Chapter 22

I overslept the next morning, and when I awoke it was with a bad headache. I got to my feet to get a Tylenol, glancing toward the window and dark clouds. Glen was the only one in the living room when I went downstairs.

"Where is everybody?" I asked, lifting a hand to my head.

"They drove Mark to the airport," he replied watching me closely. "He was bent on flying out today, despite the storm. He left before this started; I guess they stopped to do some shopping on the way back."

"It looks bad out there," I remarked looking outside. My heart ached as I remembered last night and why Mark might have decided to take a risk like this. Had I made him reckless? Had I stupidity caused him to lose his temper so badly that he had to get away from me at any cost?

"Yes, it does," he said. He raised his cup and looked at me. "What happened?"

The question was so unexpected that I stared at him for a few seconds before I spoke. "What?"

"What happened last night?" he asked again. "Mark looked awful when he came downstairs this morning and he didn't say a word all through breakfast. He didn't ask where you were, but he kept watching the stairs, as if he expected you to come down at any second. He looked like a starving man with is eye on a meal."

Tears formed in my eyes and I put my cup down, burying my face in my hands, crying uncontrollably.

He sat down beside me and patted me on the shoulder. "What did you do to him, Jaime?"

"I'd had too much to drink," I whispered, "and he'd said I was a child-"

"So you went out to prove to him that you weren't," he said softly, smiling at me.

A nagging suspicion formed in the back of my mind and I raised my eyes to his with a question in them.

"It's a very public beach, Jaime Dawn," he said with a grin. "And the moon was out."

"Oh, no," I whispered, turning red. "You saw us."

"Not only me," he replied. "Melissa. Watch yourself, little one; I got a look at her face before she stormed off upstairs."

"Did anyone else...?"

He shook his head. "They were already asleep. I'd taken Melissa for a walk along the porch to see the view...and what a view we saw. Whoa!"

"I could die. I could just die!"

"It's nothing to be embarrassed about," he said. "I'd give anything to have a woman care that much about me. And if you wondered how Mark really felt, I imagine you found out."

"I found out that he wants me. I knew that before. It's not enough, Glen."

"How do you know how he feels? Mark's emotions run deep. He keeps everything to himself."

"I couldn't' have faced him this morning. Not after what I did. Glen, I'll never drink again as long as I live."

"Don't give up girl."

"Glen, I don't have anything to give up."

"Don't you? I'm not sure about that."

Me and Melissa were left alone briefly while Brenda was helping with dinner and Glen and Vince were talking on the porch. The rain had finally stopped but the wind had only let up a little, and I couldn't help wondering if Mark was all right. He wasn't due back until the next morning, but that didn't stop me from worrying.

"You really did get smashed last night, didn't you?" Melissa asked, shooting a quick glance at me.

"I'm not used to alcohol," I said defensively, staring at my glass.

"What a pity you had to overdo it," the blonde said. "Mark was utterly disgusted."

"Was he?" I choked out.

"I saw you, of course," she sighed. "Poor man, he didn't stand a chance when you absolutely threw yourself at him like that. Any man would be...bothered," she added. "For my part, I'm furious with you. Mark and I...well, I've told you how things are. And I should think you'd have enough pride not to offer yourself to an engaged man."

My glass crashed to the floor as I got up and ran for the stairs. I couldn't bear to hear any more.

Mark was due by mid-morning, but when Glen came back from the airport his face was grim.

"What's wrong? What happened?" I asked frantically.

"He left at daylight." Glen said thought tight lips. "And filed a flight plan. But he hasn't been heard from since takeoff." He caught my hand and squeezed it warmly. "They think he's gone down in some rough winds off the coast."