Chapter 32 #2
“I don’t mind if you add me in,” Alex was already reaching for her phone, beaming as she settled back into the front seat. “Let’s get a picture.”
I leaned forward so we were both in frame. Alex held her phone up for a selfie, and I couldn’t help the ridiculous grin that spread across my face—still riding the high of watching her fly, of remembering what it felt like to teach someone the thing I loved most.
“Perfect,” she sighed, checking the shot before sending it to me.
I opened my messages and looked at the image—Alex beaming in the front seat, hair still messy, cheeks flushed with excitement. And me behind her, grinning like an idiot, looking happier than I’d felt in months, maybe years. I added her to the family chat group and then sent the picture.
Me: Proof we’re still alive
Alex:
Our phones erupted in a flurry of reactions and chatter. Alex laughed and set her phone to silent before slipping it back in her pocket. “Want to go up again?” she asked, buckling herself back in. “I promise I won’t crash us.”
“Darlin’, after that landing? I’d trust you to fly this thing to California.”
The second flight was even better than the first—Alex was more relaxed, asking questions about different maneuvers, wanting to try steeper turns and a practice approach. I let her explore what the aircraft could do, watching her catalog every response and sensation. She was a natural.
When we finally tied the Cub down and secured the hangar, Alex was vibrating with excitement, talking rapidly about control feel and sight pictures and whether we could try some basic stalls next time.
“You’re hooked,” I slung an arm around her shoulders as we walked back toward the truck.
“Completely,” she leaned into me, still buzzing. “That was the most incredible thing I’ve ever done.”
“Even better than producing award-winning animations and games?”
“No comparison,” she smiled up at me. “Plus, flying involves trusting you with my life, which turns out to be surprisingly appealing.”
I stopped walking and looked down at her—hair completely undone at this point, eyes bright with adrenaline, wearing that expression of complete trust and exhilaration.
The woman who’d learned to fly my grandfather’s plane, who’d thrown herself into something completely outside her expertise because I’d offered to teach her.
“What?” she asked, catching my stare.
“Just... you’re somethin’ else, Alexandra,” I kissed her fiercely.
The sun was starting to sink toward the mountains, painting everything golden by the time we got back to the lodge, cleaned up, and made it to the main house for dinner.
The whole family was waiting for us. Elowyn immediately pulled Alex into a hug, demanding to know every detail of the flight.
Lucas peppered us with questions about how high we’d gone and if we did any tricks.
Even Dad seemed impressed, asking Alex whether she’d be interested in more lessons.
Móraí presided over it all with a serene look on her face.
Alex answered their questions with equal enthusiasm, and I loved that my family had surrounded her, asking questions about her experience rather than if we planned to have children.
I went out back to help Luke at the grill while Mom, Lou, and Belle carried side dishes to the large dining table on the covered patio and Jack, Lucas, and Penny set the table.
I’d forgotten Mom mentioned Lou and Penny would be over for their monthly family dinner as we all sat down, Alex on one side of Lou and Elowyn on the other while I ended up across from them because Belle wanted to sit by Alex.
I watched carefully as Alex asked about Lou’s flower garden.
I smiled to myself—of course she’d looked for ways to connect.
Lou seemed to soften as she told Alex more about the dahlias she was attempting to grow, Alex admitting that even though dahlias were her favorite flower, she felt intimidated about growing them.
“I can’t believe you actually flew the Cub,” Lou said between bites, changing the subject.
“Really, I can’t believe Finn even let someone else fly the Cub.
” She’d flown with me exactly twice when we were together—both times had ended with her white-knuckling the door handle and asking to land as soon as possible.
“She’s got a real talent for it,” I winked at Alex, grinning when she blushed. “It was sorta nice being the passenger for a change.”
“I thought I saw the Cub in the sky today,” Móraí smiled at me, her eyes twinkling with fondness. “Your grandaddy would be proud to know you’re continuing the tradition of sharing your love of the sky.”
“I want to try!” Penny announced from her spot by Jack. “Uncle Finn, I want fly with you!”
I glanced at Alex and then Lou before swallowing and turning back to Penny. “Alex was the pilot and I was just the instructor, kiddo. And flying takes a lot of focus and maturity.”
“But Alex got to do it,” Penny protested. “And I’ve been up with Gramma Bridget and Lucas loads of times!”
“Alex and Grandma Bridget are adults,” I explained carefully. “I didn’t have my first lesson until I was fourteen. When you’re old enough, we’ll see about getting you some proper lessons with a certified instructor.”
Lou’s eyebrows went up slightly at the distinction, but she didn’t say anything. Luke cleared his throat in the awkward silence that followed.
“How about dessert?” Elowyn asked brightly, standing up. “I’ll get us another bottle of wine too. Alex, would you mind helping me? Kids, come get the cake and strawberries.”
Alex stood up and followed Elowyn into the house with the kids as Lou turned to me.
“She just wants to fly with you, Finn,” Lou’s expression darkened. “I don’t know why you can’t just take her up. It’s all she talks about half the time—Uncle Finn and flying.”
“Because I can’t take her up there,” I hissed, heat creeping up my neck. I wasn’t sure what she didn’t understand. “Lou, I’m grounded. I can’t fly. I offered to teach Alex because she was the only one of us that could do it and I trust her implicitly to be able to do what I can’t.”
“I…” Lou’s expression changed as if she finally understood what I’d lost. Her shoulders fell after a moment. “Finn, I’m sorry. I didn’t think—”
“Who’s ready for strawberry shortcake?” Elowyn returned, kids in tow. Alex followed behind with another bottle of wine and a bowl of fresh whipped cream. Her eyes darted between Lou and me, before glancing at her spot by Lou.
“Alex, why don’t you take my spot,” Luke stood and moved around the table. “You should sit by your beau after all.” Alex flashed him a grateful smile. I rubbed my temple, checking for any sign of tension at the sudden shift in mood.
“Hey,” Alex touched my leg and leaned close, “is everything okay?”
“Yeah,” I admitted, covering her hand with mine. “Just a misunderstanding.”
We finished dessert and said our goodbyes.
Maggie escorted us back to the lodge before turning and trotting back to the house.
I led Alex up to our room where we took turns getting ready for bed and settling in against the pillows to look at the pictures I’d taken of her flying, the view from the sky, the magic of the day.
“Is it okay if I post the photo from the first flight?” she asked as I watched her fingers swipe across the screen of her phone—adjusting the lighting and enhancing the colors until we stood out. “I don’t want you to get in trouble.”
“Should be fine,” I kissed her temple. “But thank you for asking. Will you send me the edited version? I’ll post it too.”
My phone dinged.
“What should we caption it?” She opened Instagram.
I thought about it. “Something about first lessons and good students?”
“I was thinking more like...” she paused, considering. “Maybe something about trusting the right person?”
The way she said it—like this was about more than just flying—made my heart expand. I opened my app and typed in my caption.
Sharing Grandpa’s Cub. Some traditions are worth keeping alive.
Alex showed me her caption: Turns out the best way to see the world differently is to trust someone who knows how to show you the sky.
“That’s perfect,” I kissed her. “Thank you for a perfect day.”
“Thank you for trusting me with a piece of your heart.” She set her phone on the nightstand and nestled against me. “I’ll never forget it.”