I have to say that the review I got last night made my day. I have this chapter and then I have to write the next one. I have a bunch of the later ones written, but I realized I needed this next one as a transition.
The airfield was just slightly out of town. Agent Harris drove quickly from the hotel, where they had picked up Hope right onto the runway before stopping the car. He turned around, "The plane is fueled and ready to go. I will call you with any updates when we find Cole. Patrick and Marty are being transferred to a British prison, where he won't have any contacts. You can call me if you have any questions. I hope you can put this all behind you. Maybe you'll have a better trip to Ireland some day."
Brody checked his phone for the agent's number. "I've got your number. I'll call you if I don't hear anything for a day or so." He got out and scanned the surrounding area before moving to the trunk. "I believe it's clear. Harris will take the suitcases to the plane, and I'll take Hope."
Kelly and Starr exchanged a look. Brody appeared to be in full SEAL mode barking orders. They hurried to the plane; both glad to be getting out of Ireland.
Once aboard the plane, Starr spun around in a circle. "Free at last!"
Kelly laughed and moved out of the way.
Brody was the last to enter the plane carrying Hope and checking messages on his phone. "We made it!" Starr gave Brody a quick hug as she grabbed Hope and continued to spin.
"Yeah, well, I'm going to go sit with the pilot and make a few calls, okay?" Brody mumbled.
"Did I do something?" Starr looked at Kelly as she buckled Hope into a seat.
"I don't know about just now, but what did I walk in on at the warehouse?" Kelly sank gracefully into the plush seat opposite Starr and Hope.
Starr shrugged her shoulders and looked at Kelly, "I'm not really sure?"
"Uh, it wasn't like that little hug earlier; it looked like both of you knew what you were doing."
"I don't know. Um, it seems like the past few days that I go to thank him and we end up spending several minutes kissing?"
Kelly looked at Starr expectantly, "And how often has that been? Usually when I thank someone, I keep my clothes on." She paused and smirked, "Gigi is going to love hearing about this!"
"Let's see the first time was when he gave Sam to Hope. Hope has been upset about Fred since Patrick threw him into the fire. Somehow we ended up kissing when Hope and I went to give him a kiss on the cheek. He's really good at it, and I don't know it was fun." Starr looked at Kelly half embarrassed.
Kelly remembered being given strict instructions regarding the stuffed frog. Everyone knew that you didn't mess with Fred unless you wanted Starr or then Hope to be an emotional wreck. If Cole had let that happen, well, Starr deserved someone to comfort and protect her, and Brody couldn't have thought of a better way. "So that time and the warehouse, did you try to 'thank' him any other time?"
"There was one other thing, but I didn't start it!"
"I'm still going to need details," Kelly had gotten to know Brody better since they were sharing a house. He tried to hide the fact that he was lonely, but the rest knew that he'd had hopes for himself and Jessica before Nash returned. She knew Brody and Starr had to feel something for this to be happening, and it started her thinking. She and Gigi were going to have to talk about this!
"Patrick called to say he would give us you in exchange for Hope. The agents told be to expect it, but it still upset me to hear," Starr got up to pace over to the bar of the now airborne plane, "Brody was standing behind me to listen and he was holding me up because I was shaking so much. He was there when I started sobbing trying to calm me down. I think we kissed a few times, but it was like trying to shush Hope you don't realize exactly what you are doing."
"Again, that always happens to me with guys that don't interest me."
"I've always liked Brody as a person, but I don't know."
"Have you talked to anyone in Llanview?"
"No, I didn't want to tell anyone you had been kidnapped."
"I can understand that." Kelly ran through all the latest news from home that Starr was eager to hear. "Your father is still in jail, and Tomas is still missing. Your mother barely knows which way is up."
"Of course, they are. Why can't my life be drama free for once?" Starr looked up at the ceiling of the plane.
Kelly glanced towards the cockpit. "Why don't you stay with us for awhile? You deserve a break. Let us spoil you and Hope. You can find out what's going on between you and your protector. We can go shopping at Herrod's."
"That sounds so tempting, but what if Mom needs my help with Sam or Jack?"
"Blair has plenty of people to help with Sam, and since when does Jack listen to any of us?"
"True. I guess I have to stay long enough to buy an outfit to wear home."
Before Kelly could respond, Brody came out of the cockpit to sit with them. He sat down on the seat across from them and looked down at his linked hands. "I have news."
"I'm going to guess not good news from the way you look," Kelly looked between Brody and Starr.
"I guess there's no easy way to say this. The police caught up to Cole near Charlesport. Instead of surrendering, he took the car over a cliff. They just recovered his body. I'm sorry."
Starr's hands flew up to her mouth as Kelly and Brody looked at her nervously. "I'm free! I'm really and truly free from him! He can't come after us anymore!" Starr started laughing.
"You aren't upset?" Brody leaned forward and put his hand on her knee. Kelly hid a smile behind her hand at his reaction.
"I might have been six months ago, however holding Hope and I hostage pretty well killed any good feelings I had for him. He can never drag me back now. I am ready to move on! I may need a new wardrobe for it, Kelly! I'm free!"
"Of course, the Cramer women know that to move on a new wardrobe is essential!" Kelly gave Starr a high five. She'd never been close enough to Cole to have personal feelings about his death. If her cousin was going to celebrate it, then as a Cramer woman she would help.
Brody just leaned back in his chair and shook his head. He was glad that Starr was okay with the news. She deserved a lot better than Thornehart. Kelly and Gigi would make sure she had fun in London. If thoughts of how he could help her enjoy the stay occurred to him, he didn't think of it as more than a friend helping a friend.