And why hadn’t Tucker come to see her again?
“I’ll be back as soon as they’ll let me,” he’d whispered to her before he left her side the last time. He’d kissed her—a gentle brush of his lips against her own. “It won’t be long,” he promised.
So where was he now? She touched her mouth, where the feel of that feather-light kiss still lingered. Oh, she just didn’t get it. “Tucker said he was going to Mama and Daddy’s?”
Lena pasted on a bright smile. “That’s right. He said he’d see you real soon and for you to get well.” She patted Lori’s shoulder some more.
Lori shut her eyes. When she opened them again, Lena was still there, looking down at her, smiling fondly.
What a sister, Lori thought. Lena’s hair straggled free of her formerly elegant upswept do. She had a smudge of dirt on her cheek and her wedding dress was torn at the sleeve and stained with soot and mud—and still, she was forcing brave smiles.
I’m so very fortunate, Lori thought, to have a sister like this one: a sister who called all the time, whether I called her back or not. A sister who never gave up on keeping the family connection, a sister who didn’t even hesitate to spend her wedding night at the hospital in her ruined bride’s gown, waiting for a chance to pat me on the shoulder and tell me I’m going to be fine.
Lori said, softly, “Did I tell you? You’re the most beautiful bride I ever did see.”
Lena’s eyes got misty. She sniffed. “Yes, I did look pretty amazing and gorgeous, didn’t I?”
“You still do. Absolutely beautiful…”
Lena sniffed some more and lightly punched the shoulder she’d been patting. “Oh, stop.”
“I’m grateful to have a sister like you.”
“Now, I mean it. You will have me bawling my eyes out and we don’t need that.”
“I haven’t always appreciated you and I know that.”
“Okay, okay. You’re definitely on to something, here. I won’t deny it.”
“But things are going to change, I promise. From now on, I’m going to work as hard as you always have, to keep that special connection between us.”
“Good.” Lena sniffed once more. And then she grinned. “Move home.”
“I don’t know about that—yet.”
“Wow. You should get hit on the head more often—” Lena caught herself. “No. Scratch that.” She pressed her hands together and cast her gaze heavenward. “I never meant that, Lord.” She let her hands drop and looked ruefully at Lori. “I can’t believe I said that. It was horrible, all of it, and I would never want anything like it to happen again.”
Lori reminded her, “Still. You know what they say—bad luck at your wedding, good luck for the rest of your married life.”
Lena sent a soft look over her shoulder at Dirk, who’d made himself comfortable in the corner chair. “I guess we’re headed for the luckiest marriage in history.”
“No doubt about it.” Lori glanced toward the door again and sighed.
“What?” Lena prompted tenderly.
“I just wish Tucker had come on in here instead of heading for Mama and Daddy’s.”
“Oh. Well…” Lena was biting her lower lip.
Even with her body aching all over and her head pounding, Lori was getting the picture that something wasn’t right. “Lena?”
“Um?”
“I think you’d better tell me what’s going on.”
An old farmer in an ancient pickup stopped for Tucker about a mile along the highway.
“You hear about that twister?” the farmer asked him as they rumbled down the road. “Blew away the dang country club.” The farmer shook his grizzled head under his grimy Longhorn cap. “In the middle of a big weddin’ party, too. D’ja hear ‘bout that?”
Tucker made a noncommittal noise low in his throat and focused straight ahead.
“I heard everyone got out alive, though,” said the farmer. “Praise the good Lord.”
“Amen.” Tucker never took his eyes off the dark highway in front of them.
The farmer said, “Son. You kinda look like you know exactly what I’m talking about. I’m guessing you’re one of the ones who crawled out from under the ruins of that country club.”
Tucker grunted and glanced down at his wrinkled, blood-spattered slacks and shirt. Lori’s blood, he thought—and then put the thought away, shutting his mind against her. He gave the farmer a nod without glancing his way. “Yeah. I was there.”
After a second or two, the old man asked, “You okay?”
Tucker looked over at him then. “No. But I’m working on it.”
“Want to talk about it?”
“Sorry. Guess not.”
“Good enough, then. Sit back and let me take you where you’re goin’.”
Ten minutes later, the farmer let him off in front of the handsome brick house where Lori had grown up. Tucker thanked the old guy and then stood there at the curb, staring vacantly after him as the rattletrap pickup rumbled away.
Once the taillights disappeared around the corner, Tucker blinked, shook his head, and turned to trudge up the front walk.
Dirk rose from the chair in the corner. “Lena, sweetheart.” He wore the kind of look men wear when they know they’re in the way. “I’ll be in the waiting room.” Lena went over and gave him a quick kiss.
Lori thanked him. “Dirk, you’re about the best brother-in-law I ever had.”
“Not to mention the only one.” Chuckling, he left them.
Lena returned to Lori’s bedside. “You know, maybe we ought to talk about this later.” Careful of Lori’s bandages, she reached out a hand and touched Lori’s cheek. “You look real tired and I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to—”
Gently but firmly, Lori pushed her sister’s hand away. “Something happened with Tucker. I know it. What?”
“Oh, well, I—”
“Lena. Just tell me. Please.”
“Well, I’m not really sure. I mean, I could be wrong…”
“But…?”
Lena blew out a hard breath. “Okay. I think it kind of bothered him when I, um, let it drop about how you and me
