Jack Hermosa-Tyler unexpectedly found Sophia Jonson waiting for him at the guest cottage when he arrived at his temporary home to change clothes. How long she sat on the wooden steps, enduring the cold, he could only imagine.
“Hi, there,” he greeted, boldly smiling as he came up the snow-covered gravel walk.
Sophia Jonson had gone to great lengths affording the skilled electrician his privacy while he stayed in the small cottage, on the edge of her Raven Lake property. She had scarcely spoken a word to him in the past couple weeks. But there she was now, a pensive look upon her face.
“Hi,” she managed to reply. She stood now, her shoulders squared, directly facing the dark handsome man.
“Everything okay?” Jack peered into Sophia’s tumultuous blue eyes.
“No, actually everything is not okay, Jack. That’s why I’m here,” she explained slowly. “You have a minute?”
“Sure.” If Sophia had asked, he would have given her an hour. Something about this detached, secretive woman intrigued him. Locking his coal black eyes upon her, he examined her soft feminine features, provocative full lips and cascading golden hair.
“Come with me,” she instructed.
With pleasure, he thought. He expected her to lead him into her home which possessed a spectacular view of the lake. Instead, she directed him to the double garage.
Without saying a word, Jack knew as soon as she pointed. It was her car.
“It doesn’t start,” she explained, frustrated. “I think it’s the battery. Would you mind checking?”
“I’d be happy to,” Jack assured, accepting a set of keys from Sophia’s gloved hand.
Scooting behind the wheel, he twisted the key in the ignition. Instead of the jeep firing to life, he heard the sound of a single click. Without acknowledging defeat, Jack moved to the front of the vehicle, lifting the hood.
Sophia followed, watching Jack’s every move. Around town, she had heard ample accolades about this amazing electrician, as if he could fix or accomplish anything.
Wiggling the battery cables, Jack said, “Get in and try it now.”
She obeyed his command.
Miraculously, Jack solved her problem.
Sophia’s expression turned to relief. “Thank you. I really appreciate your help.”
“No problem. Anytime,” Jack added, as if it were an invitation.
“Hey, you want to do something this evening?” Sophia spontaneously responded, more out of gratitude than anything else.
Closing his dark eyes, Jack cocked back his head, sighing. Regretfully he remembered his dinner commitment with Angelina.
Sophia misinterpreted Jack’s reaction as rejection. “Never mind, I’m sorry I asked,” Sophia awkwardly said, her tone sharp from insult.
“No, no, you don’t understand. I would love to do something with you tonight. But I’ve got other plans,” Jack explained, shutting the Jeep’s hood. “But we can get together some other time.”
“Sure. Whatever.” Sophia removed the key from the ignition, stashing it into the pocket of her brown leather jacket. Forcing a smile, she walked away, leaving Jack alone.
“There he is,” Willis announced, leading Luther into hospital room 203, where the naked pilot was now dressed in a flimsy gown and covered with white blankets.
The unidentified pilot was positioned on his side, facing the window. The sheriff and Luther could see only his tousled blond hair from their vantage point.
Slowly, they approached the bed, Luther still curious as to how this stranger possessed an old photograph of him.
Coming around the bed, Luther caught sight of the young man, his distinct facial features. As Luther’s face turned ashen from sudden recognition, Sheriff Willis Sparks grabbed hold of the mute for fear Luther might drop.
Before the sheriff could utter a word, Luther broke free.
Hearing the sudden commotion, the pilot twisted in the bed, his eyes locking on the man he could instinctively recognize anywhere. Erupting from overwhelming surprise, the wide-eyed patient honed onto Luther, blurting, “Dad.”
© 2006 by author. All rights reserved.
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