Emma frowned. “Which brother are you talking about, and what happened to the Randolphs?”

Lilah’s eyes widened. “Oh my! You haven’t heard? Little Davey, their seven-year-old, was hit by a car in front of the elementary school!”

“Oh no! I did hear sirens, but I never knew what was happening,” Emma said.

“They said he was hurt real bad. They called Medi-Flight to take him to the med center in Savannah, but the pilot flying the chopper had a heart attack just after landing here. He couldn’t fly Davey out, and the child was so critical there wasn’t time to wait for another chopper. Then Ava Ridley told them about Hunt, so they called him. He flew the chopper back to Savannah and helped save that little boy’s life!”

Emma was speechless. Knowing Hunt could fly choppers was one thing, but hearing him put his skill to a use that saved someone she knew was humbling.

“That’s good. Real good. I’m glad he was able to help them out,” Emma said.

Lilah nodded. “Well, when you see Hunt, tell him we’re all really proud of him.”

Emma swallowed past the lump in her throat. “Yes, yes, I’ll do that.”

She hurried up with the rest of her shopping, then cried all the way home because she couldn’t just pop in and see Hunt and hug him…or praise him. She couldn’t face him, because the secret and the lie were still between them.

* * *

Birdie was at work when her boss, Dub Truesdale, stopped in the doorway of her office.

“Hey, Birdie… Tell your brother Hunt he did good today!”

Birdie looked up from the invoices she was posting and smiled.

“What are you talking about?”

“He stepped in for the Medi-Flight pilot this morning. The pilot landed, then had a heart attack. Ava Ridley told them about Hunt, and he showed up and flew a little kid to the med center in Savannah for emergency surgery,” Dub said.

Birdie gasped. “What? When did this happen? What little kid? Why am I the last to know anything around here?”

Dub proceeded to tell her what he’d heard, then ended his story by praising Hunt. “You must be real proud having a brother who can do that,” he added.

She nodded, but now she was remembering the chopper coming in and going out, and she’d just heard another one come in and go out, and all that time had no idea Hunt had been involved in any of it. She wondered if he was back, then sent him a text.

I just heard about your morning flight. I’m so proud of you, Hunt.

She hit Send, then got up to get a can of Coke from the mini-fridge before going back to work.

* * *