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She sighs and sets it on the seat beside her, giving me an impatient look. “Sorry, time doesn’t stand still while we’re in Kansas. There are things that have to be done, and since I’m the only one who seems to care—”
“That’s not fair. You know what I’ve been dealing with. What am I supposed to do—put everything on hold until after the wedding?”
I’m cryptic since the crew is moving around the plane, preparing for takeoff. The last thing I need is for the press to catch wind of Monica because of my flight attendants.
“It’s all you care about lately. What about me? You think this isn’t hard on me?”
I unclip my belt and cross the aisle to sit beside her. I pick up her phone and tilt her chin around to face me. “I know, and I’m sorry. I understand that the timing of all this sucks. But we have to be a team to get through these next couple months. There’s so much going on, and it’s going to be an adjustment for all of us.”
She shifts in her seat to face me. “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
She hesitates, and I know whatever she’s going to say, I’m probably not going to like it.
“How do you see this whole thing playing out?”
My forehead wrinkles. “What do you mean?”
“After the wedding and after Monica is used to me… how do you see this working?”
She’s not asking something I haven’t wondered a million times. At this point though, I’m trying to take it one day at a time.
“I’m not sure exactly, but it will.”
“Are they going to move out to California? We’re certainly not moving to Kansas.” She must see something in my face because she doesn’t allow me to respond. “You’ve got to be kidding me. I’m not moving to the middle of nowhere, James.”
“I’m not saying you should. But if it means that I have to get a place out here for when I visit, I will.”
“So what? You’re going to spend every weekend here until she’s eighteen?”
I push a hand through my hair. “I don’t know!”
The flight attendant pops out of the cockpit to make sure everything is okay. I reassure her it is, and she tells me we’ll be ready for takeoff in a few minutes. I turn my attention back to Adelaide once she disappears.
I lower my voice. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. But I do know that Lilah and I will work it out, all right? We both want what’s best for her. Now, I don’t know if that means uprooting her from everything she’s ever known or not. But we’ll figure it out, okay?”
“And I have no say?” At least she’s keeping her voice low so no one hears.
“No, you do, but you’re an adult. She’s five.”
“Whatever you say.” She plucks her phone out of my hand and types away again, not missing a beat.
With an exasperated sigh, I cross the aisle and buckle back into my seat, staring out the window.
The pilot announces we’re cleared for takeoff. I stare out the window as the plane speeds down the runway, my heart pricking as the fields of Kansas disappear while we ascend. I’m torn between the life I’m getting ready to live with Adelaide and the new role of father thrown into my lap.
And though I completely understand why Adelaide is struggling to see where she fits, my daughter’s needs come first.
When the pilot comes on the overhead speaker to let us know we’re free to roam about the cabin, Adelaide undoes her seatbelt and sits down beside me.
“I’m sorry. It’s just… I don’t want to see her hurt you again. This whole thing has sent me for a loop, but it’s you I’m worried about.”
“What do you mean?” I undo my belt and shift so I face her.
Her hand falls to my thigh. “You haven’t even had a DNA test yet, honey. I’ll admit the girl does resemble you, especially her eyes, but you don’t know with certainty that she’s yours, yet you’re already so invested.”
I stare blankly. “Adelaide, she’s my daughter. Anyone can see that.”
