He hesitated as if searching for some way to dodge the inevitable. Finally he pulled another pained smile. "Sure, Mom. I'll he right back down so I can walk you to the car."
After Gray climbed the steps and disappeared into her apartment, Lori turned to the older woman and tried again. "This is so thoughtful, but I don't want you to misunderstand the—"
"Shush, now!" Angela waved for silence, her eyes carrying a hint of melancholy. "Just hush up and let a mama dream. All right, dear? I know this is very likely not going to play out the way I want. But maybe you can indulge a meddlesome, worried mother for just a minute longer." Angela paused for a breath, then smiled. Her hand drifted up to her mouth. "Oh, Lori, look.">"Maybe." Caution made her ask, "Why?"
"There's a crew party after Friday's flight. Other kids, children of crew members, will be there."
He wanted her there with the other families? One look into his eyes told her how important this was to him, and her knees went weak. Surely only because she hadn't eaten anything other than crackers and toast in more than twenty-four hours.
"All right" The words fell free before she could stop them, but she didn't call them back.
"Great." His gaze ping-ponged around the porch, before settling on her again. "My mother and father can pick you and Magda up."
His parents? Casually Lori grabbed the railing because the house seemed to have tilted even farther to the left, leaving her decidedly off balance. "Your parents?"
"You won't have to deal with the hassle of getting on base."
"Gray, I'm confused—"
"Guess I didn't make it clear. We're all meeting on the flight line first, then heading over to Lance's for the party."
"Oh, okay." She hadn't really meant confused about the plans so much as just what he was trying to accomplish. Her stomach was a mess all over again, and it had nothing to do with the stomach flu.
Gray dropped a kiss on Magda's bandanna-covered head, then cupped Lori's face in a farewell caress. For a minute she thought he might kiss her, too, and she couldn't find the will to move closer or away.
Instead Gray broke the moment with a nod. "Thanks, Lori. Finit flights mean a lot to us flyers."
"Finit flight?"
"Final flight. That's what we call a guy's last flight before he leaves a base. Everyone gathers on the runway for a farewell party. A fire truck hoses down the guy after he lands. It's all a part of Air Force tradition."
"Leaves? Who's leaving?" She hoped it wasn't Bronco or Tag. She knew how much working with them meant to Gray.
He scrubbed a hand across his blue bandanna. Was it her imagination, or did the fearless warrior look worried?
"Me. Lori, I transfer out of Charleston to Washington in another week and a half."
Gray stared straight into Lori's wide eyes and waited for the inevitable disillusionment. Which he got. In spades.
What he hadn't expected was her flat-out surprise.
He'd thought she knew. He'd talked about their need to say goodbye. He'd made it clear they had no future. Hadn't he?
Quit lying to yourself pal.
Whether consciously or subconsciously, he'd been vague. Likely because he'd known he would get just this reaction. His transfer ended it for her. After hearing about her gypsy childhood, he knew talk of cross-country moves would send her underground.
Which was what he wanted. Right? So why hadn't he told her up-front? Damn, but he hated questions. He needed answers and action. He needed to leave.
Then why couldn't he make his feet move?
The silence between them stretched, broken only by an occasional passing car, the trickle of water from the garden fountain, the call of mockingbirds.
He'd done it again. Hurt her. In spite of all his great plans, he'd brought disillusionment right back into those brown eyes.
"Doc?" Magda's hoarse voice croaked.
Her voice jolted through Gray's confusion. His gaze jerked to Magda. "What, Magpie?"