CHAPTER ELEVEN
Allie
I went home after work on Friday in a state of high excitement. I was still a bit numb, too – it all seemed like too much to make sense of. I packed in a kind of dream, leaving my suitcase standing by my door.
It had been years since I traveled – not since I finished cooking school, in fact. I'd come straight from there to Asheville, and not left in the last five years. This was going to be a big thing.
“I'm excited,” I told myself. In truth, I was apprehensive as well. I checked my phone again, making sure I downloaded the tickets. Last time I traveled I hadn't owned a smart phone. It seemed weird to think of that now. Kelsey would laugh at me, I was sure. I mentally went through a list.
I was leaving the business in Frank's care for Saturday – he had very kindly agreed to keep an eye on it, popping in to check on Marcelle and Kelsey, who had also kindly agreed to step in for me. I was glad to have such helpful friends.
Now I only have to go to sleep, and then I'll be heading off.
I had a flight at eight in the morning, which meant I'd have to get up early. But after approximately six hours of travel, I would be there.
“Frankfort, Michigan.”
Saying it didn't make it seem more likely. I stretched and sighed. I had to make dinner and then try and sleep. I knew I would like there, restless and breathless with excitement. I still didn't quite believe it.
This was all quite typical Drew, I mused as I cooked my dinner. He stays away for six years, has no contact whatsoever. Then suddenly we're heading off for a holiday?
It was one of the things I'd loved about Drew from the first – his ability to sweep me off my feet. He was good at big gestures, though they weren't something he did often. They were always made when they were truly romantic.
Like this.
I made myself pasta and sat down to eat it, still lost in a dream. My phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Allie.” It was Astrid, Frank's wife.
“Yes?” I asked, frowning.
“Just wanting to confirm – you'll be back on Monday morning, right?”
“That's right,” I said. “At two.”
“Okay,” she said. “You reckon Kelsey and Marcelle will be okay on Monday?”
“I'm sure they will be,” I said confidently. “I trust them.”
“Okay. Only Frank's got a lot of work on Monday, and he can't help out.”
“I'm sure he does.” I sighed. Astrid was a great person and I respected her. I knew she didn't really approve of my friendship with her husband, even though we really were friends. She tried her best to keep her opinion well-hidden, but I knew she felt I used Frank and I felt guilty about it.
“Okay. Well, then. If you're sure they'll manage.”
“I know they'll manage,” I said firmly. “Kelsey's very capable. I rely on her.”
“Oh.” She sounded pleased at that. It was nothing less than the truth – Kelsey was a godsend in the shop and I relied heavily on her. Especially during this week with my emotions leaping around from fear to elation and back to mistrust.
“Yes. Well, thanks once again. And thanks to Frank and Kelsey too. I appreciate it.”
“I'll pass it on,” she said.
When she had hung up, I put the phone aside and closed my eyes. I was confused and happy and excited. And I knew I was never going to sleep tonight.
The next morning I woke at five-thirty. I stumbled out of bed and carefully showered and dressed. I put on a big jacket, ready for the cold. I could take it off in the plane, but I wanted to have it beside me, ready to put on in an instant.
I drove to the airport, went through the security check in a kind of daze and then sat down. I would change planes once and then head off to the tiny airport by the lake. We waited for the pilot to hurtle us down the runway and then we were flying.
I felt my stomach drop away and excitement fill me.
The connection went smoothly and it was getting close to three P.M. when my plane finally landed at the tiny airport of Frankfort. I stared down, awed by the sheer volume of blue as we swooped in to land. The lakes were unbelievable. I would have thought they were inland seas.
I hurried off the plane, carrying my bag with me – no need to put anything in the hold when I was only going to be there a few days – and then exited.
It was cold. I shivered as we walked to the small terminal building, drawing my coat up tight round my neck to keep out the gusting air.
Inside, I looked around. At first I didn't see him. Then my vision cleared and I was facing him in the tiny arrivals hall. The walls, the crowd, the posters and signs and words – all of them drifted away. I could just see Drew.
He was wearing a black overcoat, close-fitting and stylish – and his dark hair was impeccably brushed. He looked as if he'd just walked out of his own home, not flown in on an earlier flight from halfway across the country. I smiled at him, my cheeks sore with the intensity of my grin. He smiled.
“Hey,” he said. “How's the flight?”
“Not bad,” I said. “I should ask you too.”
He chuckled. “It could have been later,” he said, blinking exhaustion. I realized he must have been awake at some ridiculous hour and instantly felt sorry for him.
“I'll drive,” I suggested quickly. He chuckled.
“It's okay, sweetie. I organized transport already.”
I laughed at him, incredulous. “Oh, you!”
“What?” he asked.
“I should have thought of the fact that you never do things by halves.”
“Well no, I don't,” he said. He put an arm round me and kissed me. “And you're an example of that.”
I looked sideways at him, pretending to be offended. “I'm not sure what to say to that,” I said.
He laughed. “You said I have a tendency to take things to extremes. Extravagant ones,” he said.
“Yes?”
“Well, you're extravagantly lovely. So there.” He kissed my hair and I laughed.
“I hope you know I'm completely swayed by flattery,” I said with a happy grin. “So be prepared to get anything out of me at all.”
He raised a brow. “Please. Don't do that to me.”
“Do what?” I asked, blinking bashfully.
“Make me think of things like that when I'm trying to concentrate,” he said flatly. “It isn't fair.”
I giggled. “Well, you're not driving.”
“True,” he said. We reached the car and he held open the door for me, then got in behind me.
“Take us home, please,” he said to the driver. “To Whiteshores.”
“Yes, sir.”
We headed off towards out destination.
As we drove, I stared through the window. The countryside was wilder here as we headed onto the main road, and I could see blue everywhere below the gray sky.
“Is it out of town?” I asked him.
“Yes,” Drew said.
We drove on until I was starting to wonder where exactly we were headed. Then, at last, it came into view. A beautiful cottage built in a traditional style, looking out over flat floodplain and vast blueness.
“Oh, my...”
I stared at it. It was perfect. Isolated, well-made, beautiful.
He chuckled. “Here we are.”
“This is it?”
“It is. Drive on.”
The driver took us to the door and Drew climbed out, opened my door for me, and took out my bags.
“Thank you,” he said to the driver. “Have a nice day.”
“Thanks, Mr. Liston. You too.”
Then we were alone together. I stared up at him.
He cleared his throat. “Well,” he said tightly. “Shall we go in?”
I could feel my whole body throbbing with longing. Having him so close, so soon, was going to actually make my loins catch fire.
“Yes,” I whispered.
We went inside.