Chapter 12
Twelve
CAITLIN
Caitlin gripped the steering wheel, her knuckles turning white as she swerved into the gas station, her eyes locking onto the familiar truck with the Baird Farm logo stamped on the door. Relief washed over her—it wasn’t Jason.
Instead, it was Matthew, who was now leaning casually against the pump, grinning like an idiot as he filled his tank. The way his shoulders shook with barely contained laughter at her expense only fueled her frustration.
“Help me out,” she hissed, stepping out of her car and crossing her arms.
Matthew didn’t even pretend to take her seriously. He tilted his head back, his grin widening. “You are really sweating this, aren’t you?”
“Obviously! I have no idea what to get Jason for his birthday. I’ve been racking my brain, and I’m coming up blank. What does he even like? Would he want a book? A new pair of boots? Or maybe…”
“Forget it.” Matthew shook his head, his laughter spilling over as he watched her struggle. “It’s just my grumpy brother’s birthday. He’ll probably find some reason to complain, just like last year.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Last year, you told me you spray-painted a hay bale to look like a giant cupcake.”
Matthew puffed up his chest, feigning pride. “And it was a masterpiece.”
Caitlin shot him a pointed look. “You said he was mad about it.”
“Only because it ‘rendered it unusable for consumption,’” Matthew mocked, mimicking Jason’s gruff voice with an exaggerated scowl.
She couldn’t help but snicker. “Okay, that’s fair.”
“Don’t side with him!” Matthew groaned, throwing his hands up. “It was creative! I even put a candle on top.”
Caitlin winced. “Oh boy…”
“Yeah, he really didn’t like it when the ‘cupcake’ caught on fire.”
Her lips parted in horror. “It caught on fire?”
“Lesson learned—no candles. Or substitute candles.”
Caitlin shook her head, rubbing her temples. “So, what are you getting him this year?”
Matthew’s expression turned mischievous as he leaned in. “Weed.”
She froze, her jaw dropping. “You did not .”
“I most certainly did,” he deadpanned. “Several bags of weed and feed for his lawn.”
It took a second for the words to sink in. Then she let out an exasperated groan. “Matthew!”
His laughter erupted, full-bodied and infectious. “What? You didn’t actually think I’d buy my brother pot, did you?” He winked at her, clearly enjoying her reaction.
“You’re not right in the head.”
Matthew leaned against the truck, arms crossed, a knowing smirk settling on his face. “And you are completely out of your mind over him.”
Caitlin stilled, feeling heat creep up her neck. “I am not.”
“Oh, please.” He rolled his eyes. “You’re sweating bullets over a birthday present. Just ask him out to do something fun.”
She let out a humorless laugh. “And what does Jason do for fun?”
“Nothing,” Matthew said bluntly. “So good luck with that.”
She groaned. “You are no help.”
“Sure, I am. I gave you a great suggestion—give him the ol’ V card. Unless you’ve already done that…” Matthew’s voice trailed off, his grin turning downright evil. “Wait a second. He is happier around you. Caitlin Barnes—did you and my brother do the nasty?”
Her face burst into flames. “Matthew!”
He clutched his chest in mock horror, gasping dramatically. “And you think I’m terrible for indulging in a little fun.”
“You are terrible! And no , I haven’t slept with him.”
Matthew waggled his eyebrows. “I didn’t say anything about sleeping. I mentioned sex. ”
She groaned, pressing her hands to her face. “Well…I might have slept, but it was just sleeping —and we didn’t…”
“What?!” He practically yelped. “Did you and Jase sleep together —like sleep sleep ?”
“Can you keep your voice down?” she hissed, glancing around.
“Oh wow…” Matthew exhaled, rubbing a hand over his jaw like he was rethinking everything he knew about his brother. “My brother actually crossed a line.”
“No, he didn’t! It was perfectly innocent.”
“Did he make you breakfast the next morning?” Matthew asked, eyeing her.
Caitlin hesitated. “…Yes.”
“Ohhh, boy.” His lips twitched. “Was it cereal or something more?”
