“Hi, Roy.” She shook Roy’s hand and looked up at Ben, “Do you two have any last words for Jamie before he boards the bus? I told him to call when he was ready to leave the locker room after the game so we can figure out where to meet him.”
“You stay and chat with Tanner; I’ll go say good-bye to Jamie.”
Ben walked away leaving Lane and Roy Tanner alone. Lane looked at Roy, “Tell me the truth Roy, is Jamie in any danger? Ben seems to think the police have a suspect in mind.”
Roy smiled at Lane calculating both how much Ben had already told her and how much he should say before he spoke. “I don’t think Jamie’s in any danger. I’m following the bus as a precaution. I spoke with the detective, in charge of the case, earlier, and I agree with Ben. Often the police have a suspect, and they’re sure about what happened; but they still have to dot their ‘I’s’ cross their ‘T’s’ before they can get a warrant.”
Lane may have stood next to Roy as he talked, but her eyes never left her husband and her son. “So, that’s what the police are doing now, dotting ‘I’s’, and crossing ‘T’s’?” Will there be Kansas City police presence at the game? She wondered.
Roy nodded, “I know it’s easy for me to say, but try not to worry. The bus driver is a retired cop, I’m following the bus, Detective Duncan has contacted the St. Louis police, and there are always staties at the championship game anyway.” He reached to pat her arm, “Jamie will be fine.” He said, thinking, Ben will kill me if he isn’t.
“Staties?” Lane asked almost absent-mindedly as she watched Ben walk toward them, his stride was strong and confident. She thought that even without the body count, her life had changed drastically in the last few months.
“State Police.” Tanner replied as Ben joined them.
Ben bent and kissed Lane’s cheek. She smiled, thinking she wouldn’t change a minute of it even if she could.
“State Police are always in attendance at the state championship. The Bambino’s going to be fine, Red.” He looked at Tanner, “We’ll be heading to the airport around five o’clock, but call me if anything comes up.”
Ben took Lane’s hand and they walked toward the Escalade to wait until the bus pulled out of the parking lot. Lane gave Ben’s hand a squeeze as Roy Tanner’s SUV passed where they stood. “You really do believe Jamie’s not in any danger, don’t you? Roy’s just following as a precaution, isn’t he?”
Ben’s heart felt like it was in a vise grip when she spoke. He turned her to face him and gently placed his hands on her upper arms. “I promise; Jamie is safe.”
Lane looked into his eyes. She knew Ben didn’t make idle promises, but she had no idea how he could be so sure. She leaned into him and he put his arms around her and held her.
It wasn’t that she had ever actually felt unsafe in her life, but in Ben’s arms, she felt like nothing bad could touch her. “I love you.” She murmured into his chest.
“TI amo, mia bella.” He replied. Ben opened the passenger door and held it as Lane got into the SUV. He walked behind the vehicle, thinking, “Have I really done everything I can?” He opened the door and climbed in. After starting the engine, he took Lane’s hand and pulled it to his lips. “Come on, let’s go home.”
He thought that Lane looked tired and could probably use a nap before they headed to the airport. His suspicion was confirmed when she leaned her head against the window and fell asleep.
He pulled into the garage, got out of the SUV, and opened the door into the house before opening Lane’s door, releasing her seatbelt and lifting her into his arms. As he walked through the house toward the master suite, he passed the family gathered in the hearth room.
Pauli shot out of the chair where he was sitting. “What is it? I’ll get my bag.”
Ben sent him a look and not missing a step, he replied in a stern whisper, “Ease off, and quiet down you idiot. She’s asleep and if you wake her, I swear, I’ll snap your neck.”
Evie and Jess exchanged a look as Jess stood up. Jess walked to close the garage door, and she looked at Pauli as she quietly said, “and believe me, I’ll help him.”
Ben got Lane settled in the master bedroom and returned to the hearth room. He stood and surveyed the room for a moment before his gaze landed on Pauli and he spoke. “The pregnancy has sapped her energy, but nothing is wrong. When she falls asleep while we’re out, I carry her to bed and let her sleep.”
Evie laughed to herself, just hours ago, Lane had told her this was a common occurrence lately. Lane had also said that she had told Ben he had to stop carrying her to bed and he’d told her she was just going to have to get used to it because he wouldn’t wake her up.
Evie looked at the group. “Let’s go into the kitchen and play some Nebraska Hand and Foot.” They’d learned the card game years ago. The Parkers loved it and the Bellinis could learn.
Jess looked at Joey and Gabe, neither of whom had said a word during the exchange, as she retrieved the appropriate number of decks of cards, she said, “It’s like Canasta. You’ll catch on quickly.”
The six of them played Nebraska Hand and Foot for almost two hours before Ben went to wake Lane. By the time, Lane had showered and dressed, Uncle Sal, along with Mama and Papa Bellini had all arrived at the house. And, the limo, that would take them to the Johnson County Executive airport where they would board the Luck Bets jet, was waiting in the driveway. The men carried the luggage outside and waited as the driver loaded it.
Chapter 27
The Lucky Bets jet was a 14 passenger Gulf Stream and although the flight to St. Louis would only take about an hour, Ben was glad that the 12 passengers making the trip could spread out and get comfortable. He guided Lane and Evie to four seats facing each other across a table and invited Sal to join them. Ben had invited Sal to the game so that they could discuss the trial that was starting Monday during the short flight. Once they were in the air, he and Sal could slip away and talk.
Joey spoke briefly with the pilot before sitting in a four-seat grouping toward the front of the plane. Dante, Teadora, and Pauli Bellini took seats near Joey leaving Jess, Gabe, Jake, and Meg together near the aft.
Everyone settled in quickly and conversations began. Earlier in the day, Lane had told Evie about the plans she and Ben had made to fly to Chicago. She hadn’t told her children anything except that she and Ben were going away for a quick mini weekend. It was still Phillip’s job to tell his children he was getting married, but it was her responsibility to tell Phillip about Jamie’s paternity. Now, Lane talked with Evie about the plans she and Ben had made, where they were spending the night, other plans they had for the trip.
Ben held Lane’s hand and as the plane taxied for take-off, he lifted it to his lips. Evie looked on approvingly. Ben obviously loved the woman she had come to think of not only as her friend, but also as her daughter. As the plane leveled out at cruising altitude, Ben gave Lane’s hand a gentle squeeze.
“I’m going to the galley. Would you like a bottle of water? I might be able to manage a cup of hot tea if you’d rather.”
She smiled at Ben as he stood. “Water will be fine.”
Ben looked at Sal and Evie, “Would you like water or can I get something else for you, maybe a glass of wine?”
Evie asked for water and Sal asked for wine. As Ben entered the galley, Joey and Gabe joined him. He still wasn’t sure how their détente had come about or how long it might last, but the two of them seemed to be fine as Joey took and filled drink orders for all of his guests. Gabe grabbed the four bottles of water and delivered them to Lane, Evie, and Jess leaving a bottle on his seat before returning to get sodas for Meg and Jake; he got wine, which he delivered, to Sal, Dante, and Teadora before returning to his seat.