Page 85 of Chasing Dreams
Shaine assumed that was an expression of appreciation. “Samantha doesn’t owe me anything. I’m just grateful that the FBI was willing to work with us. They helped as much as Austin and I did. And Austin’s the one who showed me how.”
“Well, to all of you, then,” Samantha said. “Thanks.” Impulsively, with Amy on her hip, she leaned forward and caught Shaine in an awkward hug. Shaine returned the embrace, touched the little girl’s soft dark hair once and didn’t let herself talk.
“We’ll keep in touch,” Samantha promised. “I’ll send you pictures and I’ll call.”
“I’d like that,” Shaine replied.
Austin came next. Shaine’s throat tightened when Samantha pressed herself against his chest, and one of his hands cupped the baby’s head.
Then Ken, who shot out a hand before Samantha could hug him. She shook it, giving him a watery smile.
Shaine followed Austin toward the baggage claim.
“We have about an hour,” Austin said, looking at his watch. “Let’s grab a drink before our flight back to Omaha. Want to join us, Ken?”
“No, thanks. I want to be there when they start questioning Rossi.”
“Let us know as soon as you hear anything,” Shaine said needlessly.
They waved him off and found a bar in the airport. A listless feeling of melancholy swept down on Shaine as they settled themselves and ordered.
Trying to relax, Shaine found Austin studying her. She looked into his dark, concerned eyes. For not spending much time around people most of his life, he displayed acute perception. Did that go with the gift?
“This is it, Shaine,” he said, as though reading her mind, which he swore he couldn’t do. “Don’t give up now.”
“You heard him,” she said, tucking her hair behind her. ear without thought. “The number of children who went through that place will astound all of us. It’s not like they kept records to incriminate themselves, you know. How will they know where Jack is?”
He’d told her from the beginning. Hope was what a person conjured up when they wanted something badly enough. But it wasn’t enough to make that something happen. Fate had a way of controlling that, and fate had a way of, more often than not, being cruel.
It was entirely possible that she might come away from this with nothing. Without Jack.
And without Austin.
Chapter 17
Shaine paced the inn’s kitchen floor on Thursday morning. “Feel anything yet?”
Maya looked up from People Magazine and her cup of tea. “For the tenth time, I feel like a blimp.”
“I mean pains, twinges, you know,” Shaine said in irritation.
“Look, hon, Craig stayed home like you insisted. I’m not going anywhere. I haven’t gone anywhere except to the doctor’s office in three weeks because I can’t get my shoes on. You can go about your business. A watched pot never boils.”
Since she was obviously getting on Maya’s nerves, Shaine cleaned and aired the guest rooms, then straightened her office. Austin hadn’t returned the computer, nor had he mentioned it again. She’d seen him in here the night before. Curiosity got the best of her, and she sat in her squeaky swivel chair.
The action brought to mind the afternoon they’d put his aquarium together, and he’d sat before his computer. They had never found anyone to send him fish. His generous kisses, his inflaming touches were a sad-sweet memory.
She understood why he’d closed that door between them. He was protecting them both from the pain of their inevitable parting. He couldn’t know she would rather have had every moment with him until that day came. This way was harder for her. This way was cheating her of his time as well as hours of comfort and closeness.
She’d probably overreacted about the computer. He’d seemed to think he’d done something perfectly simple. The cost didn’t mean as much to him as it did to her. Thinking back over the last several days with the music device and service, this computer, was he perhaps unconsciously making her environment more like his so he didn’t feel quite so out of place?
She pushed the power button. With a quiet whine, the speed of the machine surprised her. The screen popped on in a fraction of the time her old one had. The flat screen was three times as big as her previous one. All the icons appeared.
“I can get you a wireless printer if you want.”
She jumped a foot. Austin entered the room and leaned a hip against her desk.
“You scared me half to death.”