“He made these little pancakes with pineapple rings and?—”
Matthew’s head snapped back. “Are you freakin’ kidding me? ”
Caitlin frowned. “They were good. Are they famous?”
“To me, they are! Because we only get them on Christmas morning. ”
Her mouth parted. “Oh really?”
Matthew threw his arms in the air. “What the heck— I’m calling him. ”
“No, you’re not!” Caitlin screeched, launching forward to wrestle the phone out of his hands.
Matthew laughed as she fought him, one hand gripping his phone, the other holding her at bay. “You’re panicking —that means it’s juicy. ”
“Matthew, don’t! ” she pleaded, gripping his wrist. “I came to you for help because I want to impress your brother! Don’t ruin this by telling him I told you—it was special to me.” Something flickered in his gaze—something unreadable, something that made her heart pound in her chest like she’d just exposed a raw nerve.
Matthew’s jaw ticked, his lips pressing into a thin line as he studied her. Then his brows lifted slightly, a slow smirk forming as realization dawned. “You really like him, don’t you? More than just a crush…”
Caitlin swallowed hard, heat creeping up her neck. “I think he’s amazing.”
“My brother? My brother Jason Edward Baird? The stuck-up twerp who acts like he knows everything and?—”
“It’s more than a crush,” she whispered, feeling like the words themselves were an admission of something huge, something irrevocable. She met Matthew’s gaze and for the first time, she truly saw it—the similarities between him and Jason, the shared sharp intelligence, the way their humor masked something deeper. But where Jason was all hard edges and restrained emotion, Matthew was wide open, expressive, and easy to read.
“Matthew,” she murmured, shifting closer. “Remember how at prom we said we’d never try kissing again because there was no spark? No butterflies? That we’d just be friends forever and spend our golden years yelling at people from our rockers in a nursing home?”
“Yeah…” he nodded slowly, wariness creeping into his tone.
“I found the spark, the butterflies…”
Matthew groaned, throwing his head back dramatically. “Do I want to hear this?”
She pressed forward, determined. “It’s not just a spark, Matthew. It’s an inferno. And those butterflies? They don’t just flutter. They swarm when he looks at me…”
“ Ohhhgawd ,” Matthew drawled, his entire body recoiling as if she had just confessed to something truly horrifying. His hands lifted as if to physically ward off the mental image. “You’re in love with the dork.”
Caitlin bit her lip, the admission tasting both terrifying and exhilarating. “Falling fast…”
Matthew let out a sharp bark of laughter, shaking his head. “Hussy, you’ve done tripped and belly-flopped into it.” His voice was warm and teasing, but there was something else there, too. A quiet acceptance. Then, before she could react, he yanked her into a hug, squeezing her tight.
Her chest squeezed painfully at the unexpected show of support. She buried her face against his shoulder, inhaling the familiar scent of his soap and aftershave—the scent of years of friendship, of safety.
“You’d be an okay sister-in-law, you know?” he murmured, his tone softer now.
Caitlin groaned, shoving at his chest. “Shut up, dork. It’s not like that.” She stepped back, hands on her hips. “We haven’t talked about anything serious, okay? We were discussing birthday gift ideas for your brother, not my relationship with him.”
Matthew cocked his head, a lopsided grin tugging at his lips. “Look,” he said, eyes gleaming with mischief. “He likes thoughtful stuff, things that would blow his mind—things he wouldn’t expect. Just make it emotional or meaningful, toss a little kiss his way, and he’ll be happy.”
She huffed, crossing her arms. “You’re sure?”
“Yup,” he said, popping the ‘p.’ “Think of something that would hit him hard, that shows you actually listen and care, and he’ll be a puddle of goo… or, well, as gooey as the dork could possibly get. Actually,” he shuddered dramatically, “I do not want to think of you, my older brother, or goo in the same sentence.”
Caitlin rolled her eyes as he physically shook off the thought, muttering in disgust before letting out a laugh.
She threw her hands in the air. “Great. Sooooo helpful. I still don’t have a single clue about what would blow his mind?—”
Then she stopped.
Her thoughts clicked into place like a puzzle finally completed.
