Out Of Focus: An Adams Grove Novel Part 39

Von interjected. "Cody asked me to let you know that she's going to meet him at the airport."

"You never mentioned they were coming," Scott said to Kasey.

"Yeah, it was short notice," she said. "Guys. This isn't a dream, is it? My baby is coming home." She held her stomach. "I feel sick."

"You're going to be fine." Scott stroked her back. "Just breathe."

"How long is the flight from Tappahannock?" Her stomach twisted into a knot.

Scott looked to Von who shrugged. "No idea."

"We'll ask when Cody calls back."

A half-hour later, the call they'd been waiting for came in. Von answered, then handed the phone to Kasey.

"h.e.l.lo?" she said.

"Mommy?"

She knelt to the floor with both hands on the phone. "Jake? Is that you, honey?"

"Hi, Mommy. We're flying an airplane."

"I know, baby. Don't be scared. Cody will take good care of you. He's mommy's friend."

"He's nice. I miss you, Mommy."

She gulped back tears. "I miss you too, sweetheart. Cody's bringing you home to me."

Kasey heard Jake's voice drift from the phone. "Mommy's crying."

Cody's voice came over the line. "Hey, Kasey. I thought you'd rather hear his voice than mine."

"Thank you. I can't believe it." Kasey sucked in a breath and let it out. "How does he look? Did he ask for me?"

"He looks fine, acts fine. Running around like boys do. Says he misses his mommy. Look, we're cleared for immediate takeoff, so I'm going to get this little guy buckled in. The pilot just filed his flight plan and says that we should land in Emporia-Greensville in about twenty-five minutes."

"The longest twenty-five minutes of my life. Thank you." She turned to Von and Scott. "They're on their way."

"Riley is too," said Von.

She rubbed her hands together. "Feel my hands." She pressed them to Scott's cheeks.

"Holy cow. You're freezing." Scott closed his office door and took a jacket from a hanger on the back. "Here, put this on."

She slipped it on and pushed her hands in the pockets. "Thanks. That's better." She s.h.i.+vered. "I'm so nervous. Can we go there and wait? I can't sit here. I just can't."

Kasey got into the car with Scott, and Von followed them to the airport.

Except for one truck, the airport parking lot was empty. They went inside to wait. A few minutes later, a tall brunette walked in.

She walked straight to Kasey. "Hi. Are you Kasey Phillips?"

Kasey nodded.

"I'm Lou. Cody called. I'm so glad I'm here for this special day."

She was pretty in a girl-next-door kind of way. "Thank you. It's nice to meet you. I can't believe his timing."

"How are you holding up?"

"Look at my hands." Kasey held out one of her trembling hands. "Even my knees are wobbling."

"I can't even imagine what you're going through." Lou sat on the bench across from Von and introduced herself. He filled her in on the details. Kasey got up, walked over to the wall of windows and stared out. Her eyes played tricks on her, making her think there were lights in the night sky where there were none.

Kasey spun around to the sound of her name. Riley ran through the small terminal lobby toward her and then hugged Kasey tightly. "I can't believe it. Finally."

"I know. I can hardly breathe. Thanks for coming."

"Nothing could keep me away. How much longer?"

Kasey looked at her watch again. "About seven minutes."

Scott's two-way radio squawked. He turned his back and leaned in to listen to it.

"I don't know how he understands what they're saying on that thing." Kasey shrugged. "This doesn't feel real. I feel like I'm dreaming."

"The nightmare is almost over. You're getting Jake back. It's nothing but good from here on."

Scott rushed over to her side. "I've got to get to the station. There's a problem. I'm sorry. I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Okay." Kasey called after him as he hurried away, "Be careful." But Scott was already hauling a.s.s out the gla.s.s doors. She watched as he hit the blue lights on his cruiser and pulled out on Route 58.

Riley tapped Kasey's shoulder. "That's got to be them." She pointed out the window.

Von and Lou joined them.

They all grabbed hands-Von, Riley, Kasey and Lou-and watched the jet touch down and taxi toward the terminal. Kasey gripped Riley's hand and Lou's arm, steadying herself just in case her legs buckled. Her heart pounded harder as the jet engines got closer. She watched the plane come within jogging distance in what seemed like slow motion.

Kasey looked to Von. "Can we go outside and wait?"

"I don't think there's anyone here that's going to stop you," Von said.

They put on their coats as they hurried outside. Kasey could see the pilot flipping switches. The engines shut down and it was silent. Not even a cricket chirped. The door on the plane pushed forward, then the stairs folded down.

