the incident in years. Colleen’s arrival and proposed departure had sparked the unpleasant memory in both of them.

  “We decided to take the interstate just to get a change of scenery. Funny thing was with the fog, we couldn’t see ten feet in front of us, much less any scenery.”

  Stan shook his head. “Never should have gone. Don’t know what I was thinking.”

  Olivia patted Stan’s clasped hands. “We were young and young people think they’re invincible.” The couple stared at each other for a moment, neither speaking.

  Matt sat in the rocker and watched Colleen’s green eyes flick from one parent to the other. “Twenty-five cars and three tractor-trailers were involved in the accident—one of the worst vehicle pileups in history.” Olivia nodded, a faraway look in her eyes.

  Stan patted his wife’s hand. He took a long swallow of coffee before he glanced at Colleen. “A little boy in the car in front of us was killed,” he grimaced, “along with three other people. It could easily have been us.”

  Eyebrows bunched into a frown, Colleen shook her head. “Were you and your daughter okay?”

  “Not a scratch,” Stan replied.

  Colleen’s bright eyes suddenly zeroed in on Matt. The intensity in her gaze practically pressed him into the chair.

  “You weren’t in the car?”

  Matt smiled. For the first time that morning, Colleen addressed him directly. “No, I—”

  “Then it’s decided. You’ll stay another day.” Olivia stood, smacking the table with her palm. “I think it’s a good day for a big breakfast. What do you think, Stan?”

  “Are you kidding?” Stan winked at Colleen. “Ever since my episode, she’s been feeding me oatmeal every morning.”

  “Don’t think you’re getting away with anything, Mr. Berk.” Olivia kissed him on his bald spot. “I’ll make oatmeal banana muffins—just for you.”

  Stan grabbed his wife. She protested as he pulled her onto his lap. “Put some chocolate chips in those muffins and you have a deal, sweetie.”

  Matt shook his head as he listened to his parents’ banter. “Get a room, you two.” He raised his voice to be heard over his mother’s giggles. “I’m going for a run, if anybody cares.” He rose to put his cup in the sink and felt a light tap on his arm. “Mind if I come along?” Colleen’s expression gave no hint of the events of the night before.

  “Not at all.” He held open the kitchen door as he waited for Colleen.

  The dampness from the fog draped over them as soon as they came out onto the porch. Matt bounced down the steps then turned and propped one foot on the top step. He leaned into the leg stretch.

  Colleen sauntered down the steps and copied his position. They stood hip to hip. His nose twitched with her now-familiar peach scent. When he switched legs, he moved a few inches away.

  “For Pete’s sake, I’m not going to bite you, Berk,” Colleen exploded. “Look, I don’t have any weapons.” She pulled up her shirt, exposing a toned midriff.

  Matt covered his eyes. “Please don’t do that, Colleen.” When she didn’t answer, he looked up.

  Her toned, tanned, and fine midriff covered, Colleen’s brow furrowed. “Why not?”

  Matt propped one elbow on his outstretched leg and grimaced. “Just don’t.”

/>   She burst out laughing. “You are one strange man, Professor.” With a quick move, she grabbed his T-shirt and pulled him close. “Oh, by the way…” She leaned forward and covered his lips with hers.

  Matt’s pulse rate skyrocketed. He tasted coffee…smelled peaches. He closed his eyes and reached for her, but all he grabbed was air.

  Chapter Four

  Colleen sprinted down the lane toward the apple orchard. The man drove her crazy. Never before had she reacted to a man the way she had to Matthew Berk. Good thing, too. She would have been drummed out of the military. Maybe she was experiencing a mid-life crisis brought on by the recent retirement. The run would help. A run always helped. Behind her, Matt’s footfalls came closer.

  “What the heck?” Matt sputtered as he came alongside.

  “Payback for last night,” Colleen gasped back. She had forgotten to pace herself and was already panting, although she wasn’t entirely sure her breathlessness was due only to her fast pace.

  “Well, now that we’re even, do you think we can slow down, or do you always run this fast?”

