Chance Encounters

“That just makes it even more special,” Caroline said, glowing. Knowing that Jackson had made it with his own two hands definitely changed the way she saw it. Not to mention, the way she felt about it.

Alex looked down and noticed the note in her hand. “You’re going to leave, aren’t you,” he asked, more a statement than a question, breaking Caroline’s train of thought.

“Let’s just go back inside,” she suggested.

“I’m going to grab some water. I’ll be right back. Want anything?” Alex asked before he headed down the hall.

“No, thank you.”

Caroline walked through the doors and only Sally remained inside. She held onto Jackson’s hand and caressed it, but stopped when she saw Caroline.

“I think I’m going to go back home.”

“When?” A slight smile escaped from Sally’s lips as her eyes lifted.

“Today.”

“So soon?”

“I need to get back to work. And I really need to talk to my fiancé and tell him everything that’s going on. I’ve been avoiding him since I got here and that’s not fair to him.” Thinking about Clay made Caroline feel doubly worse.

“I have no right to ask you this, but when he wakes up, can you make sure he gets this?” Caroline held out the envelope.

Sally smiled and took it in her hand. “Of course.”

“Thank you, Sally. I understand why he likes you, too.”

The girls hugged briefly. Carolin

e walked to Jackson’s bedside and was suddenly afraid to touch him. He looked so damaged. She gently lifted one of his hands and kissed the top of it. Then she bent toward his ear and whispered, “I love you. Please get better,” softly enough that no one else could hear.

With one last look in Sally’s direction, Caroline waved and quickly headed into the hallway. She almost ran smack into Alex, who was holding a tray filled with donuts and bagels.

“Where are you going?” His voice dropped.

“I’ve got to head back. I shouldn’t be here,” she confessed.

“Don’t let his mom upset you. He doesn’t tell her everything about his life, especially when he’s brokenhearted.” Alex tried to help her understand.

Caroline smiled, grateful for Alex and the kind of friend he was to Jackson. “I need to go home. Explain everything to Clay and stuff. If he opens his eyes, will you please let me know?”

He hugged her awkwardly, trying not to tip over the tray. “Of course.”

Tommy rounded the corner and let out an annoyed grunt. “Isn’t this cute?”

“I was just leaving, so you can go back to being your usual happy self,” Caroline snapped back and walked out of the lobby.

Chapter Sixteen

Caroline’s rattled nerves kept her from sleeping the entire five-hour flight back to San Francisco. She tried to figure out exactly what she was going to tell Clay, but everything sounded wrong. She felt like a horrible, rotten person. Her emotions were in overdrive. Her body shook as the gravity of her guilt consumed her.

Her legs felt like anchors as she walked up the stairs to their apartment and slowly opened the door. She had half hoped he wouldn’t be home, but Clay sat alone at their kitchen table. He looked like he’d been crying. His hair was a complete mess and she felt sick for having caused him pain.

“Are you going to tell me what’s been going on? Is Tray okay?” His voice sounded exasperated and there was a longing she didn’t recognize.

He still thought Caroline had been in New York to see Tracey? Caroline cursed Bailey silently for not telling him that part. “Tray’s fine. I’m so sorry for leaving our party like that.”

“Yeah, what was that? Why did you have to leave like that? What happened?” The details didn’t add up for Clay and Caroline knew it.