Not Quite Forever (Not Quite #4)(73)
Author: Catherine Bybee

About the time the engine warmed enough to blow hot air, Dakota would blow the horn a few times. Three short, three long, three short. If there was one prepper code known, it was SOS. She only did it while the engine ran, afraid she’d kill the battery and they’d lose their ability to warm the interior of the car.

For the first time since Dakota had met JoAnne, the woman appeared her age. The makeup was long gone, her hair flat from the couple of trips outside the car to relieve herself.

When their teeth finally stopped chattering, JoAnn followed her blank stare with a shudder. “I really hope Walt doesn’t tell his father that we’re missing.”

“Your son is smarter than that.”

JoAnne sipped water and continued to stare out the window. “He was such a bright child growing up. Walter and I knew he’d be a wonderful physician.”

“He is. Monica has told me plenty of stories. It takes a special human being to give of themselves as much as he does.”

JoAnne actually cracked a smile, but kept her thoughts to herself.

“He thinks he disappointed you and your husband.”

She snapped out of her trance. “What?”

Dakota wasn’t sure if she should be saying any of this, but what could it hurt? “He didn’t follow your husband into cardiology.”

JoAnne’s lips formed an O. She sighed. “Well. I suppose at first we might have been. But Walter and I knew by the way he craved travel and excitement that taking over the practice wasn’t something Walt would do. We’re not disappointed. Though I can see why he might think that. We worry that his quest to save the world will put him in danger.”

Dakota rubbed their baby through her own skin. “I worry about that a little, too. I have to believe that he’ll make the right choices when he’s playing doctor.”

JoAnne actually laughed a little.

“When he and Brenda were little, he’d play doctor. He’d diagnose every blemish on her skin, every sneeze. When they were in school, he’d tell his teachers he was playing doctor with his sister.”

It was Dakota’s turn to laugh. “Oh, no.”

“Oh, yes. The phone calls came in. Everyone jumped to the wrong conclusions. Walter and I were mortified. Oh, we laughed about it later, but at the time, we about died of embarrassment.”

“He didn’t tell me that story.”

JoAnne smiled, warmed into a thought she didn’t share. “You have plenty of years to hear his stories.”

Those weren’t words Dakota thought she’d hear from JoAnne Eddy.

Dakota reached for the key when she realized they were both free of chattering teeth. Sundown was only a few hours away. They’d need the heat more then. With the engine off, it was only their voices to kill the silence.

“On our first date, Walt took me bowling.”

“That’s nice. He always liked to bowl.”

“I didn’t think anyone bowled anymore. He seemed at home in rented shoes.”

JoAnne shrugged. “He should. He has been on several leagues.”

“No. Really?”

“He didn’t tell you?”

“I guess he didn’t want to embarrass me. My gutter balls must have made him cringe.”

JoAnne leaned her head back, closed her eyes. “I can’t bowl either. Walter dragged me to the alley all the time until Walt could join him.”

“Does Brenda bowl?”

“Yes, actually.” JoAnne opened her eyes, paused. “I’d do just about anything to bowl a few gutter balls right now.”

“I’m right there with you.” Dakota paused, looked out the window. “Walt told me you went to college.”

“I did.”

“What did you study?”

JoAnne actually smiled. “Interior design.”

That made sense . . . the Eddy home had the hand of a professional in how it was decorated. “Did you want a career?”

“I thought I did. Then I met Walter. Seemed silly to juggle being a wife, mother, and an interior designer. After a while I stopped thinking about it.”

“Your home really is lovely.”

JoAnne accepted the compliment with a smile.

Dakota rubbed the small of her back.

JoAnne watched her. “Are you OK?”

“Just a little stiff.” Her stomach growled. “And hungry.”

They’d eaten protein bars for breakfast followed by a few crackers.

“How much food do we have back there?” JoAnne asked.

“A couple of days’ worth, if we’re careful.”

“Then you should eat something,” JoAnne said.

“I’m all right.”

Not five minutes went by and her stomach growled again.

“Dakota, please eat something. Think of your baby.”

Giving in, she tilted the seat back to crawl into the back of the SUV. Her limbs protested as she squeezed into the back. To give herself more room, she folded the backseat onto itself and leaned against it as she dug through the bag. She lifted two cans. “Canned chicken or tuna for an early dinner?” she asked JoAnne.

“Surprise me.”

The can of chicken was larger, easier to split. Dakota dropped the tuna back into the bag, only to have it roll out and under the seat.

She reached around blindly to find it. Instead of a round can, she came in contact with something small and square.

She settled back on her heels and looked at what was obviously a jewelry box.

“What did you find there?”

“Looks like a jewelry box. Are you missing anything?”

JoAnne turned in her seat. “I don’t misplace my jewelry.”

“It’s probably empty.” Dakota was looking at JoAnne when she opened the box.

She gasped, nearly dropped it when her eyes settled on what it contained.

Sitting on a bed of black velvet was the ring she’d admired while shopping with Mary and Monica. “Oh my God.”

Walt! It must have fallen out of his luggage, his pocket, something.

“What is it?”

With tears in her eyes, Dakota turned the box toward JoAnne.

“Oh, my.”

Dakota ran her fingertips over the ring, what it meant sank in. “I love your son. I love him so much it hurts.”

Using the back of her hand, Dakota tried to dry her tears. Why had she not told him her feelings when he’d whispered his love for her?

Fear.

Fear of letting him in, which was stupid since he was already sitting on her chest laying claim.

If she made it out of this car, she’d drag him to Vegas the second they could catch a plane.