Lost and Found: (A Ripple Effect Romance Novella) (4 page)

They booked two rooms for the next two nights, and after a mildly awkward goodnight in the hall, Lydia and Blake parted ways. Blake’s room was next door to Lydia’s, and after a while, she heard him leave. Probably to go wash his clothes. She wished she’d offered to keep him company. If only she were brave enough to do that, she thought with annoyance.

Today had probably been the bravest day of Lydia’s life. She’d pretended Blake was her boyfriend to get rid of a security guard. She’d suggested he stay and search for his grandfather’s box then agreed to stay with him. She’d spent the afternoon and evening with a man she’d only just met and was planning to spend the next two days with him. So she hadn’t gone with him to the laundry room. Big deal. She’d been courageous today and she would give herself credit for that.

Was this adventurous enough to make up for her summer of seclusion? Probably not. But Lydia still felt proud of herself.

She was flipping through the channels of the muted television when her phone rang. As she fished it out of her purse, she hoped it was Blake, but then realized they hadn’t exchanged numbers. This made her feel strangely uneasy. She’d call his room when he got back and ask for his number.

Her phone quit ringing before she found it. The screen showed a missed call from her mother, and Lydia felt a wave of panic.

Lydia’s parents had moved to Arizona, but that didn’t stop Mom from calling regularly and keeping tabs on her little girl. She knew as much about Lydia’s life now as she had when they’d been living in the same house. Mom would certainly not approve of this little arrangement, even with the separate rooms.

Lydia was tempted not to call her mother back, but she couldn’t leave her hanging for two more days. Mom would start to worry, and soon she and Dad would be arranging a search party. Might as well get it over with.

“Lydia,” her mom said into the phone after one ring. “I just tried to call you.”

Lydia laughed. “I know. That’s why I’m calling you back.”

“Oh, of course.” Her mom laughed with her. “I was just checking in to make sure you got home okay.”

“Actually, I’m not home yet. I’m still in Charlotte.”

“Weren’t you going home today?”

“I was. Our flight got cancelled for mechanical difficulties, and when I rescheduled the flight, I got a ticket for Tuesday night.”

“I thought you had to be back at school tomorrow.” Her mom sounded concerned.

“I was planning to be so I could get my room ready, but I’ll just have to do that after the teacher’s meetings on Wednesday. It’ll be fine.”

“It seems like they ought to have been able to get you home sooner than two days. You should file a complaint.”

“I could have gotten on a flight tonight, but I decided to stay.”

“You must be having fun. Are you staying in Cambri’s condo?”

“I turned the keys to the condo in this morning. We’re staying at a Residence Inn.”

“We?” Lydia couldn’t believe she’d just slipped like that. She didn’t want to mislead her mom, but she didn’t want her worrying either. She’d spend the next two days and nights imagining every terrifying scene from
Taken
.

“Yes, Mom. I wasn’t the only one on the cancelled flight.”

Mom laughed. “Right. Of course. Well, honey, lock your door. And not just the regular lock. Be sure to use the dead bolt and put that bar across the door. And don’t answer it for anyone. Does the door have a peephole?”

Lydia scooted to the end of the bed so she could see the door. “Yes, it does. And I’m already locked up tight. No need to worry. Listen, Mom, I’m really tired. I was just getting ready for bed.”

“All right, Liddie Lou. I love you, honey.”

“I love you, too, Mom,” Lydia said. “I’ll let you know when I get home.”

Lydia felt terrible as she got ready for bed. The only time she’d purposely misled her mother was when she and Jace had planned a surprise birthday party for Mom’s fortieth birthday.

Lydia watched a home makeover show with the sound off so she could hear Blake return to his room, but her eyelids felt so heavy.

Just before seven the next morning, her room phone rang, startling Lydia awake with its brash, early morning sound. Some people with ridiculously toned and tanned bodies were dancing and sweating on the silent television screen. Sunshine seeped in from around the drawn drapes.

She fumbled for the phone. “Hello.”

“Hey, Lydia. Did I wake you up?” It was Blake. She must have fallen asleep before he came back to his room.

“Yeah, actually you did.”

“Sorry. I thought we could go down to breakfast together.”

“That’d be great.”

“I’m just getting into the shower. Can you be ready in forty-five minutes? I’d like to try to leave the hotel by eight-thirty.”

“Definitely. Just knock on my door.”

Lydia showered and put on a pale green belted peasant dress. She shook out her hands to help calm herself when she realized how nervous she was to see Blake.
Settle down. It’s not like this is a date or anything.

“You look great,” Blake said when they were in the elevator.

“Thanks.” He looked great, too. He was wearing a pair of navy chinos rolled up at the hem with a gray polo shirt.

“But maybe you should change into some shorts or jeans,” he said. Lydia looked at him curiously. He was staring nonchalantly at the door of the elevator.

“You really think I need to change?”

A smile cracked Blake’s casual demeanor. “Okay, fine. I’ve got a little surprise and a dress won’t really work.”

“What kind of surprise?” Lydia met his playful smile with one of her own.

“You know I’m not going to tell you. Just change after we eat. You’ll be glad you did.”

“Aren’t we going to Shady Days today?”

“We sure are. Right after we make a pit stop.”

Lydia’s mind was preoccupied at breakfast. She wanted to exchange cell phone numbers, but she was nervous to suggest it. What if he thought she was forward? This was ridiculous. This was why she’d sat paralyzed in Cambri’s apartment for three months. She thought and thought about every move until she’d either missed the opportunity or talked herself out of it. She wanted to have his number. She wanted him to have hers.
So be brave and ask for it, for heaven’s sake.

