Snow Falls

chapter Twenty-Four



Ryan slung her backpack over her shoulder and headed across the tarmac to her father’s private jet. As was usually the case, she was dreading going back East. Dreading dealing with her mother, dreading trying to hide from the media who would be at her grandmother’s birthday bash. While it would be good to see her brother, she usually could only tolerate him for a day before she wanted to run away screaming. He had not a care in the world and about the same amount of ambition as well.

As she neared the jet, a man came around the side. It was Jeffery, her father’s pilot. He stopped short, staring at her for a long moment.

“Why, Miss Catherine, I hardly recognized you.”

Ryan frowned, then remembered her hair. She was used to it now and was no longer startled when she looked in the mirror. She brought up a hand to rub over it, having just visited Amber for the second time two days ago.

“Needed a change, Jeffery. How are you?”

“Good. I got your message yesterday. You want to stop over for just the one night?”

She hesitated, wondering at the wisdom of her decision. She could always change her mind. In fact, that would be best. Just head straight to The Hamptons and leave well enough alone. But she couldn’t.

“Yes. Just the one night.”

“Okay. She’s all ready to go when you are.”

She nodded, then preceded him up the steps and into the plush interior of the jet, tossing her backpack on one of the seats before settling down herself. She was suddenly very nervous, and it had nothing to do with flying.