LITMIR.BIZ

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did a double take. “She came right out and told you that?”

      “She did.” Nate chugged down half the contents of his can. “There’s more.”

      In a few minutes he’d told Rick the essence of their conversation on the dance floor.

      His brother let out a long whistle. “What if her family’s right?”

      “I’ve been asking myself the same question.”

      “A few minutes ago I was thinking there’s no more reason for us to be here. Jim hasn’t said anything, but I suspect he’d buy Dad out, given the opportunity.”

      “With a good loan from the bank, he could probably do it,” Nate agreed. “The house could be rented.”

      Rick sat down on the couch. “I can see we’re on the same wavelength, as usual. But after what Pam told you, maybe there’s a chance Dad doesn’t know his own mind yet….”

      “That’s the kicker.” Nate had the strongest suspicion it would break Pamela’s heart. “Under the circumstances, there’s no point in both of us staying here.”

      His brother’s head reared up. “I was just going to tell you the same thing! What I’ve been doing for a living is selfish and has little redeeming value. In contrast, my brother protects our country’s freedom and puts his life on the line every time he goes up in the air. Nothing’s more noble than that.”

      “We need people to race cars, too. It brings in advertising, which in turn keeps the world economy going.”

      “You’re so full of it, you almost convince me.” Rick heaved a sigh. “But it’s a moot point now. When I broke the racing contract with my sponsor, they made it clear I’ve burned my bridges.” He took a moment to drink some of his beer. “Let’s agree to table this discussion until next week, after they’re back from Hawaii.

      “Maybe home will feel good to Dad. They might not leave for her ranch right away, if at all. He may need us yet.”

      “I suppose anything’s possible.”

      Rick leaned forward, hands clasped between his legs. “What else has been tearing you up for the last couple of hours?”

      “It has to do with Spade.”

      “I’ve lost a close buddy on the track. I don’t think it’s something you ever forget. What made tonight so difficult?”

      “His wife was out on the dance floor. Correction. His merry widow.”

      His brother frowned at him. “How about a translation?”

      “His very pregnant widow.”

      “That still doesn’t help me.”

      “Not only could Spade never give Laurel a child, we were flying with the NATO forces when the conception would’ve taken place. It’s been less than seven months since the crash. I’ve got eyes in my head. She’s close to her delivery date. Plus, earlier tonight, I saw her kissing another man in the elevator.”

      “Ouch.”

      “I don’t give a damn about her. But what if Spade called her before his accident and found out she’d been playing around….”

      Rick got to his feet. “You can’t assume she had anything to do with the reason he crashed.”

      “Why can’t I?” Nate challenged.

      “Because pilots like you and Spade are chosen for extraordinary qualities. You’re not as weak as the rest of us, especially when you’re at the controls. Our country’s security depends on you.”

      “No pilot or racing pro is a superman, Rick. Every man has his breaking point. We all hope we’ll never have to be tested to that degree. It hurts to think Spade’s wife might’ve been the one ultimately responsible for his death. He really loved her.”

      After a long silence, his brother said, “Did you talk to her?”

      “It was unavoidable. She approached me.”

      “And?”

      “In so many words I told her to go to hell.”

      Rick shot him a troubled glance. “That doesn’t sound like the brother I know.”

      “I’m not the brother you knew.”

      “Neither of us knows who we are right now. It’s too soon. Emotions are still too fragile.”

      “Since when did you turn into the philosopher?”

      “Don’t ask.”

      Nate wasn’t about to. He already knew the answer. “If you want to sleep in, I’ll drive Dad and Mom to the airport.”

      The second the word slipped out, they both froze.

      “I made the same mistake earlier in front of Dad,” Rick confessed. “It’ll probably happen a lot until everything sinks in.”

      “Let’s hope you’re wrong.”

      “Whether I sleep tonight or not, I plan to go to the airport with you in the morning. Pam seems grateful for the smallest crumb.”

      “So does Dad,” Nate said.

      Rick’s cell phone rang, disturbing the quiet. He plucked it from the coffee table and glanced at his call display.

      “Damn. It’s Natalie.”

      “That doesn’t sound like the brother I know.”

      Rick raised his head. Their eyes met in brotherly understanding. “Touché.”

      “I’ll leave you alone. If something comes up, call me on my cell.”

      “Where are you going?”

      “After I change clothes, I thought I’d drive over to the ski shop and take a look around. Since Dad missed the buying trip this year, I’m curious to see how low the inventory is.”

      “Hang on and I’ll join you. This call won’t take long.”

      Nate grabbed his jacket and tie from the floor, then bounded up the front stairs to his old bedroom. Once he’d dressed in jeans and a well-worn sweatshirt, he made his way to the foyer.

      Rick was still on the phone.

      A disturbing restlessness drove Nate to the den. He turned on the light. Ever since childhood, the framed Olympic medals hanging over the mantelpiece were always the first thing that drew his gaze.

      Only once had they been removed from this wall. He’d begged his parents to let him bring the medals to school for “Show and Tell.” Initially they’d refused—out of modesty, he now understood—but they’d given in when they saw how much it meant to him. His teacher and eight-year-old classmates had been duly impressed.

      His mother had taken the silver for the women’s downhill. In those same Olympic games, his father had won gold in the giant slalom. That was where they’d met.

      Like some of the paired ice-skaters who were husband and wife, his parents’ passion for the sport had led to the grand passion of their existence. Each other. They’d married soon after and decided to live the rest of their lives at ten thousand feet in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains.

      Life had been idyllic for Nate and Rick. The family that prayed together, that worked and played together, stayed together. How many times had Nate heard that maxim from the pulpit? He’d always believed it.

      The trick was to find one’s soul mate first.

      In just one week Nate had decided there was no such thing. Judging by Rick’s savage expression as they met in the hall, he’d reached the same conclusion.

      CHAPTER THREE

      LAUREL

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