The Other Side - J. D. Robb [101]
He gave a pained expression. “Sorry. I asked a few of our friends to stick around.” He turned to Christina’s parents. “I hope you don’t mind if we do it another night.”
“Not at all.” Ted kissed his daughter and then, in a moment of pure joy, drew Mark close for a bear hug. “Just take good care of my girl.”
“You know I will.” Mark leaned down to kiss his future mother-in-law’s cheek before taking Christina’s hand in his.
When her parents reached the door, they turned and blew a kiss, and Christina did the same.
As soon as they stepped outside, Mark led Christina toward the bar, where a number of their friends had gathered.
When a round of drinks was served, Mark reached into his pocket. The waiter shook his head. “Sorry, Mr. Deering. Mr. Crenshaw insisted that the entire evening was on his tab. Even the tip.”
Mark glanced around with a grin. “Looks like my money’s no good tonight.” He lifted a glass. “Here’s to Ted and Vanessa. My soon-to-be family really knows how to throw a party.”
The valet escorted Vanessa to the car under the shelter of an umbrella. As he held the door, he glanced across to her husband, settling himself behind the wheel. “Be careful of these rain-slick roads, Mr. C.”
“Don’t you worry, Casey.” Ted fastened his seat belt. “I’ve been driving this route for thirty-odd years. I have a lot of respect for what rain can do to hairpin curves. We’ll see you tomorrow for Sunday brunch.”
Ted put the car into gear and started down the curving ribbon of driveway.
Minutes later they were cruising along the highway that boasted some of the most expensive real estate in California. Multimillion-dollar mansions clung precariously to the sides of hills, looking as though they might at any moment lose their grip and slide into the jagged canyons of rock and pine far below.
Though she’d made this trip hundreds of times, Vanessa never tired of the amazing view. She sat back with a sigh of pure contentment. “That was such a grand party, Ted.”
“Nothing but the best for our girl.” He glanced over. “I wish they could have come back with us.”
Vanessa nodded. “I know Tyler would have loved to share in the celebration for his big sister.”
Ted pressed his foot on the brake pedal as they started around the first curve. Instead of slowing down, the car actually seemed to be accelerating. Surprised, he pressed harder. The car careened around the curve, swerving dangerously close to the edge of the road.
Vanessa grasped the door handle. “Darling, slow down.”
“I’m trying to. The brakes must be damp. I’ve never had the car behave like this before.”
Keeping both hands on the wheel, he managed to bring the car back to the proper lane, but no amount of pressure on the brake pedal could slow the forward thrust. By the time they’d rounded another curve, the car was speeding like a missile down the rain-slicked highway.
“Ted.” Vanessa’s finger was trembling as she pointed. “Headlights.”
“I know, babe. I know.” It took all Ted’s strength to keep his car from swerving into the path of the oncoming vehicle.
As the headlights moved past, Ted fought to maneuver around the hairpin turn, but by now the car was traveling at such a rate of speed, it was impossible to handle. With a sickening jolt the car broke through the guardrail and plunged like a child’s toy over the embankment.
Vanessa’s screams mingled with the sound of breaking glass and twisted metal as the car continued down the steep side of the hill until it came to an abrupt halt against a tree. The sheer force of the impact sliced the vehicle nearly in two, sending shards of glass and metal shrapnel raining everywhere.
After the deafening sound of the crash, an eerie silence settled over the land, broken only by the steady patter of the rain.
One
“Ted? Oh, Ted, darling, where are you?” Despite the horrible events of the past minutes, Vanessa’s voice sounded as strong as ever.
“Here, babe.” Ted, too, showed no sign of the trauma he’d just endured, his voice low and deep and filled with gratitude