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“Oh, Endy!” She pushed a duffle off the couch and sat down, taking me in her arms. I breathed in her scent, one I’d always thought of as “foresty” like pine trees and fallen leaves. Dad’s was similar yet different. More leaves, less trees, maybe. I was making a memory to carry me through the long, lonely days. “I hate that you’re going so far away. Your dad and I will miss you every day.”
“Where exactly did you say this place is?” Because they’d never actually said.
“Stop worrying. You’re going to love it. We did!” Still no answer on the location. I was starting to think it might be on the moon or something. “You’re going to make so many friends and learn so many new things. Things you can’t imagine.” Before I could try again to pin her on where exactly I was flying off to, I saw a tear trickle down her cheek.
Reaching up, I touched it and held the sparkling droplet in front of my face. Mom’s tears were opalescent in a way I didn’t think anyone else’s were. Or maybe all mothers were. I hated being the reason she shed them, and over the years it had happened too often. “I’m sorry, Mom. Don’t cry. I’m grateful to have this opportunity. You just made my childhood so happy, it’s hard to leave it behind.”
Dang. Way more tears. “We did our best, but no childhood is perfect. And the only reason we are letting you leave now is all first-year students have to attend the summer session. They do orientation and all the placement testing, and there are also great opportunities to get to know your classmates. Mixers and things. I remember…” She offered me a watery smile. “I met your dad on the first day, did I tell you that?”
I shook my head. Considering how much we talked as a family, they’d never mentioned the academy even once. I knew they went to college and had a vague idea they’d been sweethearts there, but that’s all I had. “No, but I’ll try not to get my hopes up. There’s only one dad, and it’s going to be hard to find a life partner half as awesome.”
“I heard that.” Dad’s grin was belied by his red eyes. If they didn’t get it together, we’d all be huddled in a puddle of salty water. “And I’m glad you recognize my stellar qualities. But, much as I would like to have you two tell me all about them, if we don’t get you loaded up, your flight will be delayed.”
“My…what? Delayed? You mean I’ll miss it, don’t you?” Because they didn’t hold flights for one ordinary passenger. Maybe a king or basketball star. They didn’t answer, just went about gathering all my things and heading for the door.
But one look at the liveried driver waiting on the steps, and the limo beyond made me wonder. I’d expected one of those airport vans or a rideshare at best. “Let me take those things from you, La—ma’am.” He slung my bags over his shoulders and gripped others, managing to take everything from Mom and me, no small feat. He reached for Dad’s load as well, but my father gave an imperious shake of his head and marched toward the open trunk of the car.
“I hope we haven’t delayed you too much, Dexter.” He set his bags in and stepped back to allow the driver to arrange the rest. Mom and I had done the traditional shopping trip for off to college a bit earlier than my friends who had the summer home to hang out at the lake or work part-time jobs or both. If I’d realized it was my last time, I’d have appreciated those lazy sunbaked days last year more. Or maybe it wasn’t my last? If new students went to the summer term, maybe it was a one-time thing. I might be home with my friends next June.
Feeling a little better about that, I kissed Mom and Dad and started to slide into the backseat then hesitated.
“Anything wrong, miss?” the driver, Dexter—how did my dad know him anyway? Maybe from his club?—asked.
“Would you, could I ride up front?”
Mom and Dad, who’d retreated to the porch, watched as the very dignified driver opened the passenger front door and bowed. “As you would, my lady.”
I giggled. “You really do carry this formal thing far, just call me Endy.”
“Please fasten your seat belt, miss. We will be at the airport shortly.”
I’d had the idea that since he seemed so familiar with my dad, he might have helpful information about my destination, but as soon as we started out, he had me pick a station on the radio and answered my attempts to start a conversation with useless answers. Pleasant but completely unhelpful.
“I understand the school I’m going to is far away.”
“Fine night for flying, then.”
“Yes, yes it is. Are you coming with me?”
He flicked a glance at me. “It’s too far to drive.”
I suddenly noticed something odd. “The airport is north of town, but we are going in the opposite direction.”
“It is a different airport.”
After more nonproductive conversation, I settled back in my seat and answered his questions. How did I like high school? Did my parents seem happy? Did they have everything they needed? Were they well? Seemed awfully personal for a driver of an airport car. Even if Dad had known his name.
I’d never seen this airport before. Or maybe it was more like an airfield? A lone hanger stood in the middle of a field about five miles off the highway. As we pulled up, some kind of tractor thing was towing a small jet out of the wide, high building onto a single runway. Dexter parked right next to it, and he and the trailer driver transferred my luggage into the cargo hold and lowered the steps for me to climb aboard. I held the railing and mounted the four stairs hesitantly.
Dexter followed me and moved toward the cockpit. “Just sit anywhere. We don’t have any flight attendants, but once we’re in the air, the copilot will come back and show you where everything is.” He flashed me a smile. “Enjoy your flight, but fasten…”
“My seat belt. I know.” I hesitated just inside the door. “Dexter, I know I live in a small town and haven’t traveled much, but I think almost anyone would be confused right now.”
Chapter Three
Once we were in the air, Dexter came back and sat with me on one of the long white leather couches lining the wall. He showed me where to find delicate cookies in the shapes of leaves and branches, along with pouring us each a tall crystal flute filled with pink, bubbly liquid. I didn’t try either, no matter how much they tempted me.
“It’s not alcoholic, so don’t worry about me drinking and flying.” He took a sip and sighed. “Just delightfully refreshing.”