“Hey Blake, I was thinking last night that we should probably give each other our cell numbers. I mean, my bag is in your car, and we’re flying home together tomorrow. We should probably have some way of reaching each other. You know, we might need to call each other for something or we might get separated or—“

“Lydia,” Blake said, and his mouth quirked like his dimple couldn’t decide if it wanted to make an appearance or not. “Put your number in my phone.” He gave her his phone. “And hand me yours.”

Blake acted like it was no big deal. Why did she always have to make things so hard?

After breakfast, Lydia changed into a pair of jean capris and a pink and white striped t-shirt. It was hard to keep her excitement in check. What kind of surprise could he have planned? Better not get her hopes up. He probably thought a stop at the bookstore would be an exciting surprise for her. He’d be right. But why the pants?

“We needed to get on that onramp,” Lydia said in the car, as they passed the road they needed.

“I know. We’ll head that way soon.”

“Should I be nervous? Are you kidnapping me?” Lydia asked.

“Yes, I’m kidnapping you. And yeah, you should probably be a little nervous. I know I am.”

If his voice hadn’t held a note of teasing, Lydia might have panicked, but his excitement filled the car with a new energy, and Lydia’s heart started thumping a little harder. Blake must have seen her twisting her fingers together nervously because he reached over and patted her hand. “Don’t worry. It’ll be fun.” He put his hand back on the steering wheel. Suddenly, Lydia could think of nothing except his hand on hers.

Blake’s phone rang, and he answered it. “Hi, Brynn. You must have gotten my email.” He waited for her response. “I know. The timing isn’t good. But my flight was cancelled, and I needed a couple more days to track down this inheritance.” Pause. “I know. I was hoping you could call Mary Challis’s assistant—her name is Jean Crawley—and get their final numbers. After we have all those, we can email it to both of them for their approval. When those come back, we’ll be ready to put together the final documents.”

Lydia could hear Brynn’s voice, but she couldn’t make out the words. “I’m sorry. It’s only two more days. Please just take care of that for me. I’ll owe you big.” Blake’s face had gone from happy and playful to drawn and worried in just a couple of minutes. “I’m pulling over right now, and I’ll get the number for you.”

“Sorry,” Blake mouthed as he pulled into a parking lot.

“It’s okay,” Lydia whispered back.

Blake pulled his briefcase from the back seat and gave Brynn a name and phone number. “Don’t worry. I’ll be back in the office on Wednesday morning and you can call me if you need to.” He listened to Brynn talk while he put the briefcase back. “I have a pretty good lead today. I’m going to see her at an assisted living facility. Call me if you need anything else. And thanks, Brynn.”

Blake hit the off button on his phone and let out a long sigh. He leaned his head against the back of his seat and massaged the bridge of his nose.

“Is everything okay?” Lydia asked.

“Sure. I just have some big things going on at work.”

“Maybe I shouldn’t have suggested this.”

Blake looked at her concerned face. “I’m glad you did. I really should get this box, and it’s better that I do it now instead of having to make another trip. Besides, if I’d done it later, I’d have been doing it on my own instead of with your help.” He smiled. “I’d rather do it with you.”

This wasn’t good. All Blake had to do was smile and Lydia could hardly breathe, which meant she’d probably make a fool of herself. She’d stumble over her words or she’d blush constantly instead of just occasionally. Or maybe she’d do something embarrassing, like spill food on herself or split her pants.

“I guess we’d better get busy then. I’d hate for you to get behind at work and have nothing to show for it. Maybe we should skip this little surprise detour and just head to Hickory.”

“No way. We’ll get to Hickory soon enough. We’re doing this.”

Blake put the car in gear, and ten minutes later, they pulled into a small, private hangar not far from the airport.

“What’s going on, Blake?” Lydia asked. Her stomach was already in knots, and she wasn’t even sure what they were doing.

“We’re going skydiving.”

Lydia shook her head. “No we’re not.”

“Yes, we are.”

“No. We’re really not.” Lydia’s voice cracked.

“Are you pregnant?”

“No,” Lydia said indignantly.

“Do you have a heart condition?”

“No, but I think I might if you don’t turn around.”

Blake pulled the car up to a long, flat building painted bright orange. The sign said, “Charlotte Skydiving: The best way to see Charlotte is from the sky.” He put the car in park and turned in his seat to face her. “Listen, Lydia. You’re helping me. I’m going to help you. This will give you something to report to your friend, and once you do this, your fifth graders will think you’re the coolest teacher ever.”

Lydia tore her eyes away from Blake’s face and looked at the garish building in front of her. That bright orange was probably supposed to look fun, but right now it was just hurting her eyes. She took several shaky breaths. She knew Blake was right. This could help her salvage her unadventurous summer. If she lived through it. “Are you doing it too?” she asked.

“If you don’t mind sharing the fun.”

Lydia shook her head. “No. I mean, yes. I mean, no, I don’t mind sharing and yes, I want you to do it with me.”

“Then let’s go.”

Last night, as he’d waited for his clothes to dry, Blake had searched the internet, looking for adventurous activities they could fit into the next forty-eight hours. He’d found several lists of suggestions. Some were out of the question—cage diving with alligators in Australia and racing water buffalo in Indonesia. Biking the Pacific Coast Highway was logistically impossible, and somehow Blake didn’t think Lydia would enjoy rolling and smoking her own cigars.