Page 77 of Return to Me Always

Putting my spoon down, I thought back to that moment, which seemed so long ago, but didn't remember him actually saying that. Just remembered the terror I had felt, the terror not only for myself but for Tyler when I had heard the motorcycle outside. I shuddered.

Ben reached over and opened the little container of pudding for me. "Here. This next. Keep eating."

Laughing, I glanced at Tyler who was smiling. God, how had we been so lucky? I couldn't believe it. This nightmare was over. Over! We were free. No more hiking. No more running. Thank God.

It was hard to even understand completely. The swell of emotions became almost too much to handle. But even amidst my whirling mind, I knew one thing—my worst nightmare was losing Tyler, and I really hoped this didn't mean thatwewere over too.

My mom interrupted my thoughts. "But, hon, the weird thing that no one has been able to figure out, though..."

"Hmm? What's that?" I asked after scraping out the last spoonful of chocolate pudding.

"And believe me, I have listened to that message a thousand times. Maybe more. And the minute I got it, I called the police, and they called the police here. And so on. And so on. And I can't even tell you how worried I was. I hopped on the first plane I could to get over here. And I've been biting my nails again."

Holding out her hands, she showed me the damage. "Oh, but, Mom, you worked so hard to stop."

"I know. I know." She gave me a sheepish smile. "I'm done now. Just a relapse because my only daughter, my only child, was on the run for a murder she didn't commit. And nobody, I mean nobody, could find you. After you left Glasgow, it was like you disappeared off the face of the earth."

My spoonful of soup paused half-way to my mouth. "I'm sorry. We just did what we thought was best."

I couldn't help meeting Tyler's eyes. We had done whathethought was best, and he had been right. Now that I knew what Malcolm was capable of—that he would have killed Tyler without a thought—we had been right to run.

"Of course. I know, hon," my mom said. "And looking at how crazy Malcolm was, and the fact that he shot at you both, that was probably the right choice even though it gave me a heart attack to not know where you were, if you were safe, if you were okay, if you were even alive." Her voice cracked on the last word.

Oh, geez. She was having a rough time of it, and her words brought tears to my eyes. "I'm really sorry, Mom."

"Jesus, you two," Ben interrupted. "Now, you're going to make the big guy cry over here."

We all looked at Tyler and laughed. Not a tear was in sight. I didn't know what on earth could make Tyler cry. I mean, he hadn't even cried while telling me about his parents. And here I was—the biggest crybaby in the world. How many times had he seen my tears?

Tyler just rolled his eyes. But I appreciated Ben who had a way of diffusing the tough emotions.

Once my mom stopped laughing, she wiped her nose again. "Anyway, I lost the thread of what I was going to say. Wouldn't be the first time..."

Now, it was my turn to glance heavenward. "Whatwereyou going to say? Please don't get distracted again."

"Right." She nodded. "Well, what nobody can figure out is something else Malcolm said, and I've been waiting to ask you. And the police will ask too I'm sure."

"Wait? What? The police?" Panic filled my heart.

"Yeah, hon. They already talked to Tyler, and they have to talk to you too, you know, to wrap everything up, to hear your side."

"Oh." I hadn't thought of that, but of course they would. Even though they knew I was innocent now, I still dreaded it. That wouldnotbe fun. One thing at a time, I thought, shaking my head. "Mom, what's the thing you can't figure out?"

"Well, Malcolm said something about... actually, I can quote it word for word since I've listened to it so many times. You asked him what he wanted from you. And he said, 'I want what I've always wanted from you but was denied all those years ago.' What did he mean by that? Do you know?"

My aching brain spun into anxiety because I now knew exactly what he meant. The awful dream I'd had came crashing back—the wedding, the fierce battle, Malcolm grabbing me, and... oh, God, the cliff. Tyler's face. The look in his eyes. The endless free fall.

All the food I'd just inhaled threatened to come back up. Clutching my stomach, I tried to stop the heaving. I couldn't be sick in front of everyone. Pushing the tray of food away, I concentrated on breathing steadily.

Tyler's deep voice surprised me. "I think Kat needs a few minutes to herself. Maybe a wee bit of a rest."

My eyes found his, grateful at his thoughtfulness.I loved this man. My warrior.

He stood up, ushering everyone else out while I wished he would stay behind. But I couldn't get the words out, and I felt like my mom wouldn't understand. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt her feelings right now.

As she closed the door behind her, I realized something. Something huge.

Tyler had called me Kat!

---