Another Man's Wife

by Rebecca Winters

  “To be honest, he has me scared. Nate’s hurting like I’ve never heard him in my life. It’s a long shot, but if anyone can get through to him, you can. Is there any way you could beat him home?”

  “Maybe. Pam’s uncle has his own plane. If he’ll fly me to Odessa, I can get a flight from there. Give me a minute to make a couple of calls and I’ll phone you back.”

  “Thanks, Dad.”

  Rick hung up in a cold sweat. An earlier conversation with Nate played over and over in his mind.

  No pilot or racing pro is a superman, Rick. Every man has his breaking point. We all live in the hope that we’ll never have to be tested to that degree.

  Had Nate reached his breaking point?

  When the phone rang he picked up without checking the caller ID.

  “Dad?”

  “No. It’s Brent.”

  “How’s Laurel?”

  “You’ve heard the news?”

  “All I know is, my brother told me the wedding’s off and he’s on his way home. He’s so distraught I didn’t even recognize his voice.”

  “There’s more. After Nate left the house, Laurel collapsed. Because she’s a new mother, their family doctor had her checked into the hospital for observation.”

  Rick groaned.

  “Their visit to the Pierces ended in a nightmare.”

  “I know. Ever since Laurel approached Nate in Breckenridge, he’s been skating on thin ice. Spade got to Laurel first, and my brother can’t get past it.”

  “How could he after the evening he spent with Reba and Wendell? When Laurel was able to talk, she said enough to her parents for me to understand that the Pierces dumped a mother lode of guilt on him.”

  “They did, and it’s torn Nate apart. Listen, Brent—I’ve talked to my father. He’s going to try to get here ahead of Nate and meet his plane with me. Dad’s the only person I know who can make him see reason. In the meantime, when Laurel’s capable of listening to you, tell her not to give up.”

  “I don’t know, Rick. It was a replay of his treatment of her on the dance floor. He cut her loose without a life preserver.”

  “That’s my brother. When he decides to close up, it’s like trying to penetrate battle armor to get through. Oh—someone’s calling me on the other line. That’ll be Dad. Keep me posted on Laurel’s condition. I’ll do the same about Nate.”

  “Okay.” There was a click.

  Rick pressed the flash button. “Dad?”

  “We’re in luck. Pam’s uncle has pulled through for me. I’ll be arriving in Denver at five-ten on West Skyways Air.”

  Rick gripped the phone more tightly. “You’ll be saving his life. No one else can.”

  “If he didn’t want to be saved, he wouldn’t have turned to his brother for help. Everything’s going to be all right.”

  How could his father be so calm? “It has to be. I just found out Laurel collapsed. She’s in the hospital for observation.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that, but it’s a piece of information that’ll work in our favor.” His father sounded so hopeful, Rick couldn’t quite grasp it.

  “I’ll meet you at the curb. We’ll have time for breakfast before Nate’s flight arrives.”

  “Sounds good. I’m on my way.”

  Knowing he wouldn’t get any sleep, Rick showered and dressed in a clean pair of jeans and a T-shirt. Once he’d locked up the house, he left for Denver.

  There was a sports bar that stayed open all night. He’d shoot a little pool and watch reruns of NASCAR racing so he wouldn’t think about the pain his brother was in until he saw him at the airport.

  AS SOON AS NATE SPOTTED his suitcase he grabbed it and walked swiftly out of the airline terminal. He didn’t see the Blazer at the curb, but then the damn plane had arrived twenty minutes later than scheduled due to headwinds.

  Security guards kept traffic moving at the Denver airport. No doubt his brother was making the loop to come back around for him.

  His eyes narrowed in disbelief when a few minutes later the Blazer pulled alongside the curb and he saw his dad in the car with Rick.

  He was supposed to be in Texas with the second Mrs. Hawkins.

  This was one of the rare times in Nate’s life when he didn’t want to face his father. Damn Rick for taking it upon himself to alert him! Nate resented being treated like a child.

  He should never have asked his brother to pick him up.

  He sure as hell shouldn’t have resigned his commission. That was his first mistake.

  Since his return to Colorado, he’d been making one bad decision after another. The only thing he’d done right was to end it with Laurel and pack his bags.

  A security guard blew his whistle. Aware he was holding up traffic, Nate opened the back door of the Blazer and shoved his case along the seat before getting in. Rick immediately pulled away from the curb. His father glanced over his shoulder at him.

  “You look exhausted. Why don’t you try to sleep until we get home.”

  Nate froze. “That’s the last place I want to go.”

  “Nevertheless it’s the only place for the talk we should’ve had weeks ago.”

  He raked an unsteady hand through his hair. “What talk would that be?”

  “The one I put off to spare your and Rick’s feelings. With hindsight, I can see it was the wrong thing to do. I took a calculated risk, never dreaming there would be such far-reaching consequences.”

  “You’re being cryptic.”

  “That wasn’t my intention.”

  “Sorry, Dad. But I can’t do this. It wasn’t necessary for you to fly home.”

  “Probably not any more necessary than it was for you and Rick to leave your careers behind and come to the rescue of your father.”

