Always The One. Tara Randel
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Название: Always The One
Автор: Tara Randel
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Короткие любовные романы
Серия: Meet Me at the Altar
isbn: 9780008906115
isbn:
The older woman frowned. “Heard noises last night. Couldn’t sleep, so I looked out the window to see who was making the ruckus. The family got in the car and took off.”
That couldn’t be right. “In the middle of the night?”
“There were some official-looking men telling them to hurry. Hannah and her mother were crying but they were pushed in the car and left.”
Gone? Just like that?
“But…”
The neighbor shrugged. “Can’t tell you any more than that.”
Derrick jerked when his brother spoke.
“I asked where you’re headed.”
He shook off the memories, including how his actions, and his father’s, in retrospect probably set events in motion. Maybe if it had been a normal breakup—still not a great scenario—he would have had closure. But his nature, to find answers, kept him hooked.
“No destination in mind. Just get in the car and drive.”
“Need a wingman? For part of the trip?”
“Nah. I’m good.” He gazed over the water. “You’re right, Dylan. It’s time to let go. Maybe on this trip I can finally get rid of baggage from the past.”
Dylan clamped his shoulder. “It’s a good idea.”
Derrick thought so, even if his heart cracked a little bit deeper.
MONDAY MORNING HE was back in his office, finishing the last of his stack of paperwork. His superior, Ron Collins, popped into Derrick’s office.
“I thought you were leaving today.”
“I am. Just wanted to clear my desk before taking off.”
“You do have plans, right?” Ron asked, hope in his eyes.
Derrick laughed. “Yes. I’ll be gone until next month. My mother is getting married in February and after that, I’m all yours again.”
“Look, I know I sound like a broken record, but it was either remind you about your accrued vacation time or you lose it.”
“It’s fine. I needed the push.”
Ron nodded at the computer screen. “You tied up the museum case?”
“Yep.” He rifled through the papers on his desk to find the printed report. “Here you go.”
“Nice job.”
“Thanks.”
“And Derrick?”
“Yes, sir?”
“Enjoy your time off.”
Derrick allowed a small smile. “Will do.”
Once he’d finished the last report, he gathered his mail from the corner of his desk. He tossed a few envelopes aside until he came upon a bulky 3 x 5 package. His name was scrawled across the front in a flowery script. Definitely not official. The return address came from Nevada. He didn’t recall knowing anyone from there. Curious, he ripped the package open and peered inside. No paper. He tipped it upside down and out tumbled a small red gem, about the size to fit an expensive women’s ring. When the late morning sunlight from his office window reflected off the gem, his breath caught in his throat.
He took a pen from the holder and pushed the cut stone closer. Leaned down to inspect it better. A flash of memory jolted him and he sat back in the chair—multiple stones scattered on Hannah’s father’s desk. Hannah asking him not to tell anyone what he saw.
Could this be a signal from Hannah?
He grabbed the envelope and scanned the return address again. Dark Clay, Nevada.
He swiveled in his chair and typed the name into the computer. Found the location about twenty miles outside Carson City near Lake Tahoe.
His heart started pumping wildly. Finally. After all these years. A connection. Was this Hannah’s way of contacting him? And why now?
Did it matter?
No.
He picked up his phone and booked the next available flight to Reno-Tahoe International.
SOMEONE WAS WATCHING Hannah Rawlings. Or, Anna Rawley, as she was currently known. She was sure of it.
She’d been on the run long enough to recognize when the little hairs on the back of her neck were warning her, not acting up because of the biting wind. She walked around the playground of Ponderosa Day School, avoiding patches of ice as she pulled her wool coat more snugly around her. It had rained just after the morning bell and since then the temperature had dipped close to freezing. The sun barely peeked out from the cloud cover. Shivering, she watched her students, but her eyes flitted around the schoolyard. Nothing out of the ordinary for a Tuesday. But still, she couldn’t shake the strange feeling.
“Miss Rawley, Tommy threw snow at me.”
She glanced down to find William staring up at her. She controlled her exasperation. What was it with boys, always tussling and one-upping each other? She crouched down to his level, her heart squeezing at his mournful expression.
Teaching ten-year-old children required a patience level and skill she never thought she’d need.
“What happened?”
“You know the pile of snow in the corner? Chuck was kicking it with his boots and then Tommy scooped it up and made snowballs.”
“I thought you boys were playing a game?”
He nodded, his blue eyes solemn behind glasses. “We were. It was my turn with the ball, but Tommy took it from me and then started throwing snow at me.”
As usual, Tommy made his own rules.
“I’ll talk to him.”
William’s face lit up. “You’re the best.” He turned and ran back to a group of boys.
“Hardly,” she muttered under her breath. Not when she wondered every day why she was getting dressed to go to school and teach a class full of rambunctious fourth graders. Not exactly her grand plan, but then, nothing had turned out the way she’d dreamed.
But once she arrived, the kids reminded her why she loved being around them. Their optimism and energy filled her with a sense of hope she hung on to daily.
Rising, she stuffed her gloved hands in her coat pockets and watched the boys work out their problems just before the bell rang. The students hurried to line up. Taking one СКАЧАТЬ