Hide & Seek (28 page)

Lexi dropped her bag to the seat, ripping into the envelope. She slid the card from within.

Find me. Now.

“Sir?” Lexi scooted to the edge of the bench, closer to the driver. “When did Mr. Fox give this to you?”

“Just a bit ago, Miss.” He rolled up the panel.

In the empty limo, Lexi drew in a deep breath. “Why does he want me to find him?” She shook her head, dialed his number and went straight to voice mail again. The scent of leather and emptiness hit her, and she nearly teared up but withheld since Claire spent so much time on her makeup.

No Tripp to share the first look. No Emma to check for nips and tucks. Not even Ian to ogle her and crack a joke.

She turned the note over. Even the blank space there, without a signature, left her with the same set of emotions she had the first time he walked away. After only two weeks together, the separation hit her. She’d expected him to be there and missed his presence so much her heart hurt.

The window rolled down an inch. “Miss? Do you need another minute?”

“Yes, please.”

Lexi reread the note.

Find me. Now.

She closed her eyes, bringing Tripp’s face to mind and connected with his image in less than a second. She backed out until she could watch as one arm slid into a black sleeve, and he shrugged the other arm into the second sleeve. A white cravat, undone, hung at his neck.

As Lexi smiled, he disappeared.

Two can play this game.
She knocked on the panel between her and the driver.

It rolled down an inch.

“I’m ready,” she said.

A light bump and the limo began to roll.

• • •

“Tripp Fox,” he said for the tenth time in three minutes.

“Hello, Sir. We’re on our way.”

“Thank you.” He clicked off from the call with the limo driver, adjusting to face Ian. “She’s on her way.”

“I still can’t believe this is happening.”

Tripp grinned. “Thanks for the encouragement.”

Ian grabbed Tripp’s tie, adjusting it against his neck.

“When are you going to get ready?”

“I got time,” Ian said. “You’re the one who needs to be dressed three hours early.” He fell into one of the living room chairs. “This place is awesome, by the way.”

Tripp stared at his reflection in the mirror over the mantel, working the knot of his tie to straighten it properly. “Taylor did a great job, as did Missy. You think she’s going to like it?”

“Missy already does. She’s been upstairs with your Mother and Lexi’s for the last ninety minutes.”

“I meant Lexi, idiot.”

“Oh, yeah. The woman of the hour, whenever that happens. You sure she’s going to get here in time?”

“Weather’s great. Winds are perfect.”

“There’s no question unless the plane crashes to the ground in a fiery ball of—” Ian stopped as Tripp glared at him. “I’m sure she’ll be fine.”

• • •

Lexi picked up the limo’s phone when the vehicle had rolled for over thirty minutes.

“Yes, Miss?”

“Where are we going? I assume it’s not the theater.”

“You’ll see momentarily, Miss.” He clicked off.

She leaned back into the seat, wishing Tripp rode with her. Rather than fret, she fingered the note again, closed her eyes and brought his face to mind. Each time she did, his image came faster, though with the latest attempt, she could picture the jacket and the tie, but not him.

When she tried to move up to his face, the picture in her mind remained blank.

The limo rolled to a stop, and a moment later, the door opened. Lexi slid to the edge of the seat with the hope Tripp would greet her.

“Are you all right, Miss?” The driver leaned down, offering his hand.

Lexi accepted, stepping out into the fading light. Alone. Again.

“This would be your next line of transport, Miss.”

He guided her to the stairs of a Gulfstream jet. Its interior lights burned, and the captain waved from the cockpit as she approached. Her dress billowed with the breeze as she clutched her purse and Tripp’s note in her hand.

“Come now, Miss. It’s time to go. The plane’s ready.”

A woman, a flight attendant based on her uniform, walked down to her. “Miss Shepherd?”

“Yes.” Lexi nodded, though her heart wanted to scream ‘what’s going on?’

“This is for you.” She held an envelope like the one Lexi had been given before. “He asked that you open this prior to boarding, Miss Shepherd.”

Lexi let the wind sweep through her dress, and the cool air chilled her eyes, keeping the tears at bay. She ripped the envelope open, tore out the note.

I love you.

A smile broke through with a huffed laugh.

