She supposed he had a point. “You’re about to meet my father and brother for the first time, andI’mthe nervous one.”
Eric chuckled. “Relax. Either they’ll accept me or they won’t. The good thing is that I didn’t marry them. I married you.”
The automatic doors slid open, and she saw them. They stood near the baggage carousel waiting for their luggage. Both were wearing plaid shirts and blue jeans. Is that how they thought everyone in Colorado dressed?
She bit back a laugh and waved.
James saw her, waved back, tugged on their father’s sleeve.
Her father turned, his face lighting up when he saw her.
She hurried over to him, surprised by the rush of emotion she felt. “Hey, Dad.”
He swept her up in a hug. “It’s so good to see you, kiddo.”
“It’s good to see you, too. Eric, this is my father, Charles Woodley. Dad, this—”
Nearby, someone cried out.
Vic turned to find a woman kneeling next to an older man, who lay on the floor, mouth open, eyes staring at the ceiling.
In a heartbeat, Eric was there. He knelt beside the man, pointing first to one bystander and then another. “You call nine-one-one, tell them we need an ambulance. You call airport security and see whether they have an AED.”
“Are you a doctor?” the woman asked, clearly terrified.
“No, ma’am. I’m a firefighter and paramedic. I’m going to do everything I can to help him, okay?” He checked the man’s breathing, felt for a pulse, then started chest compressions.
Vic watched, pulse racing, feeling completely helpless, one of dozens of people standing around while Eric fought to save the man’s life, alternating between rescue breaths and compressions.
Two uniformed airport staff pushed their way through the crowd, one of them carrying a large white plastic box. Wide-eyed, she set the box down beside him. “I don’t know how to use this.”
“I’ll handle it.” Eric’s voice was unbelievably calm. “I’ll keep doing CPR until you have it set up. Open it up, and turn it on.”
Once the machine was ready to go, Eric tore open the man’s shirt and stuck electrode pads to his chest. Then he took off the man’s wedding ring. “Let go of his hand, ma’am. Here’s his wedding ring. Move back a bit. Is everyone clear?”
He pushed a button, and the machine delivered a shock that made the man jerk.
For a moment, no one made a sound.
The man coughed, moaned.
Eric let out a relieved breath, turned the man onto his left side, took the man’s pulse again. “Sir, can you hear me? An ambulance is on its way.”
“He saved that man’s life,” someone said behind Vic.
Her throat tight, Vic looked up at her father and brother. “Whatever else you think of him, my husband is a hero.”
Her father nodded. “So I see.”
* * *
Eric and Victoriagot their guests checked into their rooms at the inn, said a quick hello to Bob and Kendra, then went for supper at Knockers so that Charles and James could taste Victoria’s pizza. While they waited for their order, she explained the business model, told them about the advertising campaign she’d worked up and how she’d had to double her staff in the first week of operation. “We just started home deliveries this month, and so far the response has been amazing.”
James seemed impressed. “I think it’s a great idea. You might be able to franchise this, open up stores in Denver and …”
Sasha and Nicole walked in, both of them dressed like they’d just come from the rock gym. They waved, then took a seat near the climbing wall.
James stared at Sasha. “Is she a friend of yours?”