Free Have Husband, Need Honeymoon by Rita Herron

Making matters worse, Brady marched toward them, looking glum and serious, as if he’d received a death sentence.
    “Actually, Brady and I were having lunch,” Alison said, trying to gather her wits. “We met to discuss Vivica’s wedding.”
    Hannah’s raised eyebrow implied disbelief, while a mischievous grin tugged at Mimi’s mouth.
    “So what are you two up to?” Alison asked.
    “I just came from my checkup,” Mimi said, placing a protective hand over her belly.
    “Is everything okay?” Alison asked.
    “Doing great,” Mimi said. “I’m hot, but fat and happy.”
    “She and the baby are in perfect health,” Hannah said with a grin. “As long as she stays close by the next few weeks, we’re in good shape.”
    Mimi frowned. “But I have to go visit Grammy Rose before the baby comes.”
    “I don’t know.” Worry furrowed Hannah’s brow. “Sugar Hill doesn’t have an emergency service set up to reach the mountains, and you’re getting close to your due date.”
    “I heard the town council discussing the emergency service last week,” their mother said.
    Hannah nodded. “Mayor Stone offered his support, and so did George Frost, who runs the flying service. The county’s looking into buying a helicopter and utilizing one or two of the planes for medical emergencies.
    “Sounds like a great idea.” Alison turned to Brady. “With your experience, you could probably give them some advice.”
    Hannah jumped on the possibility. “Oh, Brady, would you?”
    Brady stood ramrod straight, but Alison detected panic in his eyes. “I don’t know. I’m not going to be here long.”
    “I thought you were considering staying,” Alison said.
    “I’m on temporary leave, but my enlistment time isn’t up.” He frowned at her. “And right now I’m helping Mother out at the print shop.”
    “Well, think about it,” Hannah said. “The town could use someone experienced to advise them.”
    “Look, I have to go now,” Brady said. “I told Mother I’d come by and help her this afternoon.”
    “Sit down and finish your sandwich, Brady,” Janelle suggested. “The girls can join us, too.”
    “We have a table over there.” Hannah pointed to the corner.
    “And I need to go. Just let me know what else I can do to help with Vivi’s wedding.” Brady angled his head to the side so only Alison could hear. “And let me know when the divorce is final.”
    Alison clenched her napkin tightly, tempted to hurl it at him as he turned and walked away. Yeah, he probably wanted to know the moment he was free, so he could go celebrate.
    * * *
    Brady’s entire bodyached as he left the restaurant, his heart a throbbing muscle that might quit ticking from the pain of leaving Alison. Although he’d planned to drive home, once again he found himself sidetracked, this time taking the Thunderbird by George Frost’s airline service. Brady didn’t intend to get involved, he told himself, he was simply curious about the small airport. Wiley Hartwell and other small-business owners used the private planes for work-related travel. Sugar Hill might be only a small dot on the map, but slowly the town was trying to update itself to the present.
    The small airport, about thirty miles outside Sugar Hill, occupied several acres. Five planes sat in various plane ports, two smaller hangars held Cessnas – a 172 and a 182 – and at the end, two larger hangars appeared vacant. One of them could easily house a helicopter for medical flight purposes.
    He parked along the side of the dusty highway, angling the car so he could watch the runway. But business must be slow, because there was a lack of activity inside the gate. Nothing like the Columbus AFB where he’d first received his flight training and his first taste of the inside of a cockpit, or Davis Monthon AFB inTucsonwhere he’d trained.
    A taste he’d thought he’d never be able to live without.
    He climbed out of the car, walked to the gate and stared at one Cessna,