CHAPTER TEN #2
She grabbed her bag and purse, then made her way downstairs to where Angie and Jude waited near the back entrance. Angie's face was pale, but her expression was determined, while Jude stood close beside her, his protective stance more pronounced than usual.
"You sure you're up for this?" Angie asked, studying Kiara's face with concern.
"I'm fine," Kiara assured her, though her stomach was starting to churn with a combination of nausea and nerves. "How are you holding up?"
Angie's smile was shaky. "I’m doing okay, actually. Though I’m not thrilled at the idea of riding in the helicopter or the plane again.”
That was the least of Kiara’s concerns. She actually really enjoyed flying, though it might be an interesting mix now considering her pregnancy.
When Duncan and Elizabeth showed up with their bags, they all left the house to climb into the waiting SUV. The three of them climbed into the rear row, while Duncan and Elizabeth were in the middle. Two members of the security team were in the front.
It was a short drive to the helipad, where a couple more security team members waited.
“We’re going to be a full flight today,” Jude commented as they walked to the waiting helicopter.
It took a few minutes to get all the bags loaded and for them to board. Kiara ended up in the row with three seats alongside Angie and Jude. Duncan and Elizabeth were seated facing them in the two-seat section. The security personnel were in the section closest to the pilot.
They all put their headsets on as the doors were closed, and the blades began to spin. Kiara opened her purse and took out a ginger candy and popped it into her mouth, then turned her attention to the window.
She loved to fly, and as the helicopter lifted off the helipad, she watched the trees and the big house gradually grow smaller.
“Does Julian know we’re coming?”
Kiara was startled at the sound of Angie’s voice in her ears. She always forgot that they could hold conversations when they had the headsets on.
“I called the center and let them know we were coming,” Duncan said.
That meant that Julian might not know that they were on their way. Kiara wasn’t sure that was a good thing. Hopefully, someone—preferably his therapist—would let him know and help him prepare. Especially if things had already gone badly with Duncan.
Within twenty minutes, they were landing at the airport in Coeur d’Alene. It didn’t take too long to transfer to the airplane waiting for them. Kiara chose to sit in one of the single seats.
“We have sandwiches prepared for you,” the flight attendant said as they were getting settled. She told them what was available, then took their orders for the sandwiches and drinks. “Once we are in the air, I’ll bring your selections.”
Kiara glanced over to see that Angie had a firm grip on Jude’s hand, and her expression was tense. It said a lot about her determination to speak to Julian that she was willing to fly to do so, when it was something she really hated to do.
Once again, she stared out the window when they were finally moving down the runway. She loved the way her stomach swooped as the plane broke free from gravity and began its ascent. Strangely enough, the feeling didn’t bring on the need to throw up.
Watching out the window, she could see that the snow was gone, and though there was still a sparseness to the landscape, leaves were beginning to reappear on the shade trees. Soon, spring would be in full bloom, and Kiara was looking forward to it.
Once the plane leveled off, the attendant brought their food and drinks. When the flight attendant had said sandwiches, Kiara had figured they’d be simple like the ones she always made.
But no. These were made on specialty bread with fresh ingredients and actual slices of turkey. Not the deli meat she’d been expecting.
There were sides of potato chips and raw veggies with a small cup of dip. It was perfect for her.
Once she’d eaten, Kiara pulled the paper out of the folder she’d retrieved from her bag before they’d stored it on the plane.
Staring out the window, she watched the clouds stream by as she mulled over what to write to Julian. She didn’t know whether she should broach what he’d revealed to Duncan or just stick to what they’d been discussing in their letters already.
In the end, she decided to respond to what he’d written in his last letter, and maybe add a bit at the end about his recent confession.
Following his light-hearted approach to names earlier, she decided to respond in kind.
I didn’t watch a lot of television as a kid, so I have no inspiration for baby names from that direction. However, I read a lot of books. So, I’d like to put forth Charles (as in Ingalls), Aslan (from Narnia), or Gilbert (Anne of Green Gables).
She had no idea if he’d read any of those books, but it was really all she had to offer. When it came right down to it, though, she didn’t have a strong preference for a name.
She did, however, have a few names she would vehemently oppose. Jim or James. Craig. Andy or Andrew, which had been her biological dad’s name.
After writing a bit more about that, she paused and stared out the window again. She tried to figure out the best way to broach the subject of what he’d revealed to Duncan.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we will be preparing for descent soon.”
Kiara shifted her attention to listen to the instructions. Since she wouldn’t be able to write much more, she just finished the letter off with I hope to see you in a little while.
She signed it, then folded the papers and put them in the envelope and addressed it. After putting it into her purse, she slid the purse under her seat.
The two-hour flight had gone by quickly, and soon they descended. She took in the view as they broke free from the clouds, eager to see yet another part of the country.
As soon as they landed at the airport, they loaded into the waiting SUV and drove to the hotel where Duncan’s assistant had made reservations for them. She, Jude, and Angie were in a suite. While she and Angie shared a room, Jude had the room on the other side of the suite.
“Are we going to the center right away?” Kiara asked as she set her bag on one of the queen-size beds in the room.
“I think so,” Angie said. “Duncan seemed eager to get the purpose of this trip over with.”
Kiara sat down on one of the chairs in the room. “What are you going to say to Julian?”
Angie sank down on the end of her bed and sighed. “I’m not sure. I think I’ll know when I see him.”
There was a knock on the door of their room, and Kiara looked over to see Jude standing in the open doorway.
“Duncan wants to leave in thirty minutes,” Jude said. “Can you be ready?”
“Yes.” Angie got up and went to her fiancé. Jude gathered her into his arms and held her close.
Not wanting to intrude, Kiara grabbed her bag and went into the attached bathroom. She switched out of her leggings and sweater into the slightly more formal pants and blouse.
The blouse was loose, but when she turned in profile to the mirror and stretched it taut over her abdomen, she could see her growing bump. She hadn’t felt any movement yet, but the doctor said it could happen at any time now.
Releasing her blouse, Kiara used her comb to smooth her hair, then pulled it up into a ponytail.
There were butterflies in her stomach at the thought of seeing Julian. The letters they’d shared back and forth had forged a deeper connection than what they’d previously had. That wasn’t saying much, perhaps, since prior to her getting pregnant, they hadn’t really been all that close.
Even so, it felt like she knew Julian better than she had before. It was a connection she hadn’t thought they’d be able to develop. But at least on her end, they had.
Leaving the bathroom, she didn’t see Jude and Angie in the bedroom, so she went out into the main part of the suite. Angie was on the couch, while Jude stood near the window, on his phone.
When he ended the call, he turned to them. “Ready to go?”
Was she? Kiara wasn’t sure, but she followed them out of the room without hesitation.