Double Impact: Never Say Die & No Way Back by Tess Gerritsen & Debra Webb

Author:Tess Gerritsen & Debra Webb [Gerritsen, Tess & Webb, Debra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, Suspense
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2003-07-13T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

HER FATHER, once again, was leaving.

Early on a rainy morning, Willy stood in the bedroom doorway and watched him pack his suitcase, the way she’d watched him pack it long ago. She’d had him home such a short time, only a few days since his release from the hospital. And he’d spent every moment pining for his family—his other family. Oh, he hadn’t complained or been unkind, but she’d seen the sadness in his gaze, heard his sighs as he’d wandered about the house. She’d known it was inevitable: that he’d be walking out of her life again.

He took one last look in the closet, then turned to the dresser.

She glanced down at a pair of brand-new loafers that he’d set aside in the closet. “Dad, aren’t you taking your shoes?” she asked.

“At home, I don’t wear shoes.”

“Oh.” This used to be your home, she thought.

She wandered into the living room, sat down by the window and stared out at the rain. It seemed as if a lifetime of sorrow had been crammed into these past two weeks she’d been home. While her father had recuperated in a military hospital, in a civilian hospital a few miles away, her mother had lain dying. It had been wrenching to drive back and forth between them, to shift from seeing her father regain his strength to seeing her mother fade. Ann’s death had come more quickly than the doctors had predicted; it was almost as if she’d held on just long enough to see her husband one last time, then had allowed herself to quietly slip away.

She’d forgiven him, of course.

Just as Willy had forgiven him.

Why was it always women who had to do the forgiving? she’d wondered.

“I’m all packed,” her father said, carrying his suitcase into the living room. “I’ve called a cab.”

“Are you sure you’ve got everything? The kids’ toys? The books?”

“It’s all in here. What a delivery! They’re going to think I’m Santa Claus.” He set the suitcase down and sat on the couch. They didn’t speak for a moment.

“You won’t be coming back, will you?” she said at last.

“It may not be easy.”

“May I come see you?”

“Willy, you know you can! Both you and Guy. And next time, we’ll make it a decent visit.” He laughed. “Nice and quiet and dull. Guy’ll appreciate that.”

There was a long silence. Her father asked, “Have you spoken to him lately?”

She looked away. “It’s been two weeks.”

“That long?”

“He hasn’t called.”

“Why haven’t you called him?”

“I’ve been busy. A lot of things to take care of. But you know that.”

“He doesn’t.”

“Well, he ought to know.” Suddenly agitated, she rose and paced the room, finally returning to the window. “I’m not really surprised he hasn’t called. After all, we had our little adventure, and now it’s back to life as usual.” She glanced at her father. “Men hate that, don’t they? Life as usual.”

“Some men do. On the other hand, some of us change.”

“Oh, Dad, I’ve been around the block. I can tell when things are over.

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