A Change of Plans (34 page)

I watched Olivia’s introduction on a monitor in the room, so I wasn’t surprised when another staffer came to lead me down a long hall to a door that opened onto the stage. They had allowed the others to wait there to watch and listen rather than sending them with me to the Green Room. Aislinn and Elle hugged me. Jack kissed my forehead, and Jori rubbed my shoulder.

Walking on stage, I swore everyone could hear my knees knocking because they shook so hard. I had never had such a bad case of stage fright before. My years as a choir director were supposed to help me. Epic fail.

Olivia Howard played upon her Native American beauty in the way she styled her glossy black hair, her makeup accenting her high cheekbones. She was a brilliant, talented, confident woman, and an accomplished interviewer.

Quickly putting me at ease, she made it feel like we were having a casual conversation. It just happened to be taking
place in front of an audience of several hundred and cameras that would take it to millions.

She invited me to talk first about my life before the cruise. The topic moved on to the ship and finally the excursion. All my experience in talking about what had happened, especially about Jimmy and Maria, didn’t help. I took more tissues from the box Olivia handed to me and wiped my eyes. Maybe it was pregnancy hormones kicking in. Maybe it was the people in the audience who cried with me.

It was a relief when she had her staff bring out Jori’s painting and invited him, Elle, Aislinn, and D’Arcy to join us on stage. I was glad not to be the focus of attention for a few minutes.

Olivia had each of them share a memory of Jimmy and Maria. With their unique experiences, they helped me see new facets of the pair. I realized, for the first time, the sense in doing this. Our combined experiences might help their friends find some peace when they had a chance to view it.

After a break, Olivia moved on to questions about how we survived on the island and how our romance had blossomed. The audience loved the marriage ceremony.

She had me explain about the hunt, my injury, preparing the meat for eating, and the hide for clothing. At her request, I had brought along my furry top and breechcloth. Probing questions followed about the work involved in making everything we owned, the intense storms, and the growing need to get back to civilization.

Olivia, very gently, mentioned my pregnancy. I knew she had planned to bring it up, but I flushed anyway. She asked if Braedon had known about the baby. I could only shake my head as the audience and I cried.

By the next break, I felt drained and exhausted. Standing, I
wiped my eyes and stretched my legs while Olivia talked with one of her staff members. I couldn’t wait for this to end.

One of her crew called over, “Hey, Olivia. I think you’ll want to see this.”

The man projected a live news broadcast on the screen behind where I sat. It showed the lights of what must be a Coast Guard cutter approaching a dock.

My stomach lurched, and I clutched the arms of my chair. I recognized that dock, even in the dark. I spun to look for Elle and Aislinn. They stood near the entrance to the stage, staring at the screen. Elle’s wide eyes met mine for a moment, and she clutched Aislinn’s hand. I saw recognition in D’Arcy eyes as he gripped his wife’s arm on one side and Jack’s on the other.

The reporter on the screen said, “For those of you just joining this special report, a Coast Guard cutter found a damaged homemade outrigger limping its way to Pago Pago a couple of hours ago.”

Dizziness overwhelmed me, and my knees went weak. Jack’s strong hands grabbed my shoulders. Elle and the others, including Olivia and her camera crew, hurried to join us.

I gripped Jack’s cold hand, suddenly afraid. What if it wasn’t them? Had anyone else gone missing we didn’t know about? Were my hopes being raised only to be dashed? I didn’t know if I could take it. I couldn’t breathe and began to gasp for air.

“You’re okay. You’re going to be fine,” Jori whispered to me. “Take a slow, deep breath. Come on.”

I gripped his hand with my free one and did as he said, forcing in the air.

“That’s it.” He held my hand.

I jerked my head back to the screen when the reporter said, “I’m
seeing more movement on deck. Yes, some figures are coming to the gangway. They have blankets around them, so it must be the rescued men. We should be able to speak to them soon.”

In the dark shadows, I couldn’t make out any details. Why didn’t the idiot reporter just announce their names? My throat tightened. Were Moli and Isaac in the crowd? Or were they home asleep in their beds?

The first of the three shrouded figures reached the pier. A very tall shrouded figure. The reporter approached, the light from his camera glaring. The man raised his hand against the brilliance.

“Braedon!” I cried out, jumping to my feet and reaching for the screen, my hand shaking. The shadows under his eyes made his face appear gaunt, almost ghost-like. I’d had so many dreams like this. While I had never dreamed
this
scenario, it would fit the theme. Was I imagining everything?

“I need to get word to my wife and family.” Braedon pleaded. “Can you get hold of Lyn? Tell her we’re alive.”

“This way, Mr. Randolph.” Two men came between him and the reporter. The camera turned to Lua and Etano. They were alive too.

My heart thrashed inside my chest. I wanted to believe what I saw so badly but couldn’t trust the image or the words. Then the people in the audience, who had been quiet as their eyes had darted between me and the screen, cheered, jumping up and hugging each other.

Only when I glanced at the others—Jack with tears running down his face, Aislinn and D’Arcy, Elle and Mal, all crying and clutching each other—did I finally believe it. Jack hugged me and hurried off to grab Aislinn.

“He’s alive!” Jori grabbed my shoulders, his face bright with happiness. “You need to go to him.”

Yes. I had to get to American Samoa. Dazed, I turned to Olivia, who was approaching us, her eyes glittering. “I’m so sorry, Olivia.” I edged toward the exit. “I have to leave.”

