Grounded for Love: A Reunion Romance Novella (6 page)

“Oh no. I’m sorry you missed it.”

“At least I’ll make the rehearsal dinner and other festivities.”

A few awkward moments passed. “Where do you live now?” she asked, shifting her weight.

“Phoenix. I’m a civil engineer with a firm there.”

“So you found your dream job?” She recalled how many conversations they’d had about his career plans.

He put his hands in his pockets. “After I graduated, I went straight to Arizona. Been an adjustment with the heat in the summer, but I love the city.”

“I’m glad it all worked out for you.” She meant it. He deserved to be happy.

“And you love San Francisco?”

“Yeah.” She adjusted the shoulder strap to her purse. “The city is so vibrant, and I love living so close to the ocean. Very different from small-town Colorado.”

“Where are you headed?”

“Back home to Durango, actually. My dad…” She paused. “He had a heart attack.”

“Is he okay?” Graham reached out and touched her on the arm, the gesture reminding Serena how compassionate he’d been when they were together.

“I think he will be.”

“Your parents live in the same house?”

“Yep.”

“Is it still brown?” he asked with a tilt of his head.

“Uh, huh.”

“And your mom hates the color?”

“Wow. Great memory.” It warmed her heart that he remembered.

Graham raised his eyebrows. “It was a huge discussion both times we went to visit.”

“Still is.” Serena hoped her dad would be well enough to continue to argue about the house color.

“I remember the train ride up to Silverton.” Graham’s eyes glimmered in the sunlight, making Serena’s stomach flutter with a thousand butterflies.

“I remember it was freezing, but the scenery was beautiful.” The memories flooded her mind.

“Yes, it was.” His gaze captured hers and for a moment the world was suspended and only the two of them existed.

She stepped back and said, “We had a lot of fun together.”

“We did.” His voice sounded melancholy as if he missed those times as well. Did he still? Should she say something now? Ask for his forgiveness and for another chance? She wanted to, but the words wouldn’t form.

A cloud of uneasiness grew between them.

“I guess we better head back to the airport,” he said. “I need to make sure I actually get on this flight, so my mom can stop worrying.”

Serena nodded, her throat too thick to say anything.

They started to walk back toward the hotel when Serena’s right foot slipped on some ice, but she steadied herself.

“Are you okay?” Graham asked as he reached out for her. “I don’t want you to fall.”

“I’m fine.” Her cheeks warmed. She took another step, and her foot slid out from under her causing the other foot to lose its place. This time she couldn’t catch herself. Instead, she threw her hands out and caught Graham’s arm, throwing him off balance. They both struggled to gain their footing, but Serena’s shoes had no traction. It was like some silly slow motion cartoon until gravity took over and down they both went with a thud, spraying powder all over them.

“Are you all right?” Graham asked, wiping snow from his face.

“Yeah, I think so.” Serena lay back in the snow, a nervous giggle escaping. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

“You totally pulled me down with you.”

“I didn’t want to fall by myself.” Without considering the consequences, she took a handful of snow and tossed it at Graham, hitting him right below his chin.

“Really?” He got to his knees and grabbed some snow. He held it over her face, a few flakes dropping to her cheeks and melting.

“No. I’m sorry.” She held her hands up, laughing. “I don’t know what came over me.”

“I should give you a whitewash like I used to do to my sister.”

“No. Really. I’m sorry.”

Graham gave her a look then released the snow. He got to his feet and reached down to help Serena. She grabbed his hand, but kept slipping on the ice. Her arms flailed out again and her foot caught Graham’s. Down he tumbled. Again.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were doing this on purpose.” He tried to conceal his smile, but Serena saw it peeking at the corners of his mouth.

“I promise, I’m not.” Graham was covered in snow and Serena started laughing again, releasing her emotions with every giggle.

Without a word, he grabbed her around the waist and said, “It’s definitely whitewash time for you. You’re about to get a close up of all that soft powder.”

“No way. You can’t.” She tried to wiggle out from his hold. “We’re grown adults. Stop.”

He had her so close to the snow she could feel the cold radiating onto her face.

“Please, Graham. I promise.”

He released his hold and lay back in the snow.

“Remember that time we were walking behind my professor and he slipped on the ice and we didn’t know what to do?” Graham said. “And we started laughing.”

“Because we were so mature. I felt really bad.” She blinked the small snowflakes from her eyelashes. Knowing her hair was still covered in snow she said, “The other passengers are going to think I’m a crazy woman looking like this.”

Graham lifted himself on one elbow and leaned in to Serena, making her breath catch in her throat. He was even more handsome now than he was in college. He swiped at some snow on her cheek. “I don’t think you look like a crazy woman. I think you look beautiful.”

Her heart somersaulted as their gazes interlocked. All she wanted was to forget about the past three years. She yearned to feel his lips on hers again and lose herself in his strong, capable arms. Graham peered at her and moved closer. The moment was right—

“Are you two okay?” came a voice that broke the spell.

Serena looked up to see a man she assumed was a hotel employee. The bright sunlight was like a halo around his head.

“I cleared this sidewalk late last night, but it must’ve iced over. I apologize,” he said, reaching his hand out. Serena took his hand and carefully got to her feet.

“I think we’re both fine,” Graham said as he stood and brushed snow from his pants.

“Yes,” Serena agreed. But she wasn’t fine. Not fine at all. Feelings rushed through her so fast it made her woozy.

“Thank you,” Graham said to the stout man.

“Can I help you back to the hotel?”

“We’re looking for a taxi to the airport,” Graham said.

“I’ll call one for you,” the man said, and he turned back to the hotel.

“That was embarrassing,” Serena meant the
almost
kiss more than the tumble to the ground.