“Now, he asked me to give you this one, but you’re to open it on the plane.” The woman handed Lexi another envelope and disappeared inside.

Lexi turned it over and back, picked the hem of her dress from the ground and boarded.

“You can take any seat you want, though I recommend A1 there.” The woman nodded toward the front seat.

A quick look at it, and Lexi found a rose, tied with a pale pink ribbon. Her smile came with ease for only the second time as she picked up the flower and replaced it with herself in the seat.

“Can I get you something to eat, Miss Shepherd? Or drink?”

“What do you carry?”

The flight attendant smiled. “Anything you want.”

“I want a specific man, but for some reason, he’s keeping his distance, and I don’t understand why.” She waved toward the woman. “I’m sorry, that was—” Lexi motioned in the air again.

“It’s okay. I believe it’s time to open the other note.” She moved to the stairs, closed them, chatted with the pilot, and a moment later, stopped at Lexi’s seat. “We’ll be taking off soon. Can I offer you a rum and coke?”

“I’d love one, yes.”

Lexi buckled the strap and slid her finger underneath the lip of the envelope, removing the card in one slip.

Thank you.

The plane’s momentum forward sucked her into her seat.

• • •

Tripp turned at the knock on the door.

“Oh, honey, you look … oh.” His mother’s waterworks began.

Tripp wrapped his arms around her shoulders. He recalled the days when he reached her thighs, and the day he had overtaken her in height. She only came up to his shoulders, yet still lorded over him like all mothers did.

“I love you, Mom. Thanks for coming.”

“I wouldn’t miss this for the world.” She patted him on his back. “You’re one lucky man, my boy.”

“I think so, too. I just hope she sees what I tried to show her over the last two weeks.”

“She will, honey.” His mother sighed.

The door to the room opened with a squeak. Tripp loved the character the house still held despite the massive renovations.

“Can I come in?”

Tripp’s Mom took the woman’s hand, pulling her in. “This is Lexi’s Mom, Tripp.”

He extended his hand. She wrapped her arms around him much like his own mother had.

“Thank you for this.” A tear fell down her cheek.

“You’re welcome,” Tripp said. “But I think I should be thanking you.”

She waved at her eyes. “I need to stop crying. Talk to your sister, I cry. See Emma, I cry.” She sniffled. “It’s silly really. I knew this day would come, and what you’ve done to make it happen—” Her hands crossed her chest.

Tripp’s Mom nodded. “That’s my boy.” As if on cue, she threaded her arm through Lexi’s Mom’s arm and walked her back through the door. “I heard you went to St. Mary’s in Maryland for a couple years. I did, too.”

Their voices grew softer as they disappeared down the hallway, and his thoughts returned to Lexi.

Despite all the calls to confirm Lexi would arrive on time and as planned, Tripp’s nerves danced. He moved to the window, looked out onto the yard and gazebo at the people who milled about within the space. His mother, father, and sister arrived a few days before he did. Ian and Emma put in most of the work, as did Taylor, who Tripp noted stood at one of the support columns of the gazebo locked in Ian’s gaze.

Tripp’s phone vibrated again.

“Tripp Fox.”

“Mr. Fox? This is Captain Mitchell. The plane has landed. Your limo is on its way.”

• • •

Lexi slid into the seat of the white limo, another envelope in hand. She’d been instructed to wait for the phone call before she opened it. After ten minutes, she held it up to an interior light. Night had descended during the flight, blanketing the day in a cover she didn’t know how to interpret.

Be sad that he’s not with you, Lex? Or pretend the mystery behind a full day’s play and three hours of travel is worth it?

“Where the hell is he taking me, anyway?”

She didn’t recognize the airport and had been whisked into the limo without any time to ask. Lexi played with her cell, willing it to ring. It remained silent, but the limo phone buzzed. After the tenth ring, she figured she should answer it.

“Hello?”

“So far, so good?” Tripp’s voice came through.

Lexi prepared to launch into her pre-planned tirade. “What the—”

“Excellent. I’ll see you in fifteen minutes.”

“Ah!” She screamed as he hung up.

The window rolled down. “Are you okay, Miss?”

“No, I’m not. Why isn’t he telling me what’s going on? Dammit all to hell.”