Matthew noticed immediately. His grin faded as he studied her face. “What?”
A slow, secretive smile curled on her lips. “I think I thought of something.”
Matthew straightened, eyes narrowing in interest. “What is it?”
She smirked, tilting her head. “I’m not telling you.”
His mouth dropped open in mock outrage. “What?! Why not? I’m your best friend!”
“And his brother. So I don’t want you to blab or ruin the surprise.”
“I’m not gonna ruin it!”
“No, you aren’t .”
Matthew pointed at her accusingly. “You really aren’t going to tell me?”
“Nope.”
He exhaled loudly, shaking his head. “Wow. I guess this is important to you. You’re breaking the bestie bond for my brother.”
Caitlin grinned, triumphant. “Belly flopped, remember?”
“Hard.”
They locked eyes, a silent understanding passing between them before they both burst into laughter.
Then, with an exaggerated sigh, Matthew opened his arms. “Fine. Come here, you absolute traitor.”
She stepped into the hug without hesitation, melting into the warmth of his familiar embrace. He rested his cheek against her hair, his voice quieter now. “Good. I think it’s awesome. Just… be patient with him, okay? Don’t give up.”
“I’m not,” she promised, gripping him tighter.
“Tell me what you’re gonna do for his birthday.”
“I’m not,” she repeated, laughing as he groaned dramatically.
“You’re killing me, Cait.”
“Good.”
There was no way she was uttering a syllable – not until she was ready to surprise Jason. The others could find out after the fact. Now, she had a stop to make to put her plan into action.
* * *
Three days later, Caitlin finally picked up the phone and called Jason.
She told herself she was keeping it casual, that this wasn’t a big deal, but her heart clearly hadn’t gotten the memo. It hammered inside her chest, a stubborn, reckless thing that refused to listen to reason. She ran her fingers through her hair, exhaling slowly as the line rang.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Maybe he wouldn’t answer. Maybe he was too busy. Maybe this was stupid?—
“Hello?”
His voice came through the line, breathless and slightly rough, as if he’d been running. She heard the faint rustling of wind, the distant sound of something creaking, like a gate or a fence.
“Hey,” she said, forcing a cheery tone even though her nerves coiled tight inside her. “Are you busy? Do you have a second to talk?”
“Depends.” His voice was dry, laced with something that sounded dangerously close to irritation. “Are you going to spike my breakfast with a candle, give me a pack of Depends, slip me a prescription for Viagra—which, knowing my siblings, would actually be blue jelly beans—a six-pack of Ensure, or a nice plastic case to put my dentures in?”
Caitlin blinked, her lips twitching despite herself. “Well, no,” she drawled, stretching out the words, “but those are creative—aren’t they?”
“They’re something ,” he muttered. “Which is why I’m spending the day out in the field checking the fencing. It’s boring, only takes one person, and—most importantly—I don’t have to listen to a bunch of people cracking jokes about my knees aching, my back giving out, or whether I’m due for a hip replacement.”
Ah. There it is.
Caitlin bit her lip, immediately recognizing the mood he was in. He wasn’t just grumpy—he was sulking. Brooding. Nursing his irritation like a stiff drink. And yet, beneath the sharpness in his tone, she heard something else, too. Something tired.
Something…lonely.
Her fingers tightened around the phone.
“Oh,” she whispered, unsure how to step around the invisible tripwire she suddenly felt between them. “If now is a bad time, I can?—”
“Caitlin.”
Her breath caught at the way he said her name. A rough exhale. A weary surrender.
“Hearing your voice has been the best moment of my birthday so far,” he admitted, softer now. The edge in his voice dulled just a fraction. “And I’m sorry I’m grumpy.”
Her heart did something traitorous in her chest.
“Well,” she murmured, choosing her next words carefully, “how about a small kidnapping?”
There was a beat of silence. Then?—
“A kidnapping, huh?” His voice lost its earlier stiffness, amusement curling around the words like smoke. “I won’t fight very hard.”