  Colleen burst out laughing. She stopped and propped her hands on her knees. Gasping for air, she glanced up at Matt. “No, I don’t usually run this fast. I got distracted.” She gave him a half-hearted grin. “Where to, Professor?”

  Matt pointed down the lane. “Past the barn, around the apple orchard and back is three miles. That good enough for you, Sarge?”

  Colleen smiled at the familiar nickname. “That’ll do.” She broke into a slow jog.

  They ran through the damp air in companionable silence. Out of nowhere, Tiny appeared and ran between them. His long silky ears flapped up and down with each stride.

  “Who named him Tiny?” Colleen puffed as the three ran abreast down the lane.

  “I did.” Matt took a deep breath. “He showed up last Valentine’s Day looking like he hadn’t eaten in weeks. His hair was matted, no collar. We put an ad in the paper but never heard from anyone.”

  Colleen looked down at the beautiful, glossy animal loping along between them. “He’s certainly made himself at home. Do you take in strays often?”

  “More and more lately,” Matt responded with a sideways glance.

  And what Colleen swore was a twinkle in his eye. As they approached the barn on the way back, Colleen increased her speed.

  Matt kept pace beside her.

  They raced to the barn and ran through the open doors side by side. Two horses jerked their heads into the stalls with loud snorts.

  “Oops, we scared the horses.” With a long exhale, Colleen walked over to the nearby stall and coaxed the animal back to the gate. “I surprised you, didn’t I? Sorry, fella.” She rubbed the soft nose, cupping her hand over the large nostrils and fleshy lips as the gelding inhaled her scent in short huffs.

  Matt came up beside her and leaned against the stall door. “Competitive little thing, aren’t you?”

  “Can’t help it.” Colleen chuckled. “I guess after all those years in the military…gotta be all you can be.”

  “So what are you going to do now?”

  Matt’s question caught Colleen off guard. Her thoughts raced. “I’m not really sure. My brother-in-law said they could use another paralegal in his law firm. I’m considering it.”

  “Somehow I can’t see you in the corporate world. I see you…”

  Colleen glanced away from the velvety nose and Matt’s voice trailed off. Their gazes locked. She froze as Matt leaned toward her, an unfamiliar warmth spreading through her body. She had run off the effects of the playful kiss on the porch. But the dark brown eyes showed no hint of playfulness and she didn’t think she could run this one off. Colleen tore away her gaze and turned back to the bay.

  For some reason, she didn’t want to know where Matt saw her. “How about you? You work at a local college?”

  Matt pulled back and leaned both arms on the stall door. He took a deep breath before answering. “I teach agri-business. California produce is shipped worldwide.”

  “Do your almonds go all over the world?”

  “California provides seventy percent of the world’s almond supply. As a matter of fact, Germany’s renowned marzipan contains California almonds.”

  “My dad loves marzipan. When he was stationed in Germany, he developed a taste for it.” Colleen looked at him with new respect. “Funny, I thought…” She paused, one long finger resting against her lips.

  “You thought…”

  “I thought you were one of the employees here. I had no idea you were the owner. I mean—” she smiled at the memory “—you were covered in mud…”

  “Guess we’re even, then. At our ages, we should both know appearances can be deceiving. I’m sorry I called you a drug runner, by the way.”

  “Apology accepted.” Colleen studied the man with the gentle smile. For a moment the urge to move closer almost overcame her. She shook herself mentally and leaned her cheek against the bay’s nose. “So what’s this guy’s name?”

  “That’s Chick. He’s twenty.” Matt moved to the next stall and extended a hand. “This old girl is Bunny.”

  Colleen trailed after Matt to where a black mare hung her head over the stall door and scratched the horse behind the ears. “They seem gentle. Are they nice to ride?”

  “Bunny is half Tennessee Walker, so yes, she has a nice canter. My mom prefers to ride her.”

  They stood for a moment, the mare motionless between them, each scratching behind an ear.