The driver chuckled. “We’ll be there momentarily, Miss.”

30

Tripp stood in the still night air, in the middle of his driveway. A light breeze picked up every once in a while, bringing with it the scent of fresh mowed grass and rose petals. Behind him, the house stood cloaked in darkness, hidden by a complete lack of lights. Interior, exterior, street lamps—all of them—had been turned off. Even the moon cooperated with his desire for stealth. Under the cover of night, he knew she wouldn’t see him or anything behind him.

The plane had landed at an executive airport—not one Lexi would recognize. The limo driver took a more circuitous route, from the south, to ensure Lexi’s confusion as to her destination.

On approach, the lights from the limo grew larger until it stopped thirty feet from Tripp.

• • •

The driver rolled down the window once more as the car stopped. “Miss?”

“What?” Lexi chucked her manners and her nice.

“I believe it’s time for that envelope.”

She ripped through the seal. The paper within said nothing. “It’s empty.”

“Turn it over, Miss.”

Lexi did, with an eye roll.

Will you marry me?

• • •

Tripp fidgeted as he waited. The door remained closed—not even the driver exited. Behind him the house lights stayed untouched, the ground lights, too.

Until she made her decision, he’d stand in wait and hope.

• • •

Tears stung Lexi’s eyes as she flipped the page over and over. She considered instructing the driver to drive on into the dark. A peek through the windows showed her nothing—not her location, no lights, just a vast emptiness.

“Where are we?”

“If you’ll allow, Miss? I’ll open the door for you.”

“Yes, please.” Her voice softened.

Will you marry me?
the card read.

The driver exited the car. Her door opened a few seconds later. He tipped his hat in her direction as she stepped from within. Even with the car lights, she could see nothing.

“Where am I supposed to go?” She breathed in fresh mowed grass, the moisture of sprinklers, not rain.

“Take just one step Miss.”

A tealight on either side of her lit up. She eyed the glowing circles.

“Now, just straight ahead. I’ll remain right here in case you change your mind.”

One more step produced another set of candle-like pathway illumination. Ten pairs broke the dark space like lights on a runway. The path behind her held the only other illumination until, before her, another set came to life.

She gasped as Tripp created another path. He approached, one hand tucked in a pocket, the other extended toward her.

“Hi, Lexi.”

The child within giggled out at the extreme romance of the man before her. “Hi.”

After no more than a two-foot walk toward her, he stopped. His body lowered to the ground until he knelt in front of her.

From his pocket, he removed a box, flipping it open with one hand. “Lexi Shepherd, will you marry me?”

The ring, a sapphire surrounded by diamonds, sparkled in the little light of the pathway.

“All this to ask me to marry you?”

Tripp didn’t answer. Even his breathing slowed.

“I—” The tears pushed through, breaching the wall she’d held firm in place.

At her sniffle, Tripp stood. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—I just—”

She shook her head. “You did all this just to ask me to marry you when you know the potential problems.” Lexi smiled, though she didn’t know if Tripp could even see the expression.

“I believe we’ll get around those issues without making them worse.”

Her smile grew, both on the outside and inside.

“I can explain it all later, but even if we still had all the problems, I’d still be willing to take the chance.”

“You would?” She clung to his hands.

“I would.”

“Me, too, then.”

Tripp added a kiss which penetrated beyond the physical into the deepest recesses of her mind.

“You’ve got no idea how worried I was that this would’ve pissed you off,” he said.

Lexi chuckled. “Well, it was kind of a bummer not to go to the play, but in the scheme of marriage proposals, yours tops every story I’ve ever heard.” The wind picked up the lines of her dress. “Though, what are we going to do all dressed up like this, and actually, where the hell are we?” She tried to shift around him, but he blocked her path.

“For the third time, because I know you read that card, will you marry me, Lexi?” He pushed the ring toward her, slipped it from its box and held it upright.

Lexi slid her finger through the loop and said, ‘Yes.’

The muffle of voices caught her ear. She craned as if to listen, but they disappeared.

“Since this has been a mystery of a day, and we’re all dressed up, can I ask you to indulge me in one more thing?” Tripp asked.

