The Charlottesville airport is small, and there’s no way I’m going to miss him.
“Where are our bags?” I ask.
“They should be in the car by now. Why? Need something?”
“It’s Ray. He’s here.”
Lucas frowns. “Why?”
“He wants to…um…pick me up.”
Lucas’s expression grows darkly speculative. “And I suppose he wants to take you to his home.”
“Yes.”
“Do you have to go?”
“He’s like my father. Actually he’s more of a father than—”
He holds up a hand. “Okay. You don’t have to say more.” He sighs. “He has the right.”
“Thank you.”
I can sense he isn’t thrilled about spending the night apart. And to be honest, after yesterday I feel the same way.
Lucas rings his driver, instructs him to bring the car around to the main entrance, and we leave together. I see Ray standing by himself.
His hair prematurely gray, he looks distinguished and intelligent, his pale blue eyes observant yet warm. He’s in a salmon-colored button-down shirt, a brown vest and chestnut-colored slacks. A pair of worn loafers peeks under the hems of his cuffed trousers. Although he isn’t a tall man—only five-ten—he’s slim from staying active. Combined with his excellent posture, he seems taller than he is.
His lightly tanned face brightens when he spots me. He walks forward and wraps me in strong, wiry arms.
“Ava! So good to see you.”
I hug him back. “I missed you so much, Ray.”
And that is true. No matter how many video chats we have, it’s not the same.
After three beats, he pulls back. “And this fellow?”
“Ray, meet Lucas. Lucas, Ray.”
Ray gives Lucas a thorough inspection, from head to toe, then back up as though he were studying merchandise before a purchase.
If that bothers him, Lucas doesn’t show it. He merely smiles politely—but not openly—and extends a hand. “Nice to meet you, sir.”
“Likewise,” Ray says, pumping
the offered hand vigorously. If he were younger, he probably would’ve tried to crush every bone in Lucas’s hand. He turns to me. “Where are your things, Ava?”
“In Lucas’s car.”
“It’ll follow us to your place,” Lucas adds.
Ray nods, and we walk out to the short-term lot to claim his car. He’s still driving the same dark gray SUV.
Lucas opens the rear door for me, and we climb inside. The interior is as neat as ever, and if I didn’t know any better, I would never suspect he has a seventeen-month-old child.
Ray takes the car out of the garage. One hand holding mine, Lucas texts his driver, and I note a black SUV tailing us.