CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER FOUR
“Who is that girl?” asked Eric, nodding to the table with Sor and Nell. Cam turned and looked at the table.
“Oh, that’s Nell’s niece or cousin or something. Her name is Saylor, with a ‘y’.”
“Is she staying with them?” he asked.
“For now. She graduated from college in December and needed a place to stay and work. She’s actually been here for a while.
Remington met her when he was home a few months ago.
I think he was sweet on her. Sor said she’s taking a job in Indianapolis.
They’re pretty disappointed that she’s leaving. ”
“What does she do?”
“She’s a radiologist or radiology tech or something like that. Something we desperately needed. She was working while here but then suddenly said she was taking another job and leaving.”
“Huh, that’s odd isn’t it?” asked Eric. “Usually when people come to work for us, they don’t leave unless we ask them to leave. Especially at the hospital. Maybe it’s something with him. I mean, if she was hanging with Remington, maybe she’s missing him. Where is he located now?”
“Brother, you know how Delta works. We never know where they are unless we’re tracking them. I do know he’s going to be disappointed when he gets home. JB said he was pretty sweet on her,” said Cam.
“You keep saying ‘sweet on her’, what are you eighty? Anyway, I wonder if he told her that. I can’t believe she’d run to another state for another job if she knew Remington Redhawk was in love with her,” said Eric.
“I didn’t say he was in love with her,” grinned Cam. “You know how Remington is. He’s like Trak in a lot of ways. He doesn’t really show emotion.”
“Well, he better learn how if he wants to keep that girl. She appears to be a keeper for sure.”
At the table with Sor and Nell, Saylor had tears in her eyes.
“Honey, I just wish you’d stay a bit longer,” said Nell. “I’m just now getting the chance to know you.”
“If my parents hadn’t tried to keep me locked up from the rest of the world, maybe we would have had more time,” she said with a sad smile.
“They were a bit doomsday, weren’t they?” frowned Sor.
“You have no idea. I was lucky to get away to be honest. I think all their neighbors and friends were in on the whole thing, keeping their kids at home, home-schooling them. Not to doubt those methods. I’m a product of good home-schooling.
But there was so much in college that I was exposed to that I never knew.
“Then I discovered the underground bunkers, all the stored food and weapons.” She shook her head and Nell noticed Sor sitting up a little straighter, the hairs at the back of his neck standing up. “I just knew it wasn’t where I was supposed to be.”
“Just stay a while longer. Let’s be sure they don’t want to try and get you back,” said Sor. He knew this had something to do with Remington but he couldn’t put his finger on it. They liked one another and he could tell that Remington was serious about her. So why run now?
“Please Uncle Sor, just take me to the airport. Please.”
“Okay, honey. I’ll go get the rest of your things that are packed and bring the car around. But you keep the bracelets and make sure you’ve got our information in the phone that Hiro gave you. Don’t buy another.”
“I won’t. I promise,” she sniffed. He left the table and she looked up at her aunt, then looked away.
“He’s gone. Tell me why you’re leaving,” said Nell.
“It’s nothing, Aunt Nell. I promise. I just need to get away and think about some things.”
“And what about Remington? He’s supposed to be getting out soon and returning home. What do we tell him when he asks about you?” she asked. Saylor looked out toward the gardens, the pain in her heart stabbing at her like a wicked stepmother seeking vengeance.
“Just tell him I had to leave. He won’t care. It won’t matter to him.”
“Oh, Saylor. I think you’re dead wrong, honey.
You don’t have a lot of experience with men and certainly not men from Belle Fleur.
Just because he hasn’t called you or written, doesn’t mean he isn’t thinking about you.
These men have very dangerous jobs and he could be someplace right now where communication of any kind might get him, and his team, killed. ”
“Exactly. Which is why I can’t wait around and hope that he returns. He could decide to stay another few years or not return home at all. I just can’t risk that, Aunt Nell.” Nell nodded at her, looking at the SUV pulling up outside, loaded with suitcases and boxes.
“Why won’t you let us drive you?” she asked again. “At least we could spend a few days together.”
“Aunt Nell, please. I just need to go. I have an apartment just around the corner from the hospital where I’ll be working. You have the address. I’ll call in a few months when everything is, well, settled and then you and Uncle Sor can come up.”
“Okay, sweetie,” she said standing with the beautiful young woman. They walked to the car and Sor opened the door for her, letting her hug Nell one last time.
“I love you,” she said to her aunt. “I love you both and I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve given me.”
Nell nodded at her niece, waving as Sor drove away with her. She’d insisted on not using the company plane, instead buying a coach ticket to Indianapolis. Just the charges for her baggage would be outrageous but she wouldn’t entertain any other way of getting there.
“You okay, Nell?” asked Ajei.
“No. No, I’m not because I know that she’s not and I know in my heart that this is a colossal mistake.”
“Well, if we know anything around here it’s that love will always find a way. If she and Remington were meant to be together, it will happen.” Nell turned and stared at the older woman she considered a mentor.
“Ajei? Don’t tell Sor I asked this but don’t you think Saylor looked a little fuller around the middle?” she tilted her head with a keen gaze and Ajei smiled at her.
“It did look that way to me and she’s been wearing a lot of loose shirts lately. How long has Remington been gone?”
“Six months,” whispered Nell.
“Six months,” repeated Ajei. “She’s covering it well but she won’t be able to for long. I’ll make sure that the comms boys know to keep an extra eye on her for sure.”
“Thank you, Ajei. And don’t tell Sor. He’d just drive up there and drag her back.” Ajei nodded, hugging the younger woman.
“Maybe that’s what she needs, honey.”