Caitlin smiled, warmth creeping through her as she reached for her keys. “Good,” she said, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
The morning sunbathed the world in gold, rising higher into a sky so blue it was almost blinding. The air smelled like freshly cut grass, warm earth, and the lingering sweetness of honeysuckle drifting in from the fence line. It was the kind of day that begged to be savored—perfect for a birthday, even if the birthday boy himself wanted nothing to do with it.
This time, she didn’t hesitate. “Good,” she smiled, her voice laced with mischief. “See you in a few—and no hay bales were injured in this attempt. I promise.”
Jason’s deep chuckle rumbled through the phone, and she grinned as she ended the call. That sound did things to her—things she wasn’t about to admit out loud.
Minutes later, she pulled onto the gravel driveway, her tires crunching against the stones as she waved at Toni, who was peering through the window like a nosy neighbor with far too much free time. The front door creaked open just as Jason stepped around the corner, looking as exasperated as ever.
“Hey Caitlin, are you going to come have cake with us tonight?” Toni asked, her grin wide and knowing.
Caitlin hesitated, a small pang of something unsettling curling in her chest. Jason hadn’t mentioned anything about her joining them.
“Uh…” she started, but before she could formulate a polite excuse, Jason’s voice cut in, firm and decisive.
“Yes,” he said, tossing the words over his shoulder like it was a done deal. Then he shot a pointed look at his sister. “You should have asked her the other day instead of now. What if we had plans already?”
Toni scoffed, undeterred. “When you bring the birthday boy back—can you bring him back with a different attitude?” She stuck out her tongue at him in classic sibling rivalry fashion.
Jason rolled his eyes so hard Caitlin was surprised they didn’t get stuck that way.
“Don’t they realize I don’t want to think about getting older?” he grumbled, mostly to himself. “It makes me think about everything that’s passed me by, all the things I wanted to do differently, and I don’t feel old. I feel like a seventeen-year-old boy trapped in a thirty-four-year-old man’s body—who has all the bills and stress to go with it.”
Caitlin let out a breath, studying him with an unreadable expression before holding out her hands expectantly. “Hands.”
He blinked at her. “No comment?”
“Hands,” she repeated, unwavering.
Suspicion flickered across his face as he slowly extended them, palms up. The second he did, she snapped a pink fuzzy handcuff around one wrist.
“What the—” Jason recoiled, eyes nearly popping out of his head.
Without giving him a chance to react, she locked the other cuff onto his other wrist and tugged him forward.
“Caitlin,” he sputtered, stumbling after her. “What is going on?”
She turned with a wicked grin. “I’m kidnapping you for your birthday.”
His jaw dropped. “I thought you were joking.”
“I never joke about birthdays,” she informed him, leading him toward her car as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “And this is the last one you get to act like a sourpuss. Birthdays are to be celebrated as markers of a life well lived, so today, you’re going to live it up to the fullest.”
“Caitlin…”
“Nope.” She spun on her heel, planting a finger against his lips before he could argue. “Unless it’s positive or happy, keep it to yourself.”
His mouth twitched like he wanted to protest, but she yanked off his cowboy hat, tossed it in the back seat of her car, and then shoved him into the passenger seat before he could form a coherent response. The car door slammed, sealing his fate.
Jason stared down at his handcuffed wrists in disbelief. Then he let out a low chuckle. “I can’t believe you just did that.”
She climbed into the driver’s seat, throwing the car into reverse with a flourish, as if she were making a grand escape. “Believe it, birthday boy.”
He shook his head, laughing as he lifted his bound hands. “You do realize I’m not buckled, right?”
“We’re just going up the road,” she replied, eyes on the road as she sped away from the farmhouse. “So don’t distract me.”
Jason leaned back, amusement sparking in his gaze. “Catnip, what is going on?”
She smirked. “You’re getting your dream—in a fashion.”
He blinked, clearly confused. “Huh?”
Instead of answering, she made a sharp right turn, then another, pulling into a gravel parking lot. The place was quiet except for the distant hum of machinery and the occasional laugh from somewhere inside.
Jason’s brows furrowed as he scanned the surroundings. “What are we doing here?”
