Page 26 of The Wedding Toast
Elena’s laughter rang in his ears as Reaves followed Darlene back down the steps.
“What do you mean about naming me?”he asked, not entirely sure that he wanted to know the answer.
“I’d explain, but I need to get going before Chuck gets impatient.You’ll find out for yourself soon enough, I’m sure.”
She pointed.“Her name’s Zia.You’ll find her over there, playing under the trees.Her mom is Alara, and she’s by the garage building the arch.”
Reaves didn’t know what to make of that.
“Good luck, I’ll see you later,” Darlene said before she turned and hurried toward the greenhouse.
Reaves looked around as he walked down the path that led to the big garage out back.He was hoping that someone might spot him – might offer to take over babysitting duties for this little girl.He wasn’t any good with kids, didn’t have any experience with them.He liked Ava, but she was the only one he knew.
He straightened his shoulders when the sound of laughter reached him, seeming to come from the trees that lined the path.He still couldn’t see the girl, but he knew by the sound that she was somewhere close by.
Chapter Seven
The fog was lifting in ribbons off the trees as Ollie brought the Cirrus down smoothly on the strip at Little River.It wasn’t much more than a slash of asphalt tucked between forest and coastline – barely a blip on the map.
He liked it already.
As he taxied past the line of small hangars, it hit him that he couldn’t remember the last time he’d flown into a non-towered airport.
Flying the DuPont jet with Reaves usually meant flying into slick operations, where golf carts met them on the tarmac, ready to whisk passengers away to the FBO building.And where even the pilots had access to luxury lounges and high-tech briefing rooms.
He smiled to himself as he looked around.This place had none of that.But it still felt good to him.
It was hunkered down among the trees.Nothing pretentious about it, but it served its purpose.
That thought brought him back to the moment.He had to remember his own purpose.He was here to pick up Becca’s friend, Callie, to bring her back to Napa so that she and Becca could get some time together before the wedding.
He’d never met this chick before, and he didn’t really know what to expect.He was hoping that since she was close to Becca, she must be okay.At the same time, he was a little concerned.Since she’d chosen to move out here to Fort Bragg, rather than come to Napa where Becca lived, she might be a bit… different.
He shouldn’t judge – he wouldn’t need to.He’d find out for himself in a few minutes.He was curious, though.
He could understand why Becca had moved to Napa.It seemed a logical path to him that a Kansas farm girl might end up as an elementary school teacher in California.Callie’s path didn’t make as much sense to him, though.From what he understood, she was a ceramicist.And although he knew there was an artsy community up here, out on the coast, he didn’t know why Callie – who was by all accounts another Kansas farm kid – might have needed to come here rather than Napa to pursue her career.
He followed the line of hangars and soon spotted the parking lot and a low building beside it.He couldn’t see any people, though.
He checked his watch.He was a few minutes early.Maybe Callie wasn’t here yet.
He turned the plane around and brought it to a stop, hoping like hell that he wasn’t going to have to wait around for ages.Although, as he removed his headset and unbuckled his seatbelt, this wouldn’t be the worst place in the world to hang around for half an hour or so.He could take a walk, breathe in the cool, damp air.
As he opened the door, he hesitated, closing his eyes for a moment to just enjoy the silence.Then he got out and closed the door behind him.
It really didn’t seem like there were any living beings around.No one had replied on the radio the whole time he’d been announcing his approach and landing.Usually at little airfields like this, there’d be someone sitting at a desk somewhere, at least, who’d acknowledge the approach of small aircraft.
It didn’t matter.He’d enjoy the peace and quiet while he had it.If this Callie was a talker, he might not get any on the way back.
~ ~ ~
Callie watched the small plane come in to land nervously.Becca had told her that they weren’t sending the jet for her because this was a smaller airport.She could totally understand that, but she hadn’t expected to see something so small.Perhaps this wasn’t her ride.
She bit down on her bottom lip.She kind of hoped it wasn’t.That little plane made her nervous.She’d been nervous enough about flying in the jet with Becca and Jacob at Christmas, but…
She picked her duffel up off the groundand slung it over her shoulder.She’d be fine.The whole deal of moving out here to California was to have a bit of an adventure.So far, she hadn’t really done that.She’d settled into her cottage with the kiln out back and gone about making a nice quiet life for herself.She loved it, but it was hardly adventurous.
She eyed the plane again as it turned around and came to a stop.She should step forward, show that she was here, that she wasn’t late.If Ollie didn’t spot her when he got out … would he get out?She didn’t even know the protocol.Perhaps she should go straight out there to meet him.But she didn’t, choosing instead to wait and watch until he got out.
