Chapter 46

"That sounds like a good idea. Thank you for telling us, boys," Miranda replied.

After they left Nora turned to her mother and said, "Mom even though Josh is going to be fine I'd like to stay the night with him, but with Randy…."

"I'll take him home with me Nora don't you worry about him. Tell Josh to get well soon for me and I'll see you two in the morning."

"Thanks mom, you're a lifesaver!"

"I know!" Miranda teased as she gathered up Randy and prepared to leave.

When she got home Miranda tucked Randy into the crib she kept for him at her place. Then looking at the clock decided it was too late to call AJ but knew that she needed to call Tom and tell him what happened to his nephew.

His groggy voice answered after several rings and Miranda started with an apology, "Tom, I'm sorry to wake you at this hour but I knew you would want to know what happened."

With dread clutching his heart Tom Boone asked, "Is it Randy, Nora, or Josh, Randi?"

"Josh was beaten up tonight, but he's going to be fine. Just a couple broken ribs and a mild concussion, but I'm afraid that it was my fault."

"Your fault? How could that be?"

"It was one of my visions. I saw a rape and asked Josh to be in the park where I saw it happen. He caught the guy, but tonight two men attacked him. We think it was the roommates of the rapist."

"I still don't see how that is your fault. What were you supposed to do? Let the rape happen? That's just not your style Randi. If Josh is going to be fine then there was no lasting harm done and if he can identify his attackers then you get three creeps off the streets instead of just one."

"You always know what to say to make me feel better. Thank you Tom."

"Speaking of making you feel better, how goes it on the Chegwidden battle ground?" he teased.

"We had a date tonight, but I had to cancel it because of what happened to Josh."

"I'm sure he understood."

"He did, he's a very special man!"

"That's exactly what I said about you when he asked me if I minded him dating you."

"That I was a special MAN?!"

"No you goof!" he laughed. "Only that you were a very special person."

"Thank you Tom, you're a wonderful friend."

"I know," he teased and they ended the call shortly thereafter.

Miranda sat next to AJ on the plane to Italy. They were somewhere over the ocean when the fasten seatbelt signs came on and the pilot's voice asked everyone to return to their seats. AJ looked over at her and then patted her hand reassuringly. "It's probably just some bad weather ahead," he told her.

Before she even had time to respond, the plane lights went out and people started screaming as they rapidly began to lose altitude. When smoke began to fill the cabin, AJ pulled out his cell phone and quickly dialed a number. Sitting as close to him as she was, she heard her own voice from her answering machine say, 'Hi, this is Randi, I can't take your call right now so please leave a message.'

AJ said into the phone, "I'm glad yours was the last voice I heard even if it was just your machine. I want you to know that I love you Miranda." He clicked the phone shut and then turned to the woman sitting next to him that Miranda now knew was not her and asked, "Is there anyone you'd like to call Ma'am?"

The elderly woman smiled sadly and replied, "No, but thank you young man. I'm all alone in this world."

Taking her hand, AJ gave it a squeeze and told her, "No you're not, Ma'am, I'm here with you."

The woman smiled tenderly at him, almost lovingly, and even in her dream Miranda felt a fleeting twinge of jealousy. But that and everything else was blotted out in the next seconds as the screams filled the plane again and then-nothing!

To Be Continued….