Page 147 of Crossed Wires: The Complete Series

Amy lifted one shoulder. “I don’t know that for sure. He never said he did. I just?—”

“Of course he fell in love with you,” Marc interjected. “I figure an American boy didn’t stand a fighting chance against our Amy.”

She laughed, the heaviness in her chest lifting. She was home, surrounded by people who loved her. She’d been right to cut the trip short and return. She needed their support, their strength to keep her going for the next few weeks…months.

Harper frowned. “But Andrew never?—”

“He never falls in love,” Amy finished. “Yeah. I know. Maybe it’s wishful thinking on my part, but I’m okay with that. After all,” her voice cracked slightly, “I’m most likely never going to see him again. It’s just nice to believe my feelings were returned and it’s not like it’s going to hurt anyone for me to hold on to that idea.”

Her hands trembled slightly, so she shoved them in the front pockets of her jeans.

“I hope you’re right, Amy. I’ve always worried about my brother’s inability to let any woman into his heart. I should have known if anyone could do it, it would be you.” Harper gave Amy another quick squeeze.

Annie reached for Amy’s hand. “Come on into the house. You’re going to have to tell Hazel and me all about this man.”

Harper stepped over to say something to Keith and Amy wondered about Harper’s sudden blush. It looked as if Harper and Keith had made their own love connection. Then Marc stepped closer and wrapped his arm around Harper in a way that seemed a touch more than friendly. Harper and KeithandMarc?

Harper gave her a shy shrug and Amy grinned. Her friend looked incredibly happy. Amy was relieved. She’d expected to find her friend still upset considering the sadness in Harper’s voice the last time they’d spoken.

Annie grinned. “Those three have been inseparable since your friend arrived.”

“Really?”

Annie winked at her then opened the front screen door. “I think I’ll let Thomo and Blue fill you in on the details.”

Keith took off his akubra, running his fingers through his sweat-matted hair, thanks to the hot day. It was a familiar gesture and just one more tiny insignificant thing that helped convince her she’d left heaven and landed smack-dab in the middle of reality.

This sucked.

“There’s my girl.” Hazel wiped her hands on her apron as she walked from the kitchen. Then she threw her arms out, capturing Amy in a tight squeeze. Hazel gave the best hugs on earth.

The tears Amy had just managed to stem began to flow once more, harder this time. Hazel’s grip never slackened as Amy’s cries turned to sobs.

“There, there, sweet lass. I’m sure it’s not all as bad as that.” Hazel continued to murmur soothing words while Amy cried out all the emotions she’d fought so hard to keep in for the past two days.

She led Amy to the couch where the two of them sat down. Annie claimed a nearby chair.

“I’m sorry.” Amy reached for a tissue from the box on an end table, wiping her eyes and nose.

Hazel brushed Amy’s hair away from her face. “It sounds like you’ve been holding those tears in for a while. What happened in Chicago, Amy?”

“I met a man.”

Hazel glanced at Annie and rolled her eyes. “Dear God. What is it with you young people and these international romances?”

Amy laughed. Leave it to Hazel to find a way to ease the pain. “I didn’t fall in love with him on purpose.”

Annie leaned forward. “None of us ever do. The heart wants what the heart wants and practical things like jobs and geography rarely win out.”

“So who is this man?” Hazel asked.

“Harper’s brother, Andrew.” Amy’s throat squeezed when she spoke his name and she fought down a fresh round of tears. She was a mess.

Hazel pressed back against the cushions and studied Amy’s face. “This is the man with the cable show, right? The one who lives your dream job, traveling all over the world?”

Amy nodded. She’d often related to Hazel the stories Harper had told her about Andrew’s adventures. Many times, the two of them would pop online to look up the latest place he’d been just to see pictures and clips of the program. While Hazel had rarely left Farpoint—and never expressed the slightest bit of interest in seeing the world—Amy suspected there was a tiny kernel of wanderlust in her boss as well.

“Well, that makes things interesting. I assume he’s out jet-setting again?”