Chapter 3

Opening her eyes, the first thing Jennifer noticed was small amounts of sunlight filtering through cracks overhead. She could see more of the tangled mess that held her in place. Steel and wooden beams twisted and bent unnaturally around her.

In this light, she could also tell she was not laying down but rather pinned to the wall. One of those beams was the reason she could not move her right hand, and it probably crossed her back, holding her to the wall and making breathing difficult.

Her mind began to wonder what Jonathan was doing while she was here? Where was he? Had they been together? Did he even know where she was? Was he looking for her? She mentally shook that thought from her head. Of course, Jonathan was looking for her.

Two weeks earlier

Jonathan opened his eyes to a sea of red curls. My wife snuggled next to me… the best sight of the day already. He lightly placed a kiss in the middle of the curls and pulled himself from the bed before she stirred too much. He wanted to chat with Ryleigh before Jennifer woke, and he knew the best way to do that would be to join her in the pool. He changed into his swimsuit, grabbed a towel, and headed out of the bedroom.

Ryleigh had a few passions in her young life. She shared her mother's love of horses, his love of cars, their love of adventure. She also developed a love for soccer and swimming. Making both of those teams for her middle school team was her goal, and for that goal, she spent the first hour of her day swimming laps in their pool.

She was already swimming laps when he arrived, so he sat on the edge, his feet in the water until she pulled up, took hold of the side, and greeted him. "Good morning, Daddy!"

"Good morning, sweetheart. How many have you done?"

"I just finished lap five, only 25 more to go."

"Great. Mind if I join you?"

"Nope."

He slid into the water. "Race you to 30…"

"I am up five already."

"Call it a handicap."

Ryleigh giggled, "That's golf, Daddy. I call it a head start."

"And I will still beat you."

She smirked at him. "As if…," she called before pushing off the edge, gaining a lead on the next lap.

"I'm coming for you, Ryleigh Jennifer," he called before he launched.

It was lap 20 before he caught up to her, 28 before he gained the lead. Jennifer brought her coffee mug out to the patio table and watched the two of them as they finished their race and laid back, floating on the water in their exhaustion. She could tell they were chatting, though, from this distance, she had no idea what their conversation held.

"What do you think?"

Ryleigh stood up and eyed him carefully, "I could go anywhere I want?"

"Yep. Anywhere. What would you pick?"

She flopped back on top of the water, floating beside him, "Gosh, Daddy, I don't know…"

'Gut reaction."

"Honestly?"

"Of course."

"Gut reaction… No thinking… South. Like Georgia, Louisiana, or South Carolina."

"The south? Wow… I didn't see that coming." He smiled at her. "Why the south?"

"Well, it's a part of the states I've never seen. And there's lots of history there. I don't know. Georgia, South Carolina, Louisiana just seem like they would be great places to see."

"Interesting."

"What?"

"I guess I expected you to say Africa or England or Italy…"

"All of which would be cool. But I'm 13. I've got my whole life ahead of me to see them. And we've been to France and Spain already. I guess I'd like to see more of our own country first."

"You are an amazing young lady, Ryleigh." He placed his feet on the bottom of the pool, leaned over, and kissed her cheek before he climbed out. Jonathan turned around, walking backward and asked her, "Are you coming up for breakfast?"

"If I were dry and in my running shoes, I'd race you," she answered with a smirk rivaling his own. "But I'll take it easy on you this time and just meet you there."

"Oh, cheeky one… You still better hurry. I might not leave any for you." He picked up his towel and spotted Jennifer sitting on the patio. Even from this distance, he could tell what a beauty she was. Remembrances of their previous evening filled his mind and made him grin. Knowing she was waiting for him, he picked up his pace.

"Claire?" Jennifer called as she watched Jonathan climb out of to the pool.

Stepping through the doorway, she answered, "Yes, Mrs. H?"

"Oh, Claire, Jonathan and Ryleigh are done with their swim now."

"Perfect. I'm just finishing the eggs. I'll have it right out."

"Thank you, Claire." Jennifer turned back to face the pool and called out as he grew closer to her, "Good morning, Darling!"

Jonathan stepped up and placing his hand on her chair, leaned over her. "Good morning, indeed," he said before he kissed her. "Thank you for last night. You were amazing once again."

"Mmmm. I always love watching a good baseball game with you, Darling."

"Football, Sweetheart. We were watching Monday Night Football."

"Were we? Can't say I remember much of the game after you made your pass."

"Maybe not, but what a reception you had."

"I'm just glad there was no interception on the play." Grinning, she watched him pick up the coffee in front of her as he took a seat. "What were you and Ryleigh talking about?"

"Good morning, Mr. H," Claire called, walking onto the patio. "Can I get you a fresh coffee?"

"Good morning, Claire," he proclaimed over his shoulder with a grin and a wink at his wife. "Actually, you can get Mrs. H another cup. I stole hers."

Claire laughed. "Right away."

He turned his full attention to his wife. "Have you had any time to work on your calendar?

"Calendar?"

"I know we haven't had much time to talk about it, but I was serious about clearing the calendars last week."

"Oh? You have plans?"

"Not fully yet, but they are in the works." Jonathan put the cup to his lips and allowed the hot liquid to begin warming his body, his eyes not wavering from Jennifer's.

"Was that the big pow-wow with Ryleigh?"

"I was just asking her where she would like to go if given a chance to pick," his blue eyes sparkled with the thought of getting his wife and daughter alone.

"And the answer?" Jennifer's voice eased him back to their back yard, and the sounds of Ryleigh, making her way to join them.

"Surprised me," he told Jennifer, as Claire set a plate in front of him, and another cup of coffee in front of Jennifer. "Thank you, Claire."

"My pleasure, y'all," the woman answered before turning and heading back into the kitchen.

Jonathan picked up his fork and just before taking a bite, told Jennifer, "Ry wants to go somewhere in the south."

Jennifer lifted an eyebrow in his direction, "Really? What's in the south?"