sudden intensity. She sensed this man was accustomed to getting things done, and she found that comforting. Luca also was giving her a glimpse of his affection for her dad. Why did a stranger knowing him so well make her feel uneasy?
“We’re going to drive Cal crazy,” he said, his mood brightening. “I’m pretty sure he’ll be sick of all of us hovering around him, especially my mum. He’ll learn one thing from this unfortunate accident—that sometimes it’s easier if you just do what Simone tells you to do.”
She nodded. It had been years since her dad, or herself for that matter, had taken orders from anyone and wasn’t sure how she’d react to that. In the end she assumed he’d just be grateful.
Luca continued, “She’s made it her mission to make sure your dad will be following the doctor’s orders. She apologizes, by the way, for not contacting you herself,” he explained. “We couldn’t reach your sister and didn’t know how to contact you. We knew he was collecting information on our farm for the governor of Iowa, so we put a call into his office to see if someone could reach you. He immediately called back and said he’d personally see to it you were notified.”
“He’s a family friend, so that sounds like him.”
She was still wrestling with her own emotions. She reminded herself that her mom was gone and her dad was lucky to have other people looking out for him. “Your mum sounds tough,” she managed, thinking it odd to say mum instead of mom.
“Tough as old boots,” he admitted, glancing out the airplane window.
“Can you tell me more about what the doctors are saying?”
Luca turned and crossed his legs. His expression softened as if searching for the correct words. “Well, all I can say is that the gunshot wound was never life-threatening. But the head injury is something the doctors are continuing to monitor very closely.”
“What happened?” This was the same line she’d received from Saren. Her heart was still heavy with fear that she wasn’t being told the severity of the injuries.
Luca downed half his water bottle before continuing. This apparently was hard for him to discuss. “When Cal was shot, he blacked out and fell into the river. The current actually carried him toward my dad, but not before his head connected with a good-sized boulder.”
Ally’s mouth was open, but she was unable to speak. The thought of seeing her dad like that was too much. She felt the tears welling up.
Luca instantly adjusted his seat and brought her in for an embrace. His arms reached around, and she felt his fingers running down her hair, trying his best to comfort.
“I’m so sorry to be the one to tell you. He’s going to be fine. Just remember that, the worst is over.”
Luca’s whispers were soothing. She allowed herself to relax in this man’s arms. He finally pulled back, giving her a long look. Seemingly satisfied that she was better, he then settled back in his chair.
Ally took some time to collect her thoughts. She was trying her best to assess the situation logically, but deep down she knew she couldn’t face the fear of losing her dad. Especially not when she felt like she’d just buried her mother.
What was her dad’s relationship with this family? “How long have you known my dad?”
Luca looked up from his phone, thinking for a moment. “Not really sure. Ten years, maybe longer.”
She nodded. Ten years! These people were certainly worth at least a mention.
Ally reached for her coffee and slowly sipped. She felt the wheels in her brain slowing down slightly, perhaps from her travels but more so because she knew everything possible was being done that could be for Dad. She wasn’t going to learn any new information until she was at the hospital.
“So the customs officer at the airport seemed like a big rugby fan. Is rugby your day job, hobby, or what?”
Luca faced her and tilted his head. “So many questions, Ally,” he commented, eyes
“We’re going to drive Cal crazy,” he said, his mood brightening. “I’m pretty sure he’ll be sick of all of us hovering around him, especially my mum. He’ll learn one thing from this unfortunate accident—that sometimes it’s easier if you just do what Simone tells you to do.”
She nodded. It had been years since her dad, or herself for that matter, had taken orders from anyone and wasn’t sure how she’d react to that. In the end she assumed he’d just be grateful.
Luca continued, “She’s made it her mission to make sure your dad will be following the doctor’s orders. She apologizes, by the way, for not contacting you herself,” he explained. “We couldn’t reach your sister and didn’t know how to contact you. We knew he was collecting information on our farm for the governor of Iowa, so we put a call into his office to see if someone could reach you. He immediately called back and said he’d personally see to it you were notified.”
“He’s a family friend, so that sounds like him.”
She was still wrestling with her own emotions. She reminded herself that her mom was gone and her dad was lucky to have other people looking out for him. “Your mum sounds tough,” she managed, thinking it odd to say mum instead of mom.
“Tough as old boots,” he admitted, glancing out the airplane window.
“Can you tell me more about what the doctors are saying?”
Luca turned and crossed his legs. His expression softened as if searching for the correct words. “Well, all I can say is that the gunshot wound was never life-threatening. But the head injury is something the doctors are continuing to monitor very closely.”
“What happened?” This was the same line she’d received from Saren. Her heart was still heavy with fear that she wasn’t being told the severity of the injuries.
Luca downed half his water bottle before continuing. This apparently was hard for him to discuss. “When Cal was shot, he blacked out and fell into the river. The current actually carried him toward my dad, but not before his head connected with a good-sized boulder.”
Ally’s mouth was open, but she was unable to speak. The thought of seeing her dad like that was too much. She felt the tears welling up.
Luca instantly adjusted his seat and brought her in for an embrace. His arms reached around, and she felt his fingers running down her hair, trying his best to comfort.
“I’m so sorry to be the one to tell you. He’s going to be fine. Just remember that, the worst is over.”
Luca’s whispers were soothing. She allowed herself to relax in this man’s arms. He finally pulled back, giving her a long look. Seemingly satisfied that she was better, he then settled back in his chair.
Ally took some time to collect her thoughts. She was trying her best to assess the situation logically, but deep down she knew she couldn’t face the fear of losing her dad. Especially not when she felt like she’d just buried her mother.
What was her dad’s relationship with this family? “How long have you known my dad?”
Luca looked up from his phone, thinking for a moment. “Not really sure. Ten years, maybe longer.”
She nodded. Ten years! These people were certainly worth at least a mention.
Ally reached for her coffee and slowly sipped. She felt the wheels in her brain slowing down slightly, perhaps from her travels but more so because she knew everything possible was being done that could be for Dad. She wasn’t going to learn any new information until she was at the hospital.
“So the customs officer at the airport seemed like a big rugby fan. Is rugby your day job, hobby, or what?”
Luca faced her and tilted his head. “So many questions, Ally,” he commented, eyes
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