Caitlin shut off the car, hopped out, and strode around to his side. She opened his door with a flourish, watching as he took in the scene before him. The moment recognition dawned in his eyes, his entire expression shifted—from confusion to something bordering on awe.
“What did you do?” he whispered, his voice hushed with disbelief.
Caitlin merely smiled, reaching for the handcuffs. “Taking these off so no one teases you,” she replied, but the look in her eyes told him there was a lot more to it than that.
Jason swallowed hard, still staring. And for the first time that day, he looked like a man who’d forgotten all about his age, his regrets, and the years that had passed him by. Instead, he looked like a kid on the verge of something incredible.
Caitlin watched as Jason unfolded from the car, his movements slow, almost hesitant, like a man stepping into unfamiliar territory. His eyes scanned the surroundings, curiosity and confusion battling for dominance in those stormy depths. The crisp scent of airplane fuel hung in the air, mixing with the warm breeze that carried the distant hum of engines. He turned to her, his brows drawn together in a questioning look.
She reached out, brushing her fingers over the rough stubble on his cheek, her touch soft but intentional. “I gave you the best birthday present I could think of,” she murmured, her voice tender yet unwavering. The way he looked at her made her chest ache—like he was trying to memorize every detail, trying to understand why she would do this for him.
“I wanted to give you a chance to see what could have been," she continued, her voice thick with emotion, "a bit of an escape, and a memory that we can always share. I know you missed out, but you are not dead just because you stayed behind to help your family. Every day is a new chance, Jason—a new beginning. And you should really start making the most of it.” She let out a slow breath, willing him to see what she saw—that his life was still wide open, full of possibilities. “And there’s no better time to start than with a celebration of your life.”
Jason’s expression shifted and something sparked behind his eyes. Disbelief. Wonder. And then—realization.
“At Flyboys?” he asked hoarsely, like he was afraid to hope.
She nodded, unable to stop the tearful smile tugging at her lips. “We’re taking a discovery flight. And you, Jason Baird, are going to fly a plane today because it’s long overdue to you, my friend.”
His lips parted slightly, but no words came out at first. Then, just as the stunned silence stretched between them, a figure approached—a man in sunglasses and a flight suit, his grin easy, his stride confident.
“Hey there. Jason Baird? Are you my ten o’clock?” the man greeted, extending his hand. “My name’s Anthony Blake, but you can call me Teflon. I’m gonna be taking you up today. You’ve got an hour booked—ask questions, fly for a bit, help me land—whatever you choose, aviator.”
Jason exhaled sharply, like the breath had been punched out of him. “You’re kidding…” he breathed. His voice wavered slightly, and then—he laughed. A real, genuine, disbelieving laugh, the sound of a man who had just been handed back a piece of himself he thought was long gone. His fingers found Caitlin’s without hesitation, lacing through hers, holding on tight.
“This is incredible.” His voice was raw, unguarded.
Caitlin squeezed his hand, feeling the unspoken emotions crackling between them. You deserve this, she wanted to say. You deserve more than just surviving and watching out for everyone else.
Teflon grinned. “Just wait… And happy birthday, sir. Let’s make it a memorable one. Are you ready to go?”
Jason looked at the small aircraft waiting for him, then back at Caitlin, his gaze filled with something she couldn’t quite name—but it made her heart clench in the best possible way.
“Yeah.” His voice was steady now, brimming with excitement. It was the same tone a little boy might use when handed the keys to his dream car.
Caitlin laughed at his joy, the sight of it filling her with warmth.
As they neared the plane, she hesitated, pointing toward the small building nearby. “I’ll wait there.”
Jason’s grip tightened on her hand. “Come with me.”
There was something almost pleading in his voice, and it caught her off guard. Before she could answer, Teflon chimed in.
“We’ve got the space,” he offered. “Might be a little tight in the back seat, but if you want to take pictures or a video of him flying, there’s no better view.”
She hesitated for only a second before nodding. “All right.”
Jason’s grin widened, and she didn’t miss the way relief flickered across his face—like he didn’t quite want to do this alone.
