Page 47 of The Cloud Catcher

‘Yes, you can.’ Zara squeezed her hand reassuringly. ‘And I’m here for you, whenever you need, day or night, okay.’

‘Thank you, Za, for being the most amazing friend any gal could wish for.’

‘Right back at you, Suz.’

‘Please don’t tell Jay about this yet. I don’t want him saying anything to Mark before I’ve had a chance to get through to him.’ She sniffed. ‘He’ll be so mad if he finds out I’ve spilled what happens behind our closed doors.’

‘Of course, your secret is safe with me.’ And she mimicked zipping her lips to prove it.

If only she could tell Suzanne about the whopping skeleton in her own closet, but too many years of opportunity had passed by, just as they had with Jay, and she didn’t want to disappoint Suzanne by telling her something so big, all these years later.

Just like her parents, Verona Ferrara was dead.

They stayed together a while longer, until Zara’s phone rang against the worn wooden table, its melody a sudden interruption. She glanced at the screen, her fingers pausing mid-air as she recognised the number as work. With a quick, apologetic smile, she answered.

‘Hello, Zara Maverick speaking.’

‘Hi, Zara, it’s Jenna from scheduling. I’ve got a possible new allocation for you.’ Other voices echoed in the background of the call. ‘Brisbane to Prague, can you take it?’

A flutter of excitement stirred in Zara’s chest, like a flock of butterflies awakening to the first light of dawn. ‘Yes, absolutely, Jenna, when do I leave?’

‘Flight leaves day after tomorrow at nine am,’ Jenna replied efficiently.

‘Confirmed, I’ll be there,’ Zara said eagerly, already envisioning the thrilling adventure ahead.

She ended the call and turned back to Suzanne, who’d been watching her with a blend of curiosity and amusement. ‘Guess what? They’ve assigned me a flight to Prague!’ Her voice filled with effervescent delight.

Suzanne’s eyes widened in surprise and a spontaneous grin spread across her face. ‘You’re kidding? That’s my next flight too!’

‘Really?’ Zara couldn’t help but bounce slightly in her seat, revelling in the serendipity of their shared journey.

‘Truly,’ Suzanne confirmed with a nod, her earlier anxieties momentarily swept away by the tide of their shared excitement. ‘We haven’t flown together in forever!’

‘It seems like the universe is conspiring to keep us close,’ Zara mused.

‘I reckon you’re right, my gorgeous friend,’ Suzanne added with a playful wink.

They sat for a moment, relishing the synchronicity of life suddenly aligning in their favour. Within the short silence, the air between them was charged with the promise of adventure, the kind that could only be found thousands of feet above the ground, where the clouds whispered secrets of distant lands, and mountain peaks reached for outer space.

‘Prague is going to be even more incredible now that you’re going to be with me,’ Suzanne said, leaning forward with a new twinkle in her eyes. ‘The cobblestone streets, the history, I know you’re going to adore it just as much as me. It’s honestly like stepping into another world.’

‘Another world, hey,’ Zara echoed softly, her thoughts drifting to the journey ahead, each destination a harbour for her wandering soul. ‘Sounds wonderful to me.’

‘Yes, and seeing as it’s your very first time on Czech soil, and we haven’t had a flight together in forever, let’s make it a trip to remember,’ Suzanne suggested, her voice a rolling tide pulling Zara back to the present.

‘Oh, yes, absolutely!’ Zara agreed wholeheartedly. ‘I’ve missed discovering far-reaching places with you, Suz.’

‘My partner in crime, back in full form and ready to do the time with me,’ Suzanne added with a snort-filled giggle, cracking Zara up.

Their laughter mingled with the clink of coffee cups and the murmur of other café patrons, a symphony of everyday life against which their extraordinary friendship played a beautiful counterpoint. And as they enjoyed their second round of coffees and shared more hopes for their upcoming flight to Prague, Zara was reminded once again that sometimes the most remarkable journeys were taken not on wings of metal, but on those of love and friendship.

* * *

Two days later, the cabin of the aircraft hummed in a subtle undercurrent to Zara’s quickened heartbeat. The soft glow of the lights on the overhead compartments cast an amber hue on her rhythmic footsteps, while a mix of excitement and nervousness flickered in her eyes. The distinct scent of recycled air and leather seats enveloped her as she wandered the empty aisles, making sure everything was shipshape, the comfortingly familiar aromas mingling with the lingering traces of her own delicate floral perfume.

‘Welcome aboard, Mrs Maverick, it’s been a while,’ she murmured to herself, as her gaze swept across the rows of empty seats awaiting their passengers.

The international flight felt like a vessel not just through the skies but also through time, bridging the gap between the frantic routine of her daily life and the promise of familial warmth upon her return. With practised precision, she went back to the galley and stowed her luggage neatly in the crew compartment. Each item had its designated place, much like each thought that floated through her mind — a set of responsibilities and dreams, and the unyielding pull of wanderlust that both anchored and lifted her spirit.