THE PERFECT TEN (Boxed Set)

more minutes before you land in Tappahannock? The police will be there waiting for you. They’ll release Jake to you.”
    “Perfect,” Cody said. “How’s Kasey hanging in there?”
    “She’s afraid to believe it.”
    “Tell her not to worry. I won’t let anything happen to her baby.”
    Von believed him. “We’ll all be waiting for you here at the Greensville-Emporia airport. Let me know when you take off.”
    “You got it,” Cody said. “Let Kasey know that Lou is going to meet us at the airport.”
    Von hung up and clipped the phone on his belt.
    “Who is Lou?” he asked Kasey.
    “That’s Cody’s girlfriend.”
    Scott looked surprised. “He has a girlfriend?”
    She nodded. “An old flame. They just recently reconnected. I’d forgotten they were coming to stay with me tonight.”
    Von interjected. “Cody asked me to let you know that she’s going to meet him at the airport.”
    “You never mentioned they were coming,” Scott said to Kasey.
    “Yeah, it was short notice,” she said. “Guys. This isn’t a dream, is it? My baby is coming home.” She held her stomach. “I feel sick.”
    “You’re going to be fine.” Scott stroked her back. “Just breathe.”
    “How long is the flight from Tappahannock?” Her stomach twisted into a knot.
    Scott looked to Von who shrugged. “No idea.”
    “We’ll ask when Cody calls back.”
     
    A half-hour later, the call they’d been waiting for came in. Von answered, then handed the phone to Kasey.
    “Hello?” she said.
    “Mommy?”
    She knelt to the floor with both hands on the phone. “Jake? Is that you, honey?”
    “Hi, Mommy. We’re flying an airplane.”
    “I know, baby. Don’t be scared. Cody will take good care of you. He’s mommy’s friend.”
    “He’s nice. I miss you, Mommy.”
    She gulped back tears. “I miss you too, sweetheart. Cody’s bringing you home to me.”
    Kasey heard Jake’s voice drift from the phone. “Mommy’s crying.”
    Cody’s voice came over the line. “Hey, Kasey. I thought you’d rather hear his voice than mine.”
    “Thank you. I can’t believe it.” Kasey sucked in a breath and let it out. “How does he look? Did he ask for me?”
    “He looks fine, acts fine. Running around like boys do. Says he misses his mommy. Look, we’re cleared for immediate takeoff, so I’m going to get this little guy buckled in. The pilot just filed his flight plan and says that we should land in Emporia-Greensville in about twenty-five minutes.”
    “The longest twenty-five minutes of my life. Thank you.” She turned to Von and Scott. “They’re on their way.”
    “Riley is too,” said Von.
    She rubbed her hands together. “Feel my hands.” She pressed them to Scott’s cheeks.
    “Holy cow. You’re freezing.” Scott closed his office door and took a jacket from a hanger on the back. “Here, put this on.”
    She slipped it on and pushed her hands in the pockets. “Thanks. That’s better.” She shivered. “I’m so nervous. Can we go there and wait? I can’t sit here. I just can’t.”
    Kasey got into the car with Scott, and Von followed them to the airport.
    Except for one truck, the airport parking lot was empty. They went inside to wait. A few minutes later, a tall brunette walked in.
    She walked straight to Kasey. “Hi. Are you Kasey Phillips?”
    Kasey nodded.
    “I’m Lou. Cody called. I’m so glad I’m here for this special day.”
    She was pretty in a girl-next-door kind of way. “Thank you. It’s nice to meet you. I can’t believe his timing.”
    “How are you holding up?”
    “Look at my hands.” Kasey held out one of her trembling hands. “Even my knees are wobbling.”
    “I can’t even imagine what you’re going through.” Lou sat on the bench across from Von and introduced herself. He filled her in on the details. Kasey got up, walked over to the wall of windows and stared out. Her eyes played tricks on her, making her think there were lights in the night sky where there were none.
    Kasey spun around to the sound of her name. Riley ran through the small terminal lobby toward her and then hugged Kasey tightly. “I can’t believe it. Finally.”
    “I know. I can hardly breathe. Thanks for coming.”
    “Nothing could keep me away. How much longer?”
    Kasey looked at her watch again. “About seven minutes.”
    Scott’s two-way radio squawked. He turned his back and leaned in to listen to it.
    “I don’t know how he understands what they’re saying on that