He pictured Crystal’s laughing face.
He could get in his car. Drive to her house. Get down on his knees and beg her forgiveness. Tell her he’d stay with her every day, hour and minute if she’d let him.
Or he could fly to Myrtle Pond and let her find another man and get on with her life.
His hands curled into fists. He clenched his jaw. Then he cursed a blue streak while slamming the lid down on his suitcase.
CRYSTAL SLEPT FITFULLY FROM five until eight. Rufus, drawn by her sobs, had parked himself on the foot of her bed. She woke up with red, puffy eyes and a throbbing headache, having spent most of the night alternating between missing Larry and examining the sorry state of her life.
In the wee hours, she’d come to the conclusion she was as bad as Amber, pinning her aspirations and self-worth on a man. She suddenly realized she’d been living in limbo for years, ever since Simon died. Not that her future had stretched out rosy with Simon; she truly would have divorced him. But afterward, she might also have pulled herself up by her bootstraps.
What did she think she was doing? Living above her parents’ business, flitting from writing to parts driving and back again? There was a very real possibility Jennifer and David were going to need her again soon. That meant she had to be in a position to take care of them. And it could be for weeks or months this time.
She could no longer afford to drift through life.
She’d cataloged her weaknesses, which were many. And Larry was going to be a hollow ache in her body for a long time to come.
But then she’d catalogued her strengths. She was smart-her IQ told her that. She was fairly well organized. She could write. She could drive. And she was a darn decent pet owner.
In fact, Rufus had taught her just how much she loved animals. She was kind and compassionate. And she did have five million dollars to play with. Plus, she had Simon’s pension and life insurance. It had mounted up to nearly one hundred thousand dollars. If the kids needed Simon’s money, she’d use it.
But, more than just money, she needed to get some focus in her life. Her writing had slipped of late. Maybe she brought that back as a focus, or maybe if she had a proper career, maybe then losing Larry wouldn’t hurt so badly.
The only thing she knew for sure was that she had to try something. Sitting around feeling sorry for herself wasn’t going to cut it.
She rolled herself out of bed, heading for the shower, trying to rinse away the gritty sting from her eyes. Then she made herself a proper breakfast-bacon, eggs and homemade pancakes.
She’d call Fred Smythe this morning, get things rolling on the charitable trust.
And then it hit her.
She dropped her fork and stared at Rufus.
The trust. It would take planning and organization. Somebody would have to run the foundation, decide where to put the money, pick priorities, decide who to hire. There was no reason in the world it couldn’t be her.
And that meant she could collect a salary, get a bigger apartment, maybe one close to Jennifer and David’s school. That way, if they needed her, now or anytime, she’d be there.
Against all odds, she felt a smile form on her lips. She could find ways to help more dogs like Rufus and cats and birds. And she could work from home-write when she had time, sleep in, work evenings, whatever she wanted to do.
Crystal stood up from her chair. She had a proper job. She could get her own apartment and stand on her own two feet.
It was about bloody time.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
FRED SMYTHE HAD enthusiastically engaged in the animal foundation project. Crystal spent the next few days mired in the incredible details of setting up the trust, and the next few nights painfully missing Larry. He was wrong to leave her. She wasn’t going to find another man. In twenty-eight years, even with Simon, she hadn’t truly fallen in love. And now that she knew what it felt like, she wouldn’t settle for anything less.
It was late now, after eleven. She squinted at the Humane Society bylaws in front of her. She didn’t want to duplicate their services, but she did want to learn from their experiences.
Her cell phone rang.
As always, her heart leapt at the thought of Larry changing his mind. But after three days, and three very long nights, she knew that wasn’t going to happen. In fact, she’d known that wasn’t going to happen the second she’d looked into his eyes and he’d told her he was doing it for her.
Ironic, really, the thing that made her love him the most-his integrity-was also the thing that meant they’d never be together.
Her phone chimed again, and she glanced at the readout.
Her heart clunked in her chest.
Jennifer.
She scrambled to answer it.
“Sweetheart? Are you all right?”
“Auntie Crystal?” came a shaking voice. Crystal could hear David crying in the background, and something was roaring above Jennifer’s voice.
“What is it? Are you all right? Where are you?” Crystal forced herself to take a breath.
“We crashed,” Jennifer whimpered.
“Crashed what? The car?” Panic clawed its way into Crystal’s throat, and she rose to her feet, marching compulsively toward the door. Rufus immediately followed.
“Yes,” said Jennifer, tears in her voice.
“Is that David? Is he okay? Who’s with you?”
“David’s crying!”
“Is he hurt?”
“I don’t know… It’s dark.”
“Where’s Mommy?”
Jennifer was silent as the engine roar and a country station rose around her.
“Mommy’s not moving.”
Crystal’s entire body went cold. “Was she driving?”
“My dad was driving.”
Zane.
“Where is he now?” asked Crystal, anger moving in on her rising terror.
Jennifer’s voice was hoarse. “He left us. He got out of the car and ran away!”
“Do you know where you are, honey? Can you see any lights or street signs?”
“We fell down a hill.”
Oh, God. Crystal’s throat closed over. “Tell me what you see?”
“We’re upside down!”
Crystal bit down on her index finger to keep from whimpering. Rufus snaked around her legs, pressing against her.
“I see the dashboard. It’s raining.”
Crystal glanced out her window. Raining here. Probably raining all over Charlotte.
“There’s a flashing light!”
“On the dashboard?”
“Outside… Up by the road.”
“The police?” Crystal’s heart gave a leap.
“I think so.”
“Can you see any people? Are they coming down the hill? Is David still crying?” Crystal clenched her jaw, forcing herself to quit peppering Jennifer with questions.
“They have flashlights,” said Jennifer, sounding calmer.
“And David?”
“He’s crying quieter. It’s okay, David. I see the policeman. He’s coming to help us.”
Tears flowed freely down Crystal’s cheeks. “Has Mommy moved?” she asked.
“No,” Jennifer whispered.
“Honey, can you do something for me?”
“Yes,” the girl’s voice wobbled.
“When a grown-up gets there. A policeman or a fireman. Can you give him the phone? Make sure you tell him I’m your auntie?”
“Here he comes,” said Jennifer. “I think it’s a policeman.” Her voice went quieter. “Can you talk to my Auntie Crystal?”
A man’s voice came on the phone. “This is Officer Davis.”
“My name is Crystal Hayes. Jennifer and David are my niece and nephew. My sister is in the car, and her name is Amber. Can you tell me how she’s doing? Are the kids okay?” Crystal prayed hard that Amber was still alive.
“I’d recommend you meet us at Memorial Hospital,” said Officer Davis.
“Can you-”
“I’m sorry, ma’am. I have to attend to the accident.”
“Is she alive?” Crystal wailed.