High Flying

by Kaylin McFarren

  “Somehow, I thought you’d say that.” He reached into his shirt pocket, pulled out a tightly-folded news clipping, and handed it to her. Then he watched her from the corner of his eyes, while she opened it and read the headline.

  Jake Brennen and his Ace Flying Circus Perform at the Chino Airshow

  Skylar felt her stomach tighten. “So, you know.”

  “What I don’t know is how or why you ended up here…and right now, that’s not important. What I do understand is that you and Jake have a future together, if you survive his past. That little boy in the backseat deserves some happiness in his life, Sky. If he’s lucky, he might find it with someone wonderful. But if he’s blessed, he’ll find it with you.”

  Skylar felt tears building behind her eyes, threatening to break loose. She bit her lip to keep it from quivering and held her hands together to keep them still. “What about Barillas? I told him I’d find out who The Chaplain is.”

  “And did you?”

  Skylar nodded.

  “Then it sounds to me like you did what you set out to do. Right?”

  “But do you think he’ll figure it out?”

  “I suppose he and Diaz will eventually, but then what? They still have to prove it. And I don’t imagine anyone is going to come knocking on their door, begging to testify against The Chaplain. Not unless they’re looking for an early grave.” Ethan laid his hand on hers. “You don’t owe anybody anything, Sky. Not in this world. Just be the best person you can be and look after my guy. Okay?”

  Ethan drove into the airport’s main entrance and parked his car next to her plane. Then he turned to her. “One more thing. You can’t change the past. No matter how much you want to fix it…you can’t save your parents, so don’t do anything stupid, Sky. Get on board your plane and go back the way you came. Don’t turn around and don’t regret your decision to leave. Just find that doorway to your life and fly through it…back to that place where you belong. Because it isn’t here, Skylar Haines.”

  She nodded her understanding and looked into his eyes. “Will you remember me, Ethan? Will you know me twenty-one years from now?”

  He smiled. “How could I ever forget you? You’re one of a kind, Sky. An adventure waiting to happen. And believe me, Dylan will remember you too. Long after you’re gone.” Ethan sighed. “Despite everything that’s happened, you knew the time would come when you’d have to leave. And that time is now.”

  Skylar felt her tears break loose. They blurred her vision and streamed down her cheeks. “But he’s going to die. And my mother will too. I have to warn them.”

  “What good would it do?” Ethan put his hand on her shoulder. “Death is inevitable for all of us. We can only do our best while we’re here…on this planet. Now get going.”

  Skylar touched the door handle and looked at her plane.

  “And one more thing, Sky.”

  She turned back to look at him.

  “If you don’t mind, I’d like to show your news story to Dylan before he flies out. Would that be okay?”

  She nodded and wiped a tear away with the back of her hand.

  “I think he’d get a real kick out of knowing he met the daughter he always wanted.”

  Skylar threw her arms around Ethan’s neck and hugged him hard. Then she climbed out of his car. She retrieved her backpack out of the trunk and closed it softly to avoid waking Jake. After tossing it into the plane, she climbed inside the cockpit and started the engine. It was at the moment she realized Ethan was right. You can’t change the past, no matter how much you want to.

  She looked toward the flight office. Dylan was waiting below the large glowing clock indicating it was 9 P.M. The door next to him opened suddenly and Alvarez walked out with two of his men. The gangster must have gotten word that Dylan was flying out tonight and had gone to the airport to stop him. It was hard to deny that this was partly her fault. Even worse, it would only be a matter of minutes before The Chaplain arrived with Lily. The high drama that would follow could only be imagined.

  Skylar wanted to run to Dylan, but she remembered Ethan’s words and took hold of the throttle. After receiving clearance from the tower and permission to take-off, she turned onto the runway. She wiped her eyes with her shirtsleeve and smiled at Ethan and her father, both of them waving goodbye. Then she pushed in the throttle, traveled half the length of the runway, and lifted off. She headed toward the horizon—toward the bank of dark clouds ahead of her, parting in the sky like the Red Sea. There was no thunder or lightning, or pelting rain like she’d encountered before. Just a clear night with countless stars above and city lights below.

  Everything on the ground began to disappear. Where there were bridges and hotels, there was wide open space. The air around her was getting thin and her concentration was slipping away. Relax, Roxy’s voice told her. Remember the people in your life. Repeat their names, picture their faces, imagine their personalities.

  Skylar was bringing the plane down on a grassy field. There was a dim, ambient light in front of her. She closed her eyes but was still able to see the field. Then a figure of a man emerged, bathed in light.

  “Skylar?” he asked. “Is that you?”