She eyed him, as unsure as she’d been all day. “Why the hell not?”

Tripp kissed her, his lips soothing and burning at the same time. “Thank you. Now, stay right here and don’t move.” He walked away.

“Wait! What? Until when?”

“You’ll know.”

The ten little lights dotting the path before her extinguished as he faded into the blackness.

“Tripp?” She glanced at the limo behind her. It idled a few feet away.

A single pinpoint of light zigzagged across the ground as it came near. Lexi shivered until she heard, “Hi, my girl.”

“Dad? What are you doing here?”

He came into view, dressed in a similar tuxedo to Tripp’s but with a bow tie.

“I’m your escort up the rest of this path.”

“But, it’s sooo dark.” As soon as she said it, two lines of tealight-sized spots illuminated the ground and overhead.

Her dad came into full view as did light shadows beyond him. He held out a bundle of pink and red roses. “These are for you.”

“Why?”

“Well, I believe it’s tradition for the bride.”

“The what?”

Her dad halted. “Didn’t he ask you? Didn’t you say yes? Because if not, I’ll put a stop to this right here.”

Her dad would go to bat for her. No matter what she said or did, he would always side with her. “Oh, my god. Son of a bitch.”

“Honey, that’s my line.”

Lexi laughed, dropping her hands to her knees as the situation unfolded in her mind. “This is a wedding. My wedding?”

“Yes, ma’am. I do believe it is. Now, are you ready or not?”

She giggled as she said, “Damn right I am.”

“There’s my girl.” He tucked her arm through his. “Let’s take a walk.”

On cue, lights throughout the yard, strung from poles and archways, from the house to the barn, lit like the stars in the sky. Floodlights at the four farthest corners she could see highlighted the outskirts of finished landscape.

“The farmhouse.” She stepped forward with her dad as violins and cellos began a traditional bridal march.

“Yes, my girl, it is. And it is magnificent.”

Lexi stopped. “Why?” Her voice came out a whisper, breathy and filled with emotion which yearned to be let free.

“Because when a man loves a woman, he’ll do anything to make her dreams come true.”

Chairs formed four lines on either side of a path that led to Tripp, Emma and Ian. Her mother stood in the front row, with Tripp’s mother and father, or so Lexi presumed, beside her, and Missy on the other side.

Tears streamed and Lexi no longer cared as her smile grew with each face she spotted. Janine, Kevin and Casey.

Her dad walked her right up to Tripp and laid a kiss on her cheek before handing her over. “You—“ His voice, rough with emotion, still conveyed the tone all fathers took at a daughter’s wedding as he directed his words to Tripp. “You better take care of her, or I’ll kick your ass.”

Lexi turned to Emma, dressed in a blue gown which resembled the one from the shop, and it hit her. They’d all been in on the secret.

Lights burned inside the house and through the open windows. The work done—at least to the living room—caused her to gasp.

“Wait until later. You’ll be amazed at what a skilled team can do,” Tripp whispered to her as the minister told them all to take their seats.

“We are gathered here today …”

Lexi eyed Tripp, mouthed ‘You’re sure?’ and got a wink in response.

“… to join these two in holy matrimony, a binding ceremony that spans the ages as well as the planes.”

Lexi squinted at the minister. If she didn’t know better, she’d swear he resembled a youthful George Fergs.

“Lexi and Tripp have opted to say their own vows, so in the presence of God, your family and friends …”

She opened her eyes wide. “We what?”

Tripp handed her another envelope. “Hold on to it. In this case, I’m going first.”

“Tripp, would you please start us off?” The minister backed up a foot.

Lexi stared at the man in front of her as he withdrew index cards from his jacket pocket. She could only hope to keep the tears away. Emma leaned in and handed her a hankie as one fell on its own anyway.

“Dammit,” Lexi said.

Tripp chuckled. “I haven’t even started.”

“I have.” She dabbed at her eyes.

He arranged and rearranged his cards as Ian leaned over his shoulder. “Second thoughts?”

Tripp smiled. “None.”

“Good.” Ian moved back into place.

• • •

Tripp shuffled the cards to keep his hands still. Never in his life had he been more nervous, excited and terrified all at the same time. When he had his thoughts under control, he took a deep breath, blew it out and stared into the eyes of the woman he meant to bind himself to forever.

