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“You think I don’t know that?” she snaps.
I watch as a bead of sweat rolls down her forehead.
“Stop talking,” I shout. “Let her focus.”
She nods once, keeping her eyes ahead and the plane balanced as best she can as we bob and weave toward the glittering water and the glacier beyond.
“What’s your plan?” Mason asks.
“I’m going to land on the bay.”
“Are you crazy?” Wyatt snaps. “Turn back now.”
“No time,” she says. “Brace for impact.”
“Fuck!” they both bite out over the radio just before she glides us over the water for as long as she can, slowly lowering us as we go. And then, she sets the plane on the water. It bounces a couple of times before we skid to a stop.
Wyatt and Mason order people around in the background and sirens blare as the plane bobs like a cork in the icy cold water. Merritt flips switches and stabilizes the plane as best she can for salvage. I see a harbor patrol boat with a red Kojak light on top swirling frantically as they make their way toward us.
She pulls off her headset and tosses it on the control panel. “Let’s blow this place.”
I hear her lame attempt at a joke and see it for what it is. Her hands shake as she makes her way to the hatch.
“Mer,” I start as I toss my own headset down and try to shake off thoughts of what almost happened—if I’d had to tell her mum that I couldn’t save her. And the tightening in my chest tells me that, even though I’ve known this family for a short while, I’ve claimed them as my own. I would not be okay if something happened to Merritt and not me.
“Don’t,” she interrupts. “Not yet.”
“All right.”
We step out onto the wing and wait. “Fuck, but I loved this plane.”
“There will be others.”
“Yeah.”
And then the Harbor Patrol boat pulls up next to us and helps us onboard, handing us blankets to wrap up in. The waves spray mist around us as the boat cuts through the frigid waters and heads for port.
We’re silent as we ride back, both lost in our thoughts of how badly things could have gone and how bad they already are. But the fact of the matter is, accidents happen. My chute didn’t open right and ended my military career. Bird strikes happen all the time. That doesn’t mean Merritt needs to take as many risks as she does.
When we dock, we walk through the building and Mason is standing out front, leaning against his department vehicle with his arms crossed over his broad chest and a somber expression etched on his face. Not an auspicious start for Merritt.
We climb in. I take the back seat so that she’ll take the front and Mason drives us back to the airfield sans plane. Also, not great.
I’m sure it’ll all be fine.
Chapter 12
Zelda
EMOTIONS
My belly is full of butterflies as I drive away from my house on the hill and through town to the airfield. When Court said I should stop by and meet some of his crew, I was thrilled. I know he said I’m not a vacation fling, but still, if he wants me to meet his people then that has to count for something.
I’m being silly. I’m too old to be insecure like this. Court says that he wants me and I want him, so that’s that. And he’s nothing like him.
I pull into a parking space at the airfield while the Backstreet Boys demand answers on the radio and I shut off the engine, silencing their protests. I’m really more of an LFO fan after all.
I climb from my old SUV and run my palms down the front of my lavender sweater. It’s a cute v-neck with twin braids of cables running down the front. I have a white lace cami under it, and I paired it with faded jeans and tall brown boots. Now I’m wondering if I shouldn’t have taken extra care with my appearance. Does it look like I’m trying too hard? Ugh. I hate feeling like a silly girl.