  “As it turns out, you didn’t need rescuing. Neither do I,” he said in a withering tone.

  “I’m glad to hear it.”

  His father’s reply caught him on the raw.

  “Take the next turnoff for Aurora, Rick,” he told his brother.

  “There’s been a change in plans. You can worry about your mother’s car later.” His father nodded to Rick. “There’s a rest area at the next exit. We’ll have our talk there.”

  Before Nate could say a word, Rick had changed to the right lane. Within minutes they’d left the freeway and pulled past the trucks to the tourist area. He parked some distance from the few other cars already there and shut off the engine.

  His father got out first and opened the back door. “Rick bought us some donuts and coffee to enjoy on the drive home. Let’s walk over to one of those picnic tables.”

  Nate couldn’t believe what his father was doing. “This used to work years ago when Rick and I got out of hand, but we’re not kids anymore.”

  “You don’t have to be kids for it still to work. The point is, I like to be able to look into your eyes when I have something important to say. It appears I’ll have to do it right here.”

  He put his hands on his hips in that familiar stance. “Neither of you asked me why I married Pam. I haven’t told you before now, because I knew you loved your mother, and anything I had to say would hurt you. Unfortunately, my silence has done more damage than I realized.

  “You both know your mother was my whole universe from the moment we met until the day she died. Now she lives in my heart and in you boys. What never occurred to me was that my new universe had an unexpected surprise for me.

  “One day Pam came into the ski shop and quite simply, we fell in love. It hit fast and hard, just like it did with your mother, just like it did when you met Laurel nine years ago.”

  Nate blinked.

  “The problem is, when you fall in love you have to do something about it.

  “I didn’t know it could happen again, not after the love Anja and I shared for thirty-one years. It came as a complete and total shock to me, as I’m sure it did to Laurel when she met you again, Nate.

  “She went through intense grief after Spade died.
I’ve been through it, too. And now she’s discovered what I’ve discovered. It might be another time and another season, but you can love again with just as much depth and passion.

  “If I’ve learned one thing from this whole experience, it’s that life never ceases to unfold new wonders, and the human spirit is more resilient than we know.”

  Nate just stared at his father, unable to say a word.

  “The problem isn’t with Laurel, Nate. She’s been reborn through your love, just as I was reborn through Pam’s. Laurel knows exactly what she wants and exactly how she feels. The problem lies with you.

  “By breaking your engagement to her, you’ve done the worst thing you could do. Don’t you understand that her love for you is a miracle?

  “You’ve rejected that love, because in your mind and heart she’ll always be another man’s wife. You don’t see the new woman who’s emerged from her grief. What you’ve done is tell her she must remain in a state of perpetual mourning.

  “Laurel has already come out of yesterday, Nate. Today she’s ready to embrace life again. If not with you, then with some lucky man who’ll come along when the time is right.

  “You’re the one who’s in mourning, not Laurel. My fear is that you’ll continue to exist in that unhappy state, just like the Pierces. Now there’s a tragedy.”

  He shut the door and climbed back into the front seat of the Blazer. Stunned by his father’s delivery, Nate sat there mute as he watched him devour three donuts in a row.

  “Those were good.” He looked at Rick. “Might as well run by the Marsdens’ so Nate can pick up the car before we go home.”

  “I’ve changed my mind. Take me back to the airport.”

  His father glanced at him. “You’d better phone Brent first.”

  Nate frowned. “Why?”

  “To find out if Laurel’s up to seeing you. The last we heard, she’d collapsed and was put in the hospital for observation.”

  Collapsed?

  “Why in God’s name didn’t you tell me sooner?” He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and started punching buttons.

  “Laurel wouldn’t have wanted you to feel guilty about that, too, not if you weren’t planning on marrying her. I trust the wedding is back on.”

  Terror seized his heart. “It is if I haven’t lost her.”

  AFTER RETURNING to her parents’ home, Laurel had slept, but the anguish was back. The sedative she’d been given at the hospital had worn off. Much as she craved another pill to dull the pain, she knew it wasn’t good for the baby.

  During the night Julie had brought Becky in to nurse. Now it was morning. In a few minutes it would be time to feed her again.

  “Laurel?” To her surprise, her sister had entered the room without the baby. “How are you feeling?”

  “Like I want to die, but I know I can’t because Becky needs me.”

  Julie sat down on the side of the bed. “Brent’s so protective of you he didn’t want me to tell you this, but I have to. Nate’s on the phone.”

  Her heart pounded. “Nate?”

  “He knows Mom and Dad took you to the hospital last night. Brent says he sounds so broken up you can hardly understand him, but my husband’s loyalty is to you. If you’d rather not tal—”

  “I love him!” Laurel cried out, sitting up in bed. “Is he on our house phone?”

  “No. Brent’s cell. I’ll get it.”

  “Please hurry, Julie!”

  By the time she’d returned, Laurel had made it to the door. She thanked her sister, then took the phone from her.

  “H-hello, Nate?”

  “Laurel—don’t hang up on me. I know I don’t deserve any more chances, but you’ve got to listen to me.”

  He was crying. She’d never heard him cry before. His vulnerability melted her heart.