She stepped back as Jason and Teflon moved through the preflight checks, their conversation filled with technical terms she didn’t fully understand but could appreciate. Every now and then, someone would walk past, offering Jason a handshake and a birthday wish. The camaraderie was undeniable—strangers, yet bound by a shared love of the skies. It was a side of him she had never seen before, a glimpse into what could have been if life had played out differently.
And yet… he was here. Now .
“All right,” Teflon finally announced about ten minutes later. “We’re ready. Caitlin—ladies first.”
She swallowed, suddenly acutely aware of how fast her heart was beating. Jason was still holding her hand, and as they stepped toward the aircraft, she glanced up at him. His eyes were bright, alive in a way she hadn’t seen in a long, long time. And at that moment, she knew—this was more than just a birthday present.
This was a turning point.
Caitlin knew it in the marrow of her bones.
It was as if she’d cracked open a door into Jason’s soul and glimpsed the part of him he kept locked away. Instead of retreating, she had thrown the door wide open and marched in with banners flying. He had spent so long believing that certain things were beyond his reach—flying, dreaming, allowing himself joy—but she had other ideas. She was determined to prove to him that impossible was just a word, not a reality.
And these people? They were his neighbors, his community. They saw something in him that he refused to see in himself: a man worthy of celebration. A man deserving of happiness.
Jason was stubborn to a fault, always overworked, always pushing forward like a horse with blinders, too focused on responsibilities to even consider what he might want. But she saw him. She saw past the burden he carried, past the endless weight he bore. And if he had once dreamed of flying, there was no reason he couldn’t still do it.
The opportunity was right next door at Flyboys. A business that started as a dream, a chance, and had grown exponentially from there. Everyone in Yonder knew about the flight school and its humble beginnings – and it was still growing. The did charter flights now, taught classes, and helped the community whenever they could… just like Jason.
So she was here in a tiny, rickety-looking plane that seemed more like a toy than an actual aircraft, with a propeller that didn’t inspire confidence. The metal step beneath her foot felt insubstantial, as if at any moment it might betray her, sending her plummeting to the ground before they even left it. She swallowed hard, fighting the overwhelming instinct to step back—to keep stepping until she was safely out of sight.
Jason was already in his seat, his face alight with an unguarded, boyish joy that Caitlin had never seen before. It stole her breath, that smile. It reached all the way to his eyes, brushing away years of stress and duty, stripping him down to something raw and real.
And she was doing this for him.
For them.
Let it be known, by all who bore witness, that Caitlin Barnes had never once in her life wanted to fly. Not in a plane this small. Not in a plane this breakable . She was a Navy girl. She worked at a desk. She liked her feet on solid ground where the laws of physics behaved predictably, not in the sky where things could go wrong .
Dating Jason had already pulled her far beyond her comfort zone—this was just another step into the great unknown. Still, she climbed in, hands gripping the sides of her seat like a lifeline, heart hammering against her ribs.
Jason was already putting on his headset, his enthusiasm bubbling over, completely unaware of her inner turmoil. Teflon, their pilot, continued his pre-flight checks, rattling off instructions to Jason with an ease that suggested he had done this a thousand times before. Caitlin, on the other hand, sat frozen, watching the exchange with growing unease.
Teflon turned, handing her a headset. “Here you go—so you can hear us during the flight.”
“It’s gonna be loud?” Caitlin asked, surprised.
“Windy,” Teflon clarified.
Windy. Loud. Unpredictable. Fantastic .
“Are we ready?”
“Yes,” Jason answered without hesitation, his voice practically vibrating with excitement.
Teflon grinned. “Let’s go then.”
Caitlin fumbled to put on the headset, only half-listening as a voice crackled through.
"Cessna 5739, the runway is clear. Bank right at three thousand feet and have a good time. And to the Birthday Boy… welcome to our world finally. So – Mr. Honorary Flyboy—are you ready to sell us some property yet?"
Jason chuckled, shaking his head. “No, sorry, Petersen. I’m not selling yet.”
"Had to try, man. No offense."
“None taken.”
"Have a great birthday flight, Baird."
The plane lurched forward.
Caitlin’s stomach lurched with it.