Kasey held her breath, her hands clasped in prayer.

Cody appeared in the doorway. Kasey's stomach plummeted. And then there was Jake. Right there in the doorway of the plane.

In one sweep, Cody lifted Jake to his hip and started down the steep stairs, just like Nick would've carried him. Jake looked so small in the arms of Cody Tuggle.

Kasey broke into a run toward them.

Jake's eyes lit up when he saw her. "Mommy!" He reached for her.

"Oh, my...." Kasey whisked her son from Cody's arms and clung to him. "How's my boy?" She brushed his bangs away from his eyes, then pulled him close again.

"Let him breathe," Cody said with a laugh. "He's in good shape. Aren't you?" He scrubbed his hand through Jake's hair.

"Mommy. I was missing you. We flew the plane fast and there were lights. It was like lightning bugs-lots of them, and it was pretty."

"I love you, Jake." She knelt in front of him. With her arms still around him, she looked up at Cody. "Thank you. Thank you so much."

He nodded, then Lou walked up and kissed him on the cheek.

Jake clung to his mother's hand. "Mommy. I missed you and Daddy."

"I missed you too, sweetie. I missed you every day." She kissed Jake on both cheeks and on his forehead.

His lip quivered. "Why are you crying, Mommy?"

"Mommy's happy." Kasey tweaked his nose. "I'm so happy to see you. These are good tears, I promise," she choked out between sobs of relief. "I love you."

Jake reached out and put his hands on Kasey's cheeks. "Don't cry, Mommy."

He brushed at her tears with his sleeve. "I didn't mean to make you sad."

"I'm not sad, honey."

Jake lowered his head. "Daddy can't come home, Mommy."

"I know." Kasey hadn't even considered how she'd tell him about his dad.

"Jeremy and me swam, and Daddy went to the angels." Tears filled Jakes eyes and his lip poked out. "Mommy? Uncle Jeremy's not Daddy, is he? Miss Libby thinks Uncle Jeremy is Daddy."

"No, baby. He's not. She was mixed up." She held him close. "You're home now. No one will ever separate us again. I promise."

"I'm a big boy. I'll take care of you."

"I know you will. You are my little man." She hugged him and kissed his cheek. "Mommy missed you so much."

They walked into the small terminal and sat at a Formica-topped table. Kasey moved her chair close to Jake, facing him. "Were you afraid?"

"Miss Libby is nice. She's old, but she likes swings. Jeremy said you were busy, but you missed me. I was a good boy."

"I'm sure you were, my little angel."

Scott strode in looking tense and serious, but a grin spread across his face when he saw Kasey sitting with Jake.

"Success," he said as he joined the small, special group of friends around Kasey. "Thank you." Scott shook Cody's hand. "Right place, right time. Couldn't have worked out better."

"Happy to be a part of it." Cody gave Jake a wink.

Jake's face contorted as he tried to mimic Cody.

"Thank you," Kasey met the gaze of each of her friends-Riley, Scott, Von, Cody and Lou. "All of you. Thank you for believing in me when everyone else thought I was crazy. I don't know what I'd have done without your help. I never would have found Jake without each and every one of you."

She felt a raw but healing ache in her chest.

"Never doubt a mother's love," Scott said.

Cody nodded and the two men exchanged a knowing glance.

Chapter Forty.

"You've grown," Kasey said as she carried Jake to Von's SUV. He was really too big to be carried, but she couldn't bear to let go of him.

"I'm big," he said.

They rode with Von and Riley back to her house. Scott followed in his police car, and Lou and Cody followed behind him in Lou's car.

Jake was asleep before they pulled into the driveway.

Von carried him in. "Where do you want me to put him?"

Kasey pressed her lips together. "I don't want him to wake up in a strange place. He can sleep through anything. Just put him on the couch. He'll be fine."

Von laid him on the couch, then joined the others in the kitchen.

A rush of adrenaline coursed through her as they rehashed the chain of events. Everyone else seemed hyped up, too.

Cody got up from the table and walked behind Kasey's chair. He put his arms around her and gave her a squeeze. "Girl, I know you've got to be emotionally beat. When you come down off this rush, you'll crash for a week."

"I'm sure you're tired too. Want me to show you the guest room?"

"No, no. We aren't staying here."

"I don't mind."

"I know, but I've made arrangements up the road for us to stay at the B&B tonight. We'll stop by tomorrow to say goodbye. You need to be with Jake, not entertaining us."

She jumped from her chair and put her arms around him. "Cody, this never would've happened if you hadn't made that announcement in Raleigh."