Authors: Sandi Perry
"But
it
seems
we've
been
given
a
second
chance,"
she
smile.
"I'd
say
its
fate,"
he
said
nervously.
"Alex,
is
your
voice
quavering?"
"What?
No,
of
course
not.
Just
a
little
salt
air
scratching
at
my
throat."
"I
see."
"Allison,
tell
me
something
about
yourself
I
might
be
surprised
to
learn,"
he
said.
She
took
a
deep
breath,
"I'm
nervous
around
kids.
I
don't
understand
them
at
all,"
she
replied.
"I
know."
"You
do?
How?"
He
laughed,
"The
barbecue
at
my
house.
Your
eyes
had
the
deer
in
the
headlights
look
whenever
one
of
nieces
or
nephews
approached
you.
We
all
noticed
it.
It
was
entertaining,
actually."
She
folded
her
arms
across
her
chest,
"I
think
my
feelings
are
hurt."
"I'm
sorry.
We
only
discussed
it
that
day;
we
never
brought
it
up
again."
"You're
not
making
it
sound
any
better."
"Well,
for
what
it's
worth,
I
think
you'd
be
wonderful
with
your
own
kids."
"I
don't
think
I'm
having
any."
He
took
her
hand,
turned
it
over,
and
kissed
her
palm
gently.
He
felt
her
shiver.
"We'll
discuss
this
another
time,"
She
looked
at
him
wordlessly
for
a
beat,
and
then
she
said,
"Did
you
book
your
own
room
here?"
"I
did."
"I
think
you
might
have
wasted
your
money."
"No,
Allison.
The
doctor
said..."
"That
I
can't
fly
until
tomorrow.
That's
the
only
thing
he
said
I
can't
do.
I'm
not
fragile.
I
need
to
feel
alive,
only
you
do
that
for
me."
He
took
her
tenderly
by
the
hand
and
looked
into
her
eyes,
"Only
if
you're
sure."
She
nodded
enthusiastically,
at
the
risk
of
having
her
headache
return.
They
linked
arms
and
walked
into
the
lobby
and
up
to
her
room.
Allison
called
the
press
conference
a
couple
of
days
after
as
she
got
out
of
the
hospital.
She
stood
in
the
glass-enclosed
lobby
of
1251
Avenue
of
the
Americas
and
read
a
brief,
prepared
statement.
There
was
a
lot
of
industry
press
gathered,
as
well
as
the
local
press.
Apparently,
almost
being
killed
can
land
you
in
the
news.
"...And
so
with
no
further
ado,
I'd
like
to
present
to
you
the
new
vision
of
RossAir
Industries,
Mr.
Alexander
Hamilton
Coventry,"
she
smiled
widely
at
Alex
as
he
stepped
up
to
the
podium
As
he
brushed
past
her,
he
gave
her
a
wink
and
whispered
in
her
ear,
"Hamilton—that's
the
thanks
I
get
for
rescuing
you?"
She
handed
over
the
microphone
to
Alex
and
briskly
walked
toward
the
back
of
the
room.
She
stood
at
the
edge
of
the
crowd
for
a
minute
and
spotted
Alex's
parents
and
his
oldest
sister,
Annabelle.
She
walked
toward
them,
"Mr.
and
Mrs.
Coventry,
Annabelle,
how
wonderful
that
you
came
up
to
see
Alex
accept
his
new
position.
I'm
sure
he'll
be
thrilled
with
the
surprise."
"Yes,
of
course,
and
how
are
you
doing?
Alex
relayed
your
harrowing
experience
to
us.
We
were
quite
concerned
for
your
welfare,
needless
to
say,"
Horatio
Coventry
said.
"Thank
you,
Alex
saved
my
life.
Thank
you
for
raising
such
a
kind
and
caring
son.
Now
if
you'll
excuse
me,
I'm
sure
you're
anxious
to
hear
Alex's
speech."
She
left
the
lobby
and
went
to
sit
outside
on
the
ledge
around
the
large
fountain
in
the
promenade
in
front
of
the
building.
The
large
pool
of
water
seemed
an
incongruous
oasis
of
serene,
gurgling
water
set
amidst
the
chaos
of
the
city.
It
had
always
been
a
favorite
spot
of
hers.
She
watched
Alex
through
the
glass
for
a
few
minutes
and
then
turned
her
face
toward
the
sun.
She
wasn't
sure
she
would
ever
feel
warm
again,
but
the
late
April
air
was
making
a
valiant
attempt.
She
turned
her
head
back
toward
the
lobby
and
saw
that
Alex
had
finished
his
speech
and
was
now
embracing
his
mother
and
sister
warmly
and
awkwardly
shaking
hands
with
his
father.
A
small
indistinct-looking
gray
bird
hopped
up
on
the
ledge
next
to
her.
It
chirped
insistently.