Page 37 of Bursting With Love
Jack called out in a deep voice, “Aiden!” Then he turned to her again. “It’s you, Savannah. I want to change because of you. You opened my eyes.” He turned to the other direction and hollered Aiden’s name before turning back to her again. “I don’t expect you to wait for me or stand by me or any of that. What you said makes sense. You’re the last woman on earth I want to hurt, and you don’t deserve my crazy mood swings. I’m going to try to finally deal with my own shit, and if I can find my footing again, and if you’re interested, we’ll go from there.” He shrugged. “All I can do is my best. And if I can’t do it, well, then what have I lost?”
A lump formed in Savannah’s throat. “Damn it, Jack.” She turned away before he could see her eyes fill with tears. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a flash of a bunch of sticks leaning against a tree.
“Jack,” she whispered. “Look.”
Jack followed her eyes to the base of a large tree, where he saw the tips of sticks leaning vertically against the tree. Most of the trunk was hidden behind a large bush. They approached the tree, and both let out a sigh of relief when the makeshift shelter came into view. Jack crouched down and peered inside.
“Thank you, Lord,” Jack said as he reached into the shelter and lifted Aiden into his arms. “Hey, buddy, that’s quite a shelter.”
Aiden blinked several times, like he was coming out of a foggy dream. “Jack! I survived the woods, just like you.”
Jack pressed him to his body. His right hand covered the back of Aiden’s head. “You sure did, little buddy. We were worried about you. Did you forget the rule about never going into the woods alone?”
Aiden looked at Savannah. “No.”
“Then why did you?” Jack asked.
“Because I knew Mom couldn’t go ’cause she had to pack, and Dad was at the stream. I just wanted to survive the woods,” Aiden explained.
“Aiden, look at me.”
Aiden shifted his big blue eyes to Jack.
“I’m proud of you for remembering what to do, but the woods are dangerous. There are bears and bobcats and all sorts of nasty things out here. You have to promise me never to go into the woods again no matter what you want to prove. Promise?”
Savannah felt tears fill her eyes at the joy of finding Aiden and the tenderness that Jack showed toward him.
“I promise. I’m sorry,” Aiden said.
“We’re getting ready to go on the plane, so now we have to leave the woods.”
Aiden wiggled out of his arms. “Okay. Let me get my stuff.” He climbed back into the shelter. When he returned, he had a handful of rope and put it in Jack’s hand. “I made slip knots just like you showed me.”
Jack picked Aiden up and hugged him tight. “I was worried about you,” he said. He reached a hand out and touched Savannah’s cheek. “Aiden, let’s make a promise.”
“A promise?”
“Yes, a promise. Let’s promise not to hide in the woods anymore. Both of us. I promise if you promise.”
Savannah could barely breathe. In one breath, he made her angry, and in the next, he filled her heart with hope. That couldn’t be a healthy combination, but damned if she wasn’t drawn to him in ways she knew would taunt her days and haunt her nights.
Chapter Sixteen
JACK OPENED THE cargo hold and began removing the luggage. The flight into New York had been relatively smooth, and it had given him time to think through the previous few days. Normally, he’d land, say farewell to his students, pick up a few supplies, and head back up to the mountains feeling like he’d unloaded a great weight from his shoulders. This afternoon, the anxiety that usually drove him to expediently say goodbye to his passengers had turned on him, and he dragged his feet. He was in no hurry to go back to the mountains—or to say goodbye to Savannah.
“Jack, we can’t thank you enough,” Elizabeth said as she picked up her bags. “I don’t think any of us will ever forget this trip. Thank you for bringing Aiden back to us. Aiden will never forget what you taught him. Right Aiden?”
Aiden wrapped his arms around Jack’s legs. “I promise not to hide in the woods. You promise, too, right?”
Jack crouched down and looked him in the eyes. “You bet I do, buddy. No more hiding.” He tousled his hair and stood back up to shake Lou’s hand. “Lou, you helped me out there. Thank you.”
“I don’t know how I could have done that, but if I did, you’re welcome.” Lou embraced Jack. “Thanks for everything, man. I hope we see you again sometime.”