  “We should get back.” Although reluctant to leave the warm barn, Colleen didn’t trust herself alone with the young professor. “I should be helping your mom with breakfast.”

  “Mom’s in her glory,” Matt responded as he turned toward the barn doors. “She loves having people to cook for.”

  Colleen rubbed her arms as they walked back into the damp fog. “Does your sister live nearby?”

  “She lives in Seattle with her husband and two kids. They’re both physical therapists and have a practice with her father-in-law.” Matt reached for the screen door and stood back as he held it.

  The buttery scent of baking muffins hit them as soon as they entered the kitchen.

  “I got carried away and decided to turn this into a brunch.” Olivia handed Colleen a woven basket with a green cloth tucked inside. “Now that you two are back, I’ll scramble a batch of eggs and then we can eat. Would you put the muffins in there, Colleen?”

  Colleen glanced over her shoulder and saw Matt disappear down the hallway. “This room smells wonderful.” She washed her hands at the sink then reached for an oven mitt hanging from a hook. “I understand the grove has been in the family for generations.” She transferred the still-hot muffins into the basket and covered them with a plaid cloth.

  “Stan inherited it from his father, who inherited it from his father. Matt is fourth generation.” The fork clanged against the side of a deep blue bowl as Olivia whipped the eggs.

  Colleen smiled at Olivia’s obvious pride. “That is amazing. When did you move here?”

  “When we married, forty-two years ago this May. I worked at the local hospital as an RN until retirement—three years ago at sixty-two.”

  “You’re the same age as my mother.” At the realization, Colleen hesitated for a moment before she set the basket on the table.

  The skillet sizzled as Olivia emptied the bowl of eggs into it. “I loved nursing, so the decision to retire didn’t come easy. I still volunteer at the hospital two days a week.”

  A few minutes later, Stan entered the room with Matt close behind. “I think I’ll keep you around, Colleen. I eat better.” He grabbed a muffin out of the pan on the stove and tossed it from hand to hand, before he managed to drop it on his plate. “Why didn’t you tell me they just came out of the oven?”

  “That’s what you get.” Olivia spooned the fluffy eggs into a bowl and motioned to Colleen to sit.

  Matt, dressed in jeans and an Almond Valley College sweatshirt,
retrieved a container of orange juice from the refrigerator.

  “That was quick.” Colleen’s gaze took in the faded blue jeans settled low on his hips. Muscled forearms emerged from the pushed-back sleeves of the well-worn, gray sweatshirt. His blond hair, still wet from the shower, looked even darker brushed back over his forehead.

  “We’ve learned not to be late for a meal.” Matt pulled out his chair and glanced at his mother. “Mom cracks the whip if you’re not here on time.”

  “Oh stop.” Olivia laughed as she sat across from Colleen. “You make me sound like an ogre.”

  “Well—” Stan shook his head “—if the shoe fits…”

  Olivia nodded in Colleen’s direction as she handed her the scrambled eggs. “All I can say is, thank goodness you’re here, Colleen. At least for a while, I’m not outnumbered.”

  The three Berks bantered back and forth as they consumed the bountiful brunch. When they finished, Stan walked over to the dry sink and took a long box out of the top drawer. “How are you at Scrabble, Colleen?”

  “I hold my own.” Memories of hours spent playing with coworkers flitted through her thoughts.

  Head tilted to one side, Matt’s eyes narrowed as he shot her a look. “Something tells me you’re a force to be reckoned with.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Colleen batted her eyelashes, but she caught herself and cleared her throat. What the heck? When did she start batting her eyelashes?

  Stan chuckled as he set up the board. “I’ll warn you ahead of time, Colleen. Matt pulls some fast ones.”

  The game progressed with routine words until Colleen used the word kaput.

  “No foreign languages, Sarge.” Matt leaned back in his chair, his expression challenging.

  “Kaput is commonly used in the English language, Professor,” she replied, also leaning back and thrusting her chin in the air. She met his gaze. The shiver coursing through her body had nothing to do with the temperature in the kitchen, still warm from the oven.

  They stared at each other as the clock ticked.