Three Weeks Last Spring (29 page)

Skye
had
said little
since
they
checked out of the downtown hotel.
She sat chewing her bottom lip, deep in thought as the taxi carrying her and John to SeaTac airport threaded its way through the early evening traffic.
John leant back in his seat, and watched her from under hooded eyes.
He wondered whether to say something or to leave her alone with her thoughts.
Ever since she ha
d appeared at his hotel room door earlier that morning, a small waif-like figure with the weight of the world on her shoulders, he'd wanted to wrap her in his arms and tell her
everything would be all right.

He'd known Skye for the best part of fifteen years, ever since her first term at university when she
h
a
d mistakenly assumed he was the professor rather than a lowly post-graduate.
Since that first encounter he
ha
d been more than a little in love with her.
He'd known it wasn't reciprocated, and in the early years of their friendship it hadn't stopped him hoping that one day she might learn to return his feelings.
But as time progressed, their acquaintance never moved beyond the realms of friendship and he'd accept
ed
that Skye would
only ever see him as a friend.

He'd always been there for her, and always would be, no matter who or what came between them.
When first her mother, and then her father died, it
was
his shoulder she'd cried on.
And when something unexpected happened, he'd been there with a box of tissues and when occasions demanded, his couch for the night.
They'd always been o
pen and honest with each other.

He reached out and caught
her
hand and
gave it a re-assuring squeeze.

"We're nearly there, Sweet Pea.
Are you sure you want to go through with this?
You look tired out.
Why don't we grab a couple of rooms in the airport hotel and fly back tomorrow?"

Skye shook her head.
"
I'd rather fly tonight."

Within minutes, the taxi
came
to a halt outside the main terminal building.
John released Skye's hand and got out.
He paid the driver
then helped
her
out of the car.
He wrapped one arm around her shoulders, and picked up hi
s overnight bag with the other.

Like all airports SeaTac was crowded with people and humming with noise.
He paid scant attention to the bustling crowds, as he hustled Skye through the melee towards
the first class check-in desk.

"I know
we don't usually fly first, but on this occasion I thought you needed the peace of the upper deck rather than being seated with the rabble downstairs.
Besides, I don't think my long bones could stand being cooped up in economy for another twelve hours.
Before you complain about the extravagance, I think the business can afford it now that we know the software works."

Skye focused her pain-filled eyes on John, and managed a weak smile.
Once again he
ha
d come to her rescue, she really didn't deserve him as a friend, but she was so glad he was.
Thoughtful, and always attuned to her needs, she just wished she could return his feelings for her, but sadly she couldn't.
That burning, all-consuming spark of passion was missing.
But her little experience of passion had taught her that it was an over-rated commodity and more often than not the pleasure was short lived, while the pain it brought lingered.
Maybe she should settle for something less?
A more staid relationship perhaps.
One built on trust and mutual respect rather than intense passion.

But not yet.

First she had to get over this sorry mess and get her life back on track.
Once back in England, she'd take things one day at a time, and throw herself into her w
ork, as she had done last year.

Their
meagre
amount of luggage checked, they
passed
through the interminable security checks and on towards the gate.

"We've a couple of hours to wait before our flight is called.
I'm hungry and I'm sure you must be too.
Let's get something to eat and drink and then perhaps you
should
call Debbie and let her know you're flying home
,
" John said.

Debbie?
Skye halted midstride, shocked and ag
hast that in her heartbreak she ha
d ignored her friend.
How could she have forgotten Debbie?
She woul
d be out of her mind with worry and yet Skye knew she couldn't call her.
She couldn't face the endless probing questions, not yet.
She felt a wave of momentary panic and fought hard to hold on to her fragile control.

"I can't talk to her, not now.
Would you
phone
her?
Tell her we've got a problem with the business
,
anything but the truth.
I couldn't bear that.
I'll
speak to
her in a few days.
I need...
I need some rest, time to clear my thoughts.
John, please, I can't
face talking to her right now."

John studied Skye's pale face, her sapphire eyes brimm
ed
with tears, her pain clearly visible.
What the hell?
Against his better
judgment
and all the promises he'd made himself over the years, he reached out, pulled her into his arms and held her tight,
savo
u
ring
the feel of her against h
im.
His lips brushed her hair.