Her fingers clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white, nails digging into her thighs as they picked up speed. The moment they lifted off the ground, leaving solid earth behind, something primal and unhinged clawed its way up her throat.
Jason inhaled sharply in front of her. “Whoa…”
Caitlin couldn’t respond. She couldn’t breathe.
The world tilted.
Her pulse pounded in her ears, drowning out everything except the deafening realization that she was no longer in control of her own fate. Her muscles locked up, chest tightening, sweat slicking her palms. This was unnatural.
This was wrong .
Jason was staring straight ahead, his expression unreadable—until they hit an air pocket.
The plane dropped .
A strangled, high-pitched noise escaped her lips before she even realized it was her own.
Teflon jerked his head back. “Why’s she screaming?”
“Catnip?!” Jason’s voice was sharp with concern.
And then—another drop.
Caitlin screamed.
Jason screamed.
Teflon screamed.
A chorus of frantic voices erupted in the headset, overlapping in a cacophony of noise.
"Teflon, come in?"
"What’s your oil pressure?"
"What’s the altimeter reading?"
"Why’s everyone screaming?"
“Are we on the right frequency?”
“Is there another radio frequency that is only for screaming?”
"Is there a wolf spider in the plane? My wife found one in her toolbox and ? —"
"YOU’RE NOT HELPING!"
Teflon turned in his seat, exasperated and hollering wildly over his shoulder at Caitlin and then at Jason. “WHY ARE YOU SCREAMING?”
Jason pointed wildly at Caitlin. “I’M SCREAMING BECAUSE SHE’S SCREAMING!”
“I’M SCREAMING BECAUSE WE’RE ALL ABOUT TO DIE!” Caitlin shot back, gripping Jason’s shoulder like she could somehow transfer her terror to him.
“You’re NOT about to die,” Teflon groaned in supreme frustration and disbelief. “You’re just flying .”
Jason’s voice cracked. “FALLING! We’re falling and IT FEELS A LOT LIKE DYING.”
“We’re not falling – and oh my gosh, can you stop screaming?!” Teflon hollered at Caitlin.
“I’M SCREAMING BECAUSE YOU’RE SCREAMING!”
“I’M SCREAMING BECAUSE SHE’S SCREAMING—AND I’M FREAKIN’ SCARED!” Jason clutched Caitlin’s hand like a lifeline. “GET ME OUTTA THIS THING!”
Chaos reigned.
Teflon was yelling at them to shut up so he could land, Caitlin was hanging onto Jason like he was the only solid thing in existence, and Jason… Jason looked like he might throw up at any second.
This was not how today was supposed to go.
The second they touched down, they scrambled out of the plane as if the devil himself was chasing them. A swarm of concerned faces closed in, peppering them with questions.
“What just happened?”
“Teflon, what did you do?”
“Did something go wrong with the plane?”
“We can’t afford bad publicity?—”
“Baird, you okay, buddy?”
“Miss Barnes, are you going to be ill?”
Caitlin was on all fours there on the runway, wobbly and dazed, feeling like a newborn foal that had barely survived its first few steps. Beside her, Jason swayed slightly on his feet, his expression still somewhere between terror and disbelief.
And then—she looked up at him.
Their gazes met, and a realization struck them at the same time. She climbed to her feet, not breaking the look between them, almost in a silent communication between them.
An understanding.
If life had gone differently… if fate had played a crueler hand… Jason might have actually been in the Air Force. This moment—this horrifying, hilarious, utterly ridiculous moment—could have been a soul-crushing realization. Instead, it was a mental door slamming shut, closing off one of his ‘What if’ possibilities in his head. Maybe he was meant to be home. And that?
That was funny.
Ironic .
Jason cracked first, his lips twitching before he dissolved into helpless, manic laughter. Caitlin followed an instant later, clutching his arm as giggles overtook her, their shared hysteria consuming them both.
They clung to each other, gasping for breath between bouts of laughter, as bystanders awkwardly thrust sodas and free T-shirts at them—anything to keep them from leaving a bad review.
They wouldn’t.
Because they had just learned something important.
They were not aviators.
And that was absolutely, perfectly okay.