“Lexi,” he sputtered like an old car as he started.

She wiped under her eyes with the handkerchief he’d instructed Emma to give to her.

Tripp cleared his throat once again. “Lexi. The first time I met you, I fell in love with an apparition who appeared from nowhere dressed in a light silk gown. A ghost, I would’ve said until the next day when we bumped into each other again. Neither of us ever expected to meet and yet we did, twice, in twenty-four hours.” Tripp rubbed the side of his nose. “And then I got shot. Go figure.”

Their attendees laughed, though Tripp and Lexi knew the significance of the action.

“From that point on, we’ve fought our demons, had a lot of fun—”

“Hey, now!” Her dad called out as their guests chuckled again.

“A lot of fun,” he repeated and looked at Lexi’s dad. “And a whole batch of heartache. For the last two weeks, I’ve tried to show you the kind of man I can be. I wanted to prove to you … our differences—” He punctuated the word with his fingertips. “—are nothing more than minor challenges in the grand scheme of life.” He cleared his throat as the words became more difficult to say. “You and I have our secrets, but that too is part of life. In my case—”

Tripp coughed into his hand as the words he planned would mean a complete shift in his lifestyle. The wonder, awe and recognition in Lexi’s eyes warmed him.

“I’ve said this once before, in a moment of necessity, and today—” He let the cards fall, taking Lexi’s hands in his. “Today, I give you the one true gift I can offer. I give you myself. Lexi Shepherd, I give you my name, my heart, my body and my soul, so in the future, there can be no separation. Through your eyes, I will see. Through your heart, I will feel, and separate we will never be, for so long as we live—and probably longer.”

Their minister chuckled.

Lexi staggered, but Tripp held on. “You’re choosing me over the greatest ability anyone could have, beyond my own? I thought—”

Tripp leaned toward her. “I figured it out. I let you find me, and by doing that, we converge. When I saw through you, I couldn’t do anything for myself. And someone once said, if you don’t use it, you lose it. That’s how we get around it. So, yes. I want you more than I want this ability. Now read your card.” He pointed at the envelope.

• • •

Lexi pulled out the flap, slipped what she hoped to be the last card Tripp would give her in one day.

Blank on the front, she flipped it over.

I accept.

Her gaze drew back up to Tripp’s.

He nodded her forward. “Say it out loud.”

She wanted to crumble it into a ball and throw it away. He’d sacrifice everything for her, but her interpretation of the books indicated George and Marge both kept their gifts.

There has to be another way.

“No, you can’t,” Tripp whispered. “It’s a one way offer.”

“How?”

He leaned in close as if to keep their conversation private. “Because I’m the hider in the game. I have to be caught. And I have been. By you. That’s why I could connect with you when … you know. So just read it. Out loud.”

She tucked the note behind her, steeled herself for his response. “Tripp—”

He opened his eyes wide. “That’s not on there.”

She held up a hand. If he could give up his gift to blend with her, the least she could do was let him know she’d do the same for him—if she could have. “Tripp,” she started again. He remained quiet, so she pressed on. “You’ve offered me more than yourself. You’ve shown me the type of man you are. You’ve loved me, romanced me—” She held her hands up to the lights and stars above. “—in a way no one else has. You said you fell in love with me on the beach, but I found you long before.”

His eyes opened wide. “What?”

“Shh!” Ian said. “We’re trying to listen.”

Laughter abounded.

“You were the man I found, the only time I ever looked … for … anyone. I’ve known about you since I was eight, but feared what we would bring to each other, vowed not to find you again and expected we’d never meet. The fates thought otherwise, and to them … I am thankful.” She sniffled. “If you give to me, then I give, too. Accept me in return, and I’ll accept your … offer.” She leaned in to him. “And if it’s use it or lose it, we’ll lose it together.”

Their hands entwined, the minister laid his over both of theirs. As he moved in closer, a smooth object slid against Lexi’s palm. “Do you both give to each other?”

“I do,” they said at the same time.

Their man of the cloth beckoned them forward with his fingertips. “No longer will your lives be two, but one, made for each other, with each other and together will you remain.”