"Hey, no tears, remember?
Don't worry.
I'll take care of everything.
I'll call Debbie, tell her there's no need for her to worry and make some excuse to keep her off the phon
e until you feel like talking."
When she relaxed, he reluctantly loosened his hold on her; finally letting her go when he was sure she
had her emotions under control.

"If my memory serves me right, there's a restaurant further along, or if you prefer we can grab a coffee and a burger."

John grimaced.
"Oh Lord, you want me to eat a hamburger?
Don't you know what they put in those things?
Please, I'd prefer to keep my cholesterol levels as they are."

Through her sadness, Skye laughed.
"Oh, John, you're such a snob
.
Come on, the restaurant it is then."

Under John's watchful gaze, Skye picked at her food.
It wasn't that it was good, it was, but she wasn't really hungry.
She managed to eat enough of her main course to satisfy him, but declined a sweet from the trolley.
Over coffee he finally brought up the subject of Walker.

"Do you think he caught the
criminals behind the dumping?"

Even though John hadn't mentioned Walker by name, Skye's eyes widened in alarm.
She didn't want to start cryin
g again in such a public place.

"I hope so.
I hate to think of all those chemicals being dumped and leaking into the sea.
We did all we could, it's up to the authorities now."

"I suppose you're right.
What about Walker?"

"What do you mean, what about Walker?
I want nothing m
ore to do with him."

John's eyes searched her face, probing her thoughts.
"
Skye
, you know that's not quite true.
The man
obviously love
s
you.
The least you could do is call and tell him you're leaving.
He deserves that much surely."

Skye looked away, her mind a gamut of emotions.
Part of her hated Walker with a vengeance because of how he'd treated her, but the other part cared
. N
o, cared wasn't the right word—loved.
She loved him.
Plain and simple.
But he'd hurt her beyond belief and right now she wanted as much dis
tance between them as possible.

"I don't think he deserves anything more from me, except a very hefty bill for my services.
I agreed to help him and I have.
He consented to my conditions
;
there is to be no further contact between us.
There is nothing more to be said on the subject.
Besides I don't know how to contact him, and—"

John produced a business
card out of his jacket pocket.

"He gave me this, when he left us at the hotel this morning.
I have his office number right here.
Call him.
Call him before you leave.
Don't do something you may regret for the rest of your life."

Skye shrank from the piece of pap
er, her eyes suddenly icy blue.

"Call him?
Call him and say what?
Thank you for ruining my
vacation
?
Or thank you for thinking I'm a criminal?
Thank you for making me an emotional wreck?
I don't think so.
I couldn't bear to listen to his excuses, besides the man is an emotional vacuum where people are concerned.
His only interest is the marine life he studies.
I have no intention of contacting him now or ever."

Silenced by Skye's dark angry expression, John was secretly pleased by her reaction to his suggestion, but strove hard to hide it from her.
Best to let her think he'd put his size twelve f
ee
t firmly into his mouth.
In a few months' time, he'd
renew his efforts to win her.

Soon after they'd finished their meal, the non-stop flight to London was called.
They settled into their seats for the long journey.
Skye took one last look out of the window as the huge plane climbed steadily out of SeaTac, heading northeast.
The lights of Seattle twinkled below, becoming smaller and smaller as the plane gained height.
Through the low cloud base Skye thought she caught a glimpse of the Space Needle and somewhere off to the right, she knew, was the building housing Walker
's office.

Fleetingly she wondered if he was back at his desk, compiling his report.
Another ecological disaster safely averted, thanks to his expertise.
What would he do now that things were over?
Would he sit around waiting for the next phone call requesting his presence in some far-flung corner of the world?
Would he think of her and the brief time they'd s
hared?
Would he even miss her?

She doubted it.

No, she was sure he'd dismiss the whole affair as business; filing the days they'd shared an
d loved, along with his report.
Her heart squeezed in anguish.
Conceivably John had been right.
This wasn't the way to end things.
Perhaps she should have called his office, but hearing his voice would have completely destroyed her.
Besides, what could she say?
‘
Tell
me you love you and I'll stay?’

A man like Walker would never plead with a woman.
His work would always come first.
There was no room in his life for a permanent relationship.
He was a man who travelled light and couldn't afford any baggage to slow him down.
She'd done the right thing.
She’d walked away with her dignity relatively intact, knowing that by giving her expertise she
ha
d acted without malice.
It had cost her personally, but in time she'd forget the pain and the hurt.
She'd learn to pick up the pieces of her life and move on.