Mountain Moonlight - By Jane Toombs Page 0,68

we take off for the airport? They'd have done it at the jewelry store but I wanted you to see it."

"I mean to send her something from Davis and me, too," she said. "I thought maybe a wool shawl. I've seen some colorful ones in the stores back home."

"Sounds like something she could use. Send the shawl to me and I'll see she gets it."

He watched Vala's deftness with admiration as she wrapped the box in the gold paper he'd bought and affixed the gold elastic bow.

"I made some cheese sandwiches to bring with us on the plane," she said, "in case the food turns out to be as bad as it usually is."

"Good idea. Someday someone's going to make a mint putting up box lunches to take aboard. My favorite would be smoked salmon, homemade brown bread with a cream cheese spread and an apple turnover."

She smiled. "Pricey, but delicious, I'll admit."

He could tell her smile was forced and he longed to wrap his arms around her and never let her go. But if he touched her, he was none too sure what might happen.

"I'll load the bags into the car," he said.

Vala watched him go out. So far she'd managed to act in a reasonably adult manner and she hoped she could keep it up at least until she was aboard the jet. Davis would be feeling bad, too, so he shouldn't be too upset to see her cry.

Her son, though, seemed to be taking this departure far better than she. He actually seemed to be more excited than sad. Come to think of it, he had enjoyed the flight here-- his first--and so maybe he was anticipating being on the jet, even though he didn't want to leave Arizona. He also had something to look forward to in a few weeks when the kitten arrived.

She had nothing.

Damn it, why was she going away from Bram without ever telling him how she felt? What was the harm in admitting her love for him now that he didn't have to feel embarrassed about not reciprocating? She nodded. At the last minute, just before she had to get on the plane, she'd tell him. Whisper it in his ear along with her goodbye.

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, feeling not quite so depressed.

There was the usual traffic at the airport, the hassle of parking and getting a redcap to check the bags she and Davis weren't carrying on, but Bram handled it all with speed and dispatch. She should have known he would. He handled everything well.

They were in good time, but not so early as to have to stand around too long. No glitches occurred--quite the contrary. At the airline counter they honored her return tickets, upgrading them to first class, confirmed the noon departure and even offered an apology for the delay.

Finally, they arrived at the gate. She'd thought maybe they wouldn't let Bram through, but that didn't happen. He set down her carry-on bag and took her hands in his.

"I wish we could avoid being apart," he said.

So did she, but found she couldn't say so even after swallowing to try to rid herself of the lump in her throat. She was vaguely conscious that Davis had moved a ways off, through still keeping an eye on them, but that didn't matter. Nothing mattered except having to leave Bram.

"I have a secret to tell you." Bram's voice seemed to come from a long way off and it took her a minute to understand what he was saying.

"A secret?" she mumbled.

Ignoring the people around them he leaned closer and whispered into her ear. "This is my secret, one that only you know. I love you. Will you come back and marry me?" Stunned, Vala repeated his words in her mind, hardly believing she'd heard right.

He loved her.

"I--I love you, too," she stammered in a half-whisper, barely able to speak.

"Does that mean you'll marry me?" His warm breath stirred her hair as he whispered the words into her ear.

She clung to him, scarcely able to breathe and raised up so he could hear her whisper, "Oh, yes. Heavens, yes."

Bram held her away, grinning at her.

She smiled back, happiness surging through her.

And then he kissed her. The world went away, she was conscious of nothing but Bram until someone tugged at her jacket and Davis's voice said, "Mom, they're announcing that the first-class passengers can board now. That's us."

Bram let her go, enveloped Davis in a