  “I had a talk with my father. He told me something I should’ve known and understood long before now.”

  Overcome by emotion, she brushed the tears off her cheeks. “What was that?”

  “The reason he married Pam was because he was in love with her. Do you hear what I’m saying?”

  Sunshine filled her world once more. “Yes, darling.”

  “I finally get it. You love me.”

  “Yes!” she cried between happy sobs. “Oh, yes!”

  “I swear I’ll never doubt your love again. We’re going to have a marvelous, fantastic life together!”

  “We are!” she half laughed, half cried. “Where are you?”

  “At the Denver airport waiting for a flight. It’s going to be a few hours before I can board.”

  “Nate—don’t get on the plane. Becky and I are coming home to you. As soon as we hang up I’ll phone to make a reservation. Someone here will drive us to the airport.”

  “What about your family? They’ve hardly had any time with you.”

  “They’re all coming out for the wedding. We’ll have a party at your house. But I can’t wait any longer to be with you. I need you so desperately.”

  “Laurel.” A minute passed before he could say anything else. “It’s what I’ve wanted for what seems like an eternity. But are you well enough to travel?”

  “Your phone call has cured me, Nate.”

  Another silence ensued. “Forgive me for hurting you last night.”

  “I already have.”

  “Brent’s ready to deck me again.”

  “If he is, it’s because he wants you so badly for a brother-in-law. When he thought it wasn’t going to happen, I swear he was as disappointed for himself as for me.”

  “It’s going to happen, all right.”

  “Saturday can’t come soon enough. I want to hug your father and thank him for the most wonderful wedding present he could have given us.”

  “No one can drum sense into my head like he can, except for my brother. They’re the best.” His voice shook. “Once again, Rick’s the person responsible for my rescue. He roused Dad out of bed in the dead of night to fly home.”

  “I love Rick. I love your family. I wish I’d known your mother.”

  “So do I. You’ll have to make do with three hours of videos. She’s in most of them.”

  “I can’t wait!”

  “Call me the minute you know your flight time.”

  “I will.”

  “Don’t let anything happen to you and my little girl.”

  Nate could have no idea what those words meant to her. “I promise.”

  “I love you, Laurel. We’re going to start over. It’ll be better than it ever was before.”

  “It’s perfect already.”

  “Wait till tonight….”

  NATE LAY stretched out on Laurel’s bed, waiting for her to finish nursing the baby. As he rubbed her back and listened to the little sounds Becky was making, a contentment he’d never known before stole over him.

  The day had seemed endless until he’d seen her emerge from the terminal with Becky. By the time he’d helped them into the car, he was in such a fever pitch of excitement, all he could do was crush her in his arms. The words would have to come later.

  His heart pounded with frantic abandon when she got up from the bed to put Becky in her crib. Then she turned to him.

  Their cries of longing blended into the semidarkness as he gathered her close. “At last,” he whispered against her lips. Her avid mouth fastened on his with an eagerness he would remember all his life.

  Alone with the woman he’d yearned for, both waking and sleeping, he luxuriated in the taste and feel of her. As their kisses grew more impassioned, he realized where this was leading. The last thing he wanted was to slow them down, but he had to for Laurel’s sake, and he had to do it now.

  “Darling?” he murmured in her hair. “How soon does Dr. Steel say we can make love?”

  “All I can tell you is what he told my sister after Joey was born. He’d prefer she wait six weeks.”

  Nate tried to hide his moan of protest. He failed. Miserably.

 
Her gentle laughter excited him. “You didn’t let me finish.”

  “Laurel—I don’t think I can handle this conversation.”

  “Julie’s never waited longer than three.” She smiled up at him with love light in her eyes. “Saturday will make it three weeks and six days.”

  He kissed her long and hard. “I love your sister.”

  “So do I. She’s helped me keep body and soul together over the years.”

  Her choice of words alerted Nate that she was trying to tell him something important.

  “What are you saying, Laurel?” He kissed her hand. The ring he’d put back on her finger caught the lamplight from the hall.

  “I want to tell you about my marriage, then we won’t ever have to talk about it again.”

  For the first time in nine years, the mention of her life with Spade didn’t hurt. It didn’t hurt at all. That in itself proved how far he’d come.

  “Go on,” he urged in a quiet tone.

  “Scott and I were two kids when we got married. We had no concept of what it meant to take on lifetime vows. For Scott every day was an exciting adventure. He lived to fly. He loved me, but I was only one part of his life.

  “It was very different for me. I’d come from a large family, where someone was always around, something was always going on. I always had Julie to talk to. With marriage, all of that changed.

  “In the beginning, the loneliness, the isolation, were almost unbearable. I had no idea what to do with myself while Scott was gone, sometimes for a couple of weeks at one time.

  “All the friends I’d left behind who’d been so envious of my marriage to a hotshot were in college. They thought their lives were boring compared to my glamorous life in the Air Force. What they didn’t know was that their letters were filled with the kind of news I hungered for.

  “That’s when the phone calls started from wherever I was to wherever Julie was. I knew I was behaving like the immature, spoiled little girl I actually was. I wanted to be the best wife to him, but I knew I could ruin it if I didn’t get a grip on my life.