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“The northern lights? Excuse me? I did not have booze in my coffee this morning. You have lost your effing mind. This sounds like somethingIwould do!”
“I know. Isn’t it great? See that helicopter over there? It’s Gage’s. It’s going to fly us to the airport.”
“The hell it is!”
Genevieve bent and picked up a large red duffel bag waiting in the basket. She handed it to Helen, then picked up the green duffel. “Would you help with this? When Mark gives the word, we’re dropping them. Each package has a little parachute. It should open on its own. Right, Mark?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Wait a minute. Wait just one minute. What is this?”
“Birthday presents. Everybody gets a present. My kids each get special ones. They’re labeled.”
“Who do you think you are? Oprah?”
Genevieve laughed. “Actually, that’s almost true.” She fished her phone from her pocket and navigated to thephotos. She handed her phone to her sister, saying, “Everybody gets a car!”
Gaping, Helen looked from her sister to the phone. Seeing the first photo, she gasped. “Oh, honey.” She scrolled to the second photo and then to the third. “Who did these? Did you do these?”
“I did. They’re a birthday love letter to my family.” Genevieve’s voice rang with pride. “Those drawing classes were worth the money.”
“David and his classic Mustang. You captured him perfectly. And his car! The kids will be over the moon.” She looked up in horror. “You’re throwing these out of a balloon?”
“They’re packaged for it.” She paused a moment, then asked, “You will go to Iceland with me, won’t you?”
“Oh, Genevieve. I want to go, but how can I? Last year, I’d have gone in a heartbeat. But now I’m the mayor! I can’t just up and take a vacation out of the blue. I made a commitment. What will people say?”
“They’ll say that you’ve done more in three months than that last bozo did in three years. They’ll say that your city manager has Lake in the Clouds running smoothly. They’ll say that your sister anticipated your objections and dealt with them so that you could leave town with a clear conscience.”
Helen narrowed her eyes. “What did you do?”
Genevieve offered her sister a self-satisfied smile. “In addition to filling Nicole Vandersall in on the plan and enlisting her help to free up your calendar, I arranged for a celebrity mayor pro tempore to cover for you until we return.”
“A celebrity mayor! Who…?”
“Celeste Blessing from Eternity Springs.”
“Oh,” Helen said reverently. Everyone in Colorado knewCeleste Blessing from Eternity Springs. Nobody could do the job better. “But I don’t have my passport. I’d need to pack a bag.”
Genevieve proudly lifted her chin. “I have that covered. Remember yesterday when I ran to the store for more butter?”
“I do. It took you forever.”
“Well, I didn’t go to the store. I went to your place, used my key, and packed everything you’ll need.”
A note of admiration in her tone, Helen said, “Sneaky.”
Genevieve recognized her due with a nod, then grasped her sister’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “Come with me, Helen. Let’s go find the northern lights. Let’s live this life hard.”
The balloon drifted lower. Gathered in front of Raindrop Lodge, Genevieve’s children began to laugh and wave upon identifying the occupants of the hot-air balloon’s basket. Helen snorted a laugh. “You’re really going to ditch your own sixtieth birthday party?”
“Surprise!” Genevieve replied. “I’m getting away. That’s what I do.”
Helen’s gaze was warm as she met her sister’s and said, “In that case, I guess I’ll have to tag along.”
“Excellent. I knew I could count on you.”
Helen smirked as her gaze drifted over the friends and family gathered below. “You know, Genevieve, after all of this, I can’t wait to see what you do for your seventieth.”
