Sara Orwig - Don't Close Your Eyes

Another twinge of sadness gripped her because it seemed such a waste for him to go off to some remote corner of the world to live.

He made his own choices, she reminded herself. He was no part of her life and she shouldn’t worry or care what he did. He certainly wouldn’t give a thought to anything she was going to do with her future.

“You’re certain you don’t want me to tell him?” she asked again. “After all, everyone thinks you’re dead. And you are buddies.”

She gazed into his smoky eyes. They were so striking and unforgettable. Too much about him was unforgettable.

His lips firmed while he mulled over her question. “You may be right. Go ahead and break the news. I’ll wait in the living room.”

He turned and was gone. He moved with the silence and ease of a cat. She shifted Jessie in her arms and went to the kitchen to wait.

She could see the Remingtons heading toward the house and thought they were a striking-looking couple because Savannah was as blond as Mike was dark with his tanned skin and black hair. He was loaded down with bags and boxes and Savannah carried a few boxes, as well.

Isabella hurried to hold the door open, then followed them into the kitchen.

As they walked into the room, Jessie squealed with joy and held out her arms.

Dressed in yellow slacks and a matching yellow silk blouse, Savannah had her blond hair fastened behind her head. She looked beautiful and immaculate, too much so to have a baby in her arms. Regardless she caught up Jessie to hug her, eagerly fussing over her and laughing with the baby. Tall, black-haired Mike set down his armload of boxes and packages and bags. His brown-eyed gaze was friendly as he smiled at Isabella.

“We’re here to rescue you. Bet you were counting the minutes.”

“No, I wasn’t,” Isabella said. “Jessie’s a delight and no trouble at all. Did you have a pleasant trip?”

“We had a great time,” Mike said. He flung a broad-brimmed Western hat on a hook and shed a jacket. He wore jeans and a plaid shirt and radiated vitality. Smiling, he turned to take Jessie from Savannah to hug his little girl.

“How’s my baby?” he asked, nuzzling her and making her squeal with laughter as she grabbed fistfuls of his hair. “We brought you something,” he said, looking at the pile of luggage and bags and sacks and boxes he had carried inside and dropped by the door. He picked up a present wrapped in pink paper. “Just for you, Jessie, darlin’,” he said.

Jessie grabbed the present and began to eat the paper. Laughing, Savannah took the present from Jessie. “Set her down and show her how to open it.”

“And here’s something for you, Isabella,” Savannah said, handing a gift to Isabella.

“Thank you, but you shouldn’t have,” Isabella replied, taking a beautifully wrapped box of silver paper with pink roses and tied with silver ribbons. “Before I open this, there’s something you two should know.”

Both of them looked at her with curiosity in their gazes.

“Mike, you’re in for a big surprise,” Isabella said solemnly. “There’s an old friend here to see you. I thought I should tell you before you saw him.”

“This sounds interesting,” Mike said, glancing beyond Isabella and then looking back at her again with a curious expression. “So who is he and where is he and why the fanfare before I see him?”

“Because you don’t know he’s alive. Everyone thought he was dead,” Isabella said quietly, knowing from Mike’s expression that Colin had entered the room.

“Colin!” Mike blinked and his mouth dropped open and he paled. “Colin?” The two men crossed the room in long strides and hugged each other.

They stepped apart. “I can’t believe it!” Mike exclaimed, placing his hands on his hips. “You’re alive and well. Damn! What the hell happened? Why didn’t you let us know? Where have you been?”

“Mike!” Savannah exclaimed. “Give him a chance.”

“This calls for a celebration,” Mike said. “Damn, I can’t believe it,” he repeated, clasping Colin on the shoulder. “You’re real.”

“I’m very real,” Colin replied.

“I keep expecting you to disappear and just be a figment of my imagination.”

“No vanishing act here,” Colin said.

“Let’s celebrate!” Mike exclaimed, grinning broadly. “This is fantastic! Do the others know?”

“No. I wanted to see you first,” Colin replied solemnly.

“I’m glad you did.” Isabella could see Mike studying Colin and she could see some of the sparkle go out of Mike’s eyes and concern replace it. Then Mike smiled and brightened.

“We’re going to celebrate right now!”

“It’s early in the day,” Colin remarked. “We might wait—”

“Let’s break out the champagne now,” Mike decided. He looked at Savannah and put his arm around her. “Savannah, this is Colin Garrick. Colin meet Savannah.”

“I’m so happy to meet you,” Savannah said, extending her hand to shake hands with Colin. “Mike has told me a lot about you and about the times the two of you had together when you were growing up.”

“This is our baby, Jessie, whom you’ve already met,” Mike added.

“She’s cute, Mike, but I can’t imagine you a daddy.”

“I’ll get the champagne,” Savannah offered.

When she left the room, Mike looked at Colin again. Impulsively, Mike stepped close and hugged Colin. “Damn. What happened, Colin?” He stepped away and placed his hands on his hips. “I can’t tell you how much I’ve missed you. I’m glad to see you alive—but when that bomb went off we thought you were done for. I want to hear all about it, but let’s get the champagne. Should I call the others now or later?”

“A little later. Let’s talk first, Mike.”

Mike seemed to remember Isabella and he glanced at her. “You remember Izzie. This is great! When did you get here?”

“Last night,” Colin answered.

Mike’s gaze ran over him. “What happened to you? You look like you were in a cat fight.”

“Sort of. I surprised Isabella.”

When Mike threw back his head and laughed, Colin merely shook his head and shrugged. Mike’s eyes twinkled. “So all those tricks Boone taught you really work?”

“They seemed to,” she said.

“Have you gotten out of practice!” Mike exclaimed.

“Don’t underestimate her. Boone taught her well.”

Mike laughed. “I know Boone did. I’ve watched the workouts.”

Savannah returned with a bottle of champagne and handed it to Mike to open. As Savannah picked up Jessie to hold her, Mike poured glasses of champagne and passed each person one. “Let’s take these drinks to the family room where we can sit and talk.”

As soon as they were in the family room, Mike turned and raised his glass in a toast. “Here’s to Colin. Our survivor,” he said.

“To Colin,” Savannah added.

“To Colin,” Isabella said quietly, and Colin looked at her before they all clinked their glasses together lightly.

“Thank you all,” Colin replied gruffly, a muscle working in his jaw.

Isabella could see that he was struggling with his emotions. She sipped the pale liquid, feeling bubbles tickle her nose.

“To life and Colin being back in the land of the living,” Mike said, giving another toast.

They all touched glasses again and everyone sipped the champagne before setting down glasses.

“Sit, so we can talk,” Mike suggested.

“I’ll be right back. We need a little change here,” Savannah said, taking Jessie and leaving the room.

“I’ll leave you two,” Isabella started to say, but Mike motioned to her.

“Sit down and join us. Savannah will be back. Come on, Izzie, we’re all family.”