Page 68 of Luke

"I didn't know you were that good," Kaitlyn said. "Mom used to say you were, but I didn't know."

"Thanks, honey."

"I knew you were good," he put in, drawing her gaze to his. "You haven't lost a beat, Lizzie."

"It felt both strange and wonderful to play again."

"I thought you weren't going to touch the piano."

"After I left you both on the roof, I felt restless, and when I came downstairs, the piano called to me. I went to the one place where I knew there was peace. For me, that's always been the piano. It's where I feel safe, where I feel like I know who I am and what I'm supposed to do." She blushed. "That sounds silly."

"Not at all," he murmured.

Their eyes met and held for a long moment. Then Kaitlyn interrupted them once again.

"Can I talk to you, Aunt Liz?" she asked.

"Of course. Why don't we go upstairs?"

Kaitlyn nodded, then gave Luke a tentative smile. "Thanks again for saving me."

"You're more than welcome. Good-night."

Lizzie lingered behind. "We need to talk, too, Luke, but I don't know how long this will take."

"It's fine."

"Is it fine?" she asked doubtfully.

"You should go talk to Kaitlyn."

She frowned. "You're not leaving tomorrow, are you?"

He really didn't know. He probably should, because unless what she wanted to talk to him about was how much she loved him, he really didn't want to hear it. "I don't have any plans yet."

"Then I'll see you in the morning."

He nodded and watched her go, not at all sure he would see her tomorrow morning or any other morning.

He felt like he was right back where he'd once been—faced with uncertainty that Lizzie had ever or would ever love him enough to follow him or even ask him to stay. Was it that she just couldn't say the words, or because she didn't feel the love? But he knew she did; she was just afraid. Or maybe he was the one who was afraid. He could say he loved her, but he'd never offered her the life she really wanted. Could he do that now? Even if he did, would she say yes?

* * *

Kaitlyn had already crawled under the covers when Liz walked into her bedroom. Judging by her niece's drooping eyelids, the stress and emotions of the day were catching up to her.

She sat down next to her on the bed and gave her a smile. "You look like you're about ready to fall asleep."

"I feel so tired all of a sudden."

"Me, too. We can talk tomorrow."

"I wanted to say something tonight. I wanted to tell you I'm sorry that I said Mom was mad at you for not coming home. She wasn't really. She was proud of how good you were at playing the piano; she just missed you."

"I missed her, too, and I do wish I'd gone to see you all more often."

"And I'm sorry I've been so mean to you. I thought…" She licked her lips. "I thought once you knew that I didn't climb up the hill after the accident, that I could have maybe saved my mom and dad's lives but didn't, that you'd hate me."

She immediately shook her head. "No, honey, I told you before that you couldn't have saved your parents even if you'd climbed two mountains. I really believe your mom told you to get out of the car because she was afraid it would slide farther down the ravine or burst into flames. She wanted you to be safe. That was her only thought at that moment. She wanted you to live. That's all that mattered to her. I know Kelly as well as I know myself. The proudest, happiest moment in her life was when she had you. I know that for a fact."

---