Jack seized my arm. “Wait a minute. Where are you going?”

What an idiot. “American Samoa.”

I could almost see the wheels turning in Olivia’s mind. “How are you going to get there?”

Another idiot. What was wrong with these people? “Fly.” I took a step toward the exit.

“I have a private plane,” she offered.

I edged a little farther. “So do we.”

Disconcerted, she glanced at Jack for confirmation. He nodded but added, “I wouldn’t take it on that long a flight, though, Lyn.”

Irritation flashed through me. Were they trying to keep me from Braedon? “Then I’ll go commercial.”

“I have a plane that can be in the air in less than two hours,” Olivia offered again. “Plus, I can smooth the way for you to get to him quicker. All you have to do is allow me to come with you and film your reunion.”

“Let’s go.” I turned toward the door.

“Wait!” she laughed. “Is there anyone else who should come with you?”

“Everyone here with me now.” I looked at Jack, feeling bad Emily and the boys would have to stay behind because of the calving.

Jori shook his head. “This is your time. I’ll be here when you bring him home.”

“Right.” I hugged him and turned back to Olivia. “Six of us then, unless Aislinn and D’Arcy want to bring Kate.”

“I can’t go.” Elle touched her big belly, her disappointment apparent. “I’m too close to my due date. Mal and I will watch Kate; the four of you go.”

“Four then,” I confirmed to Olivia, hugged Elle, and almost ran out of the studio.

F
OR MONTHS,
I had felt like I was living in a nightmare. Now I found myself in a dream I desperately wanted to be real.

The next two chaotic hours flew past as we quickly packed our things.

On the plane, Olivia took advantage of the euphoria to grill me about my time on the island, this time focusing on Braedon. Where before she had gone easy with her questions for fear of bringing up difficult memories, she now sought the deep emotions of what I had been through.

Afterward, I managed to doze despite my agitated mind. When I woke, all the others in the cabin slept except Aislinn. “How much longer?” I asked.

She checked her watch. “Maybe an hour.”

A thrill raced up my spine. An hour. Sixty minutes and I would see Braedon. I tapped my fingernails on my armrest and forced myself to breathe normally.

The others slowly woke up as well, and Olivia went to the back of the plane to freshen up.

I did the same once she had finished, changing into a summer shift. Aislinn came in and helped me straighten my hair. She pulled out a few strands to hang loose around my
face, which gave it a softer look. I even had some curves again, not to mention the little roundness of my normally flat stomach.

The captain called over the speaker that it was time to take our seats and put on our seatbelts. As we descended, Aislinn clasped my hand. Jack reached over and placed his hand over ours.

Olivia began to interview me again. Her questions were all about how I had felt when I thought Braedon was dead, how I had managed to get on without him, and what I thought as we approached the airport.

H
ER STAFF
had arranged a private room at the airport for our meeting. We had seen the news before we left New York and knew reporters were already following Braedon. I didn’t want to see him again in front of a huge audience. My wish for privacy worked in Olivia’s favor as well.

It felt like an eternity for the plane to taxi to the terminal. When it finally came to a stop, I ripped off my seatbelt and dashed to the door, Aislinn and Jack not far behind me.

I wanted to scream at the steward to hurry as I waited for him to open the door. If I had known how, I would have done it myself. As soon as there was enough room, I squeezed through the opening and tore down the ramp.

I stumbled and clutched my stomach, forcing myself to slow down, fearing a tumble. In the distance, through a small window, I could see the fuzzy outline of people moving on the other side. My eyes burned. Braedon was on the other side of that door. I reached my hand to the knob, but my fingers shook so badly I couldn’t get it to turn.

CHAPTER 35

A
SHRIEK OF
frustration swelled in my chest. A hand reached from behind me and pulled my fingers away. “Let me do it,” Jack said. “At this rate you’ll never get to him.”

I let Jack open the door for me. My perception of time slowed as Braedon turned toward the sound of the opening door. For a second I stood frozen in place, examining him head-to-toe. He had trimmed his hair and shaved, the hollows in his cheeks more pronounced without his beard.

Our eyes met, and his face lit up. In two long strides, he swept me into his arms and pulled me close, kissing my forehead, my wet cheeks, and, finally, my mouth.

I clung to him, remembering the feel of his arms around me, the way I fit against him, the sound of his breath as he buried his face in the hair at my neck. I listened to the beating of his heart. He was alive. Really alive.

After what seemed like an eternity, he pulled back and searched my face, looking me up and down. I placed his hand on the small bulge of my stomach. “You’re going to be a daddy.”

His eyes widened as his palm cupped the tiny mound. A little fiercely, he kissed me again, and we clung to each other.

Finally, we saw teary-eyed Aislinn, who waited to be noticed. I motioned her to join us, and Braedon pulled her into our hug. After a long embrace, she stepped back so he could put both arms around me again, but she kept her hand on his shoulder as though she too feared he would disappear again.

Jack stood just out of reach, so I leaned over and grabbed his sleeve. He hesitated a moment, but Braedon threw his arms around him, and Jack gripped him back, tears running down his face. With my arm around Aislinn, I sobbed.

Olivia and her staff stayed in the background and filmed. When I spotted Lua and Etano, I dragged Braedon over to them and threw my arms around the grinning boys and their parents.