Stef Ann Holm, Lucy Back [paper ebook reader .TXT] 📗

a year apart, but she was out of high school now, while he had two more years of tardy bells and morning announcements. He’d been held back in the first grade for being a slow reader, so he was just a junior.

“Thanks for taking me around. I liked watching you play ball. Too bad you guys didn’t go to the playoffs.” She sounded genuinely sorry.

“It’s okay. I wasn’t really into it that much this year, anyway.”

“I think I’ll get on a college softball team.”

“That’d be good.”

Jason felt as if all his muscles were too tight for his bones. This was effin’ awkward. All of a sudden, he was shy around her and was struggling with what to say. It sucked.

“Well…” She looked over her shoulder at Drew, who was headed toward the Hummer. “It looks like we’re leaving.”

“Yeah.”

“It was nice meeting you, Jason.”

“Yeah.”

“We’ll call. You have my number.”

“Yeah.”

She grinned, then gave him a hug he wasn’t prepared for. Into his ear, she whispered, “I’ll bet all the girls are going to have a mad crush on you.”

Then she pulled back, waved and went around to her side of the SUV.

Jason watched her drive away, and he kept a stupid slap-happy grin on his face.

Oh yeah. She thinks I’m a stud.

He and Mackenzie Taylor weren’t destined to be boy- and girlfriend, but she sure knew how to make a guy feel like he could get any girl he wanted.

The Hailey Airport, small as it was, didn’t allow anyone, not even if your name was Hemingway, to wait with passengers beyond the security checkpoint.

Mackenzie stood next to Drew, her backpack over her shoulder. He felt strangely nervous. Part of him wished she never had to leave; part of him knew that she had a life in Florida.

About a dozen passengers waited to board her outbound flight. He could see her gate through the security area. She had about five minutes left and then she’d have to go through.

“So you’ll call me when you get to Salt Lake to change planes.” His voice sounded unintentionally clipped.

“I said I would. Don’t worry. I know how to change planes all by myself.” Brows raised, she gave him a placating smile, one filled with light teasing that warmed him to the core.

“I know, sugar. I just want to make sure.” Drew shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

Earlier, he’d given her some cash so she’d have plenty of money to buy something to eat in the airport. He’d even bought a Seventeen magazine for her when she was in the ladies’ room. She’d looked at him as if he was silly, but she’d taken it and given him a hug.

“So you’re all set?” he asked.

“All set.” She patted her backpack. “I’ve got the money and the magazine, I have my iPod and my journal inside.”

“You going to write something on the plane?” he asked.

“I don’t know.” Ah don’t know.

“About me?”

She grinned. “Maybe.”

“Well,” he said, not understanding why he was suddenly so self-conscious about letting her go. Maybe a part of him worried she’d never come back. That her trip had been a fluke, a one-time deal. Something not to be repeated. But they’d made plans and he was sure she wanted to head out to Disneyland and do some other things with him.

Just the same…

He reiterated, “So, Disneyland this fall.”

“Count on it.”

“Great. And maybe some camping in the spring. I’ve got a tent. It’s been awhile since I used it, but I have all the gear. We could take the boat up, find a good spot.”

“That would be fun.”

“Cool. Good.”

She laughed. “I’m coming back. I promise.”

He nodded, his throat feeling dry, and he licked his lips. Over the PA speakers, flight attendants made an announcement that Mackenzie’s flight was ready to board.

“I better go.”

“Yeah…”

Smiling, she gazed into his face. “Thanks for everything.”

He gulped, shook his head, his eyes momentarily closing. “No, thank you. Thank you for giving me a chance.”

“Thank you for giving me a chance,” she said, with such grace and warmth, it was all he could do not to crush her in his arms.

“Well…” she said, her smile waning and emotions swimming in her eyes.

Drew reached out, held her firmly, kissed the top of her head, the soft strands of her hair. “You be good, Mackenzie.”

“I will, Daddy.”

Daddy.

The word was like a balm. It soothed old wounds, made him feel as if he were the best thing on the face of the earth.

“Love you.” He spoke into her hair.

“Love you, too.”

They broke apart; he brushed her smooth cheek. “You’re so pretty, sugar. You tell those boys to stay away from you.”

She laughed, a honeyed sound. “I’m not looking for a boyfriend right now.”

“Good.”

Her flight was called once more and she had to head through the security check. She gave him a final hug and he squeezed her firmly, but gently. Backing out of his arms, she waved, walked to the clearance area and put her backpack on the conveyer.

Drew didn’t move until he watched her wave from the doorway to the boarding ramp. And not even then.

He waited until the small plane taxied and left his view. Only then did he turn around and head home, already missing his little girl.

Journal of Mackenzie Taylor Tolman

From the airplane window, I can see the town of Red Duck disappearing like a small speck in the distance, and somewhere on that gray ribbon of road, my dad is in his Hummer, driving to his house.

He’s going to find Momma’s letter on his bed, just where I left it when he wasn’t looking. It was a letter she wrote to me just before she died, saying she thought it would be a good idea if, when the time came, and I said it would be okay, that I took Daddy’s last name.

Momma said I’d had hers for a long time, and she didn’t mind sharing and letting me use Daddy’s once he and I made our peace.

Momma always hoped we would. I wish