“I don’t have to deal with much snow in Phoenix.”

Serena giggled.

“What?”

“Your hair is sticking up in the back.” She reached over to pat it down for him, but he grabbed her arm and their gazes once again connected.

“Serena.”

“Yes?” She wanted to kiss him more than anything, even though it made no sense at all. All she could think about was throwing her arms around him, holding him close and drinking in every bit of him. It had been three years, but the feelings she’d tried to bury were all resurfacing at an alarming speed.

“It’s been so good to see you.” The way he ended his sentence made her take a step back.

“Sounds like there’s a
but
coming.”

Graham ran his fingers through his hair then let out a breath. “I’ve wanted to know what happened, why you left. I didn’t date anyone for a long time, hoping we’d work things out.”

“But now you have someone.”

He looked at the ground. “Yeah.”

“I see.” She wanted to find the nearest rock and hide under it. Not only had she misjudged a situation and ruined their relationship in college, she’d just wanted to throw herself at him when he belonged to someone else. “Well, that’s good,” she lied. It wasn’t good, at least not for her. Now she’d have to deal with the resurgence of these strong feelings, because he obviously wasn’t going to return them. They’d had their chance.

“I… I…”

“No need to explain.” She glanced toward the hotel. “Here comes a taxi.”

“Do you mind if we share?”

Serena shrugged. “Why not?” She couldn’t possibly humiliate herself any more than she already had.

They made small talk as they drove back to the airport.

The driver pulled up to the curb. Serena turned to Graham. “I hope the wedding goes well. Chad is a great guy from what I remember.”

“Thanks. Good luck with your dad. Tell him I said hello. And your mom, too.”

“I will.”

They both got out of the taxi.

“It was really good seeing you,” Graham said.

She smiled. At least she knew he wasn’t the lying cheater she’d thought he was. Not that it really mattered, because they weren’t going to be together anyway. Serena glanced up at the pale blue sky then back at Graham. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.” She licked her dry lips. “I’m sorry I ruined everything by jumping to conclusions and not giving you a chance to explain. For thinking the worst of you and not trusting you. I’m sorry for all of it.” Words didn’t seem adequate to explain her deep sense of regret.

Graham nodded. In a thick voice, he said, “I’m sorry too.”

Serena turned and made her way to the waiting area of the airport. She found a chair and plopped down. It’d be at least another hour or more before she could board the plane to Durango—plenty of time to think, which is exactly what she didn’t want.

She pulled out one of the manuscripts she’d been carrying and started to read through it.

The flight from Denver to Durango was uneventful. Serena had successfully engaged her mind by reading a manuscript, thus avoiding all the thoughts that swirled around her head. The nagging questions and what-ifs continued to circle, but she forced herself not to dwell on any of them. After all, what would it matter now? She needed to focus on her dad and what she could do to help while she was in town. Thinking about Graham was a painful waste of time.

At the small, familiar airport she found her rental car. Some snow still lined the road that lead out of the airport, but the road itself was clear. The massive storm in Denver hadn’t hit this corner of the state.

She drove directly to the new, modern-looking hospital. Inside the lobby, she texted her mom and found that her dad had been moved out of ICU and into a regular room.

The elevator doors opened, and Serena rushed to her mom’s outstretched arms. It felt good to be enveloped in her mother’s love. “Thank you for coming,” her mom said with a sigh.

“Can I see him?”

“Of course.” Her mom’s short, light brown hair was messy, and her usually bright blue eyes looked tired and dull.

Serena put her arm around her mother’s shoulders and together they walked down the long hallway. “I’m relieved Daddy’s doing better.”

“I was so scared. I wasn’t sure he’d make it. He collapsed in the kitchen after he’d been outside clearing some old snow away from the back walkway. I called 911 immediately.”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t here.”

Her mom stopped. Peering at Serena she said, “Your life is in San Francisco. Don’t feel guilty about that.”

“I know, but I still feel bad. I’ve been so worried. I can’t even think about…” Serena left her sentence hanging in the air.

“I think he’s on the mend now, but it’ll take time.”

They stopped in front of her dad’s room. Serena made her way over to his bed, where he was sleeping. He looked so weak and small in the stark white bed. Her heart slipped into her stomach. “We should let him get his rest,” Serena whispered to her mom.

“He wants to see you.”

“We can come back in a while.”

“Is that my baby girl?” her dad said weakly.

“Daddy.” Serena bent down to kiss him on the cheek. “You don’t have to do this to get me to come visit, you know.”

He gave a slight smile.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’ve been better.” His face was drawn. White stubble freckled his chin.

“You sure scared me.” Serena caressed his arm, remembering how he used to show her his biceps and make them move up and down. As a little girl, she thought they looked like turtles, so she’d always ask him to show her his turtles. She wished he could show them to her now.

“And you came all the way from California to see your old dad.”

“Because I love you.”

“I love you too, Princess.”

Serena loved it when he called her that. It made her insides warm and gooey.

A short nurse with shocking red hair walked into the room. “Mr. Johnson needs to get his rest,” she said curtly.

“Our daughter just got here after being stranded in Denver in a snowstorm,” her mom protested.

“I’m sorry, but the doctor wants him to get plenty of rest. The sooner he gains his strength, the sooner you can take him home.” The nurse reached for the blood pressure cuff. “I need to do his vitals.”

“But—” her mom started. Serena squeezed her mom’s arm to prevent a brawl between her mom and the nurse.

“Thank you. We’ll be back later,” Serena said, pulling her mom out of the room.

“That woman has some nerve.”

“Mom, don’t start a fight.”

“I know my husband better than she does. You’re his only daughter. Of course he wants to see you. Who does she think she is?”