AllFreeNovel
Share Us
… And he was dreading it.
There was a reason he hadn’t come home in over ten years – instead he would meet his family on vacations, flying directly there if he had time available to take off. No, he hadn’t been home in forever… because of Samantha.
He never asked about her, never questioned, and everyone seemed willing to let the subject drop without a second thought to where it was never brought up around him. Steeling himself, he prepared to radio in for landing… and to meet her father face-to-face once again.
“Flyboys - come in, please? This is Cessna-five-seven-three-niner requesting permission to land.”
“Cessna-five-seven-three-niner. This is a private airstrip. We deny your request at this time. Please proceed to Tyler for landing. Do you copy?”
“Mrs. Sloan? It’s Toby Saxon requesting to land…” he said, feeling himself sweat at the idea of being denied permission to touch down. Did they deny it because it was him?
That thought was gone a moment later when he heard the instantaneous response that made him smile.
“Little Tobias? Oh, honey – just put down and c’mon in. I just made coffee. It’s Harley…” he heard the relief in the woman’s voice and let out a shaky, nervous laugh.
“Yes, ma’am… and I’d love a cup of coffee, Mrs. Sloan.”
“Call me Harley. I insist – and I’ll see you in a jiffy.”
“Taxi to the hangar?”
“Please – and thank you. I think your daddy wants to fly a bit tonight and I know Luke is, too. We are keeping the runway open for takeoffs and landings.”
Toby stared at the runway as he approached – and noticed that someone had poured a secondary blacktop beside the hangar, complete with anchors and tie downs. There were three other planes waiting – not to mention whatever was currently stored in the hangar.
Touching down easily, he glided forward and coasted down the short ramp to the blacktop before angling his Cessna around to leave - just in case. Harley, Samantha’s mom, might be happy to see him… but her father might not feel the same way.
Climbing out, it surprised him to see a few people headed his way… and couldn’t fight the sting of tears in his eyes as he saw their smiles. His parents’ friends were welcoming him with open arms, and they felt like family. Glory, Hunter, and Harley were there, rushing forward and pulling him into a hug. Even Cody and Ryan walked up, punching him lightly in the arm and ruffling his hair.
“Dang boy… you sure filled out,” Cody grinned. “Finally grew into the family genes? You might be almost as big as your pops!”
“Yes, sir,” Toby laughed, patting his stomach. “I’ve put on a little.”
“Not there,” Ryan smiled knowingly. “You packed on some bulk. Where’s the little string bean we used to toss in the pool?”
“He grew up.”
“I see that… just wait ‘til… oomph!” Cody began and Hunter elbowed him pointedly.
“Welcome back, kiddo,” Hunter interjected. “Your mama will be so happy to see you.”
As if by magic, Toby looked up to see a SUV pulling into the lot. It had barely come to a stop when the passenger side door opened, and he could hear his father yelling as his mother flew out of the vehicle. She ran over, threw her arms around his neck, and hugged him wildly.
“Oh, my gosh… my baby…” his mother sobbed happily, before leaning back to smooth his hair and look him over. “Look at how much you’ve grown! Oh, my gosh, you look so much like your daddy in uniform…”
“Hey kiddo…” his father said, smiling, holding out his hand to shake it before yanking him forward into a bearhug. Toby couldn’t fight the easy chuckle that escaped him as his father hugged him for several minutes, chiding him softly for taking so long to visit.
“You know that’s why we got you that little puddle jumper for graduation – so you can fly home more than once a year…” his father’s gruff and emotional voice was about the best thing Toby had heard in quite some time.
“Love you too, Dad…” he breathed.
“Let’s get that coffee and…” Harley began, and everyone got quiet, causing Toby to look up – meeting the eyes of Samantha’s father, Jackson Sloan.
“Mr. Sloan, how are you, sir?”
“Good – and you, Toby?”
“Much better,” he admitted, smiling. “It’s nice to visit home.”
