Page 69 of Twenty Years Later

And I knew he really had no idea when he'd be back. He had a career that couldn't just be abandoned. He had actual patients relying on him, needing his care, needing surgery.

The little time we had passed in a whirl with excited girls spilling cereal everywhere, and all of us tripping over the clutter of toys that had taken over the house. Of course, we were running a bit late. It was hard enough getting one kid out the door. But two? Holy crap.

In a blur of jackets, scarves, and mismatched gloves, we somehow managed to get out to the SUV, Alex smiling across from me as we once again buckled in the girls.

"Let me drive?" he asked.

I hesitated for a second.

"Come on," he pleaded. "I really want to drive in this slush. It looks like fun."

"Fun? If you really think so, sure. Please be my guest," I said, shaking my head as I handed him the keys.

A minute later, I found myself gripping my seat as Alex backed out of the driveway and maneuvered down the street, the sun and warmer temperature making a mess of yesterday's snow. But at least it wasn't icy. I definitely preferred slush to ice.

And of course, Alex handled it like a champ. The streets in my neighborhood were always the worst, the last to get plowed, and I dreaded it during the winter. Thank goodness I didn't have to drive anywhere for my job and that Audrey's preschool was within walking distance.

"I loved that," Alex said as he pulled out onto the main street that had clearly already been plowed.

"Really? That was good for you, huh?"

"Piece of cake."

"Okay, Miami boy."

He just laughed as he kept driving the short distance to the airport. And with each passing moment, I fought the dread growing in my stomach.

I popped a piece of ginger gum, hoping that would help. But it didn't. This wasn't morning sickness. This was a special kind of missing Alex sickness, a sickness that I didn't think could be cured unless Alex and I found some way to be together... for good.

The dread spread throughout my whole body when we drove up to the departure area. I took deep breaths, trying to calm the ache in my heart as he pulled over to the curb and stopped.

His phone buzzing, he reached for it and frowned.

"Everything okay?" I asked.

He let out a sigh and glanced over at me, placing a hand on my knee, a look in his eyes that I'd never seen before. "Look, Jayda, I don't want there to be any secrets between us. And I don't know if this is even the right decision at this moment..."

My heart started to gallop. "What do you mean? What's going on?"

He drew in a long breath, squeezing my leg. "That was a text from Fiona."

Was he serious right now? Hehadto be kidding!

"She's in Miami and wants to talk to me."

Absolutely unbelievable!Despite the adrenaline pounding through my body, I somehow managed to swallow a total freak-out. "Did she say why?"

He sighed. "No. No, she didn't."

The girls started to make noises in the back, and I knew we couldn't really hash this out fully like I wanted to do. Plus, we didn't have much time before their flight. I unbuckled my seatbelt, numb with shock, not even sure what I was doing. Alex's hand on my thigh stopped me, though.

"Look at me, sweetheart." So I did, the concern in his eyes catching my attention. "I have no idea what she wants," he continued. "But I do know this."

"What?" I managed to say.

"Nothing is going to stop me from coming back to you."

Inhaling, I pressed my lips together, trying not to let out all the crazy emotions I was feeling. It wasn't the time or place. I needed to keep it together.

---