  She ran towards him. Or he ran towards her, she wasn’t sure. Other figures began to emerge too. Her mother appeared but couldn’t keep up with Dylan.

  “Is that you?’ Lily asked. “Is it really you? I thought I had to sacrifice you…to pay for all the mistakes I made.”

  “No,” a voice said, from no apparent direction. “This is not our world, Skylar Haines. This is yours.”

  She blinked and looked around again. They were all people she knew, people she loved and cared about. People who were no longer living.

  “Is this the end?” she asked. “Is my time over?”

  “No,” the voice answered. “This is your beginning. Your chance to live the life you’ve always wanted.”

  Roxy’s voice was back, whispering in her ear. Keep your memories of them close to your heart, but let them go. Let them rest and take what you’ve learned with you.

  Skylar opened her eyes and saw that she was still sitting behind the controls in her plane, still soaring through the sky. She had viewed a slice of heaven—God’s way of telling her that there was more waiting for her. Far more. And yet, for a few mindless seconds, the temptation to stay remained.

  She recalled the story of a pilot practicing a series of landings in his Piper aircraft. He gave a telephone number and asked the controller to tell his family and friends that he loved them. Then he suggested that the controller order fire and emergency trucks. The controller, thinking there was something wrong with the airplane, asked the pilot if he was declaring an emergency. But the pilot didn’t answer. Instead, he made a low approach to the runway, pulled up in a vertical climb, pushed over into a dive and crashed in the middle of the runway…ending it all.

  “Honey, can you hear me?” A man’s voice was on the radio. A voice that warmed her heart and begged her mind to wake up. “Answer me, if you can, Sky. I need to know you’re okay.”

  “Jake? Is that you? Is that really you?”

  “Of course it is, silly. Where are you? I’ve been waiting for you. You should have been back ten minutes ago. Did you get lost or something?”

  Ten minutes? It’s only been ten minutes? She remembered the calendar on the wall at Dylan’s house, counting the days until his death, meeting Jake as a child, discovering her grandfather’s secret life, her mother, and Ethan. How could it have all happened in ten minutes?

  The wheels touched down on the runway and reality began to set in. She saw a few people near the hanger, separate from all the spectators at the airshow. They were watching her taxi around and park, and appeared to be waiting for her.

  Skylar was stunned. It couldn’t be true.

  Sophia Capellan’s elbow clutched a purse at her side. She was awkwardly holding a phone to her ear, waving at Skylar with her free hand. Roxy was standing next to her smiling. It
was really Roxy! She stepped forward waving excitedly and mouthed, “Hi!”

  Skylar climbed out of the cockpit and leaned against the side of the plane, trying to assimilate what she was seeing—to make sense of it all. Roxy came rushing up to her, throwing her arms around her. “I can’t tell you how much I missed you. After hiding out in Costa Rica for the last five years, I couldn’t wait to get back here. And to see you flying! It was amazing!”

  Skylar could say nothing. Roxy was talking so fast that she didn’t seem to notice.

  “Oh! And guess who’s starting flying lessons?” She was beaming all over with joy. “Me! That’s who.”

  Jake swept passed Roxy and wrapped his arms around Skylar. They were strong and warm. She leaned into him and took a deep breath, taking in everything.

  “I was starting to worry about you. Next time, keep me in the loop if you’re going to go off by yourself.” His voice softened. “Okay?”

  Her eyes met Jake’s and for the first time, she recognized the love she saw in them. She reached for his hand and remembered the feeling of his small fingers entwined in hers. “Okay. I’ll keep you in the loop.” She smiled and leaned back into his hug, cherishing the love she felt in her heart.

  Roxy’s mother slipped her phone into her purse and joined them. She enveloped Skylar in a warm hug, emitting the scent of a spicy, exotic perfume. Skylar also noticed that she had a curious expression on her face.

  “Are you all right?” she asked her.

  “That’s the same question I was about to ask you…”

  “I’m all right.” She smiled and looked around. “I’m more than all right.”

  “Are you? After reading about your grandfather in the newspaper yesterday, I wasn’t so sure.”

  Skylar looked at Roxy’s mother, puzzled.

  “It was quite a story.” She waited to see recognition in Skylar’s face. When she got nothing, she continued. “It said that after your father died in the mid-air explosion twenty-one years ago…the plane accident that killed your father and Juan Alvarez…your grandfather was never the same.” She paused and stared at Skylar. “You know about your grandfather, right? He died two days ago, honey. In a house fire. The fire marshal thinks he fell asleep in bed while smoking. Have you really not heard?” She pulled Roxy toward her in a half-hug and continued. “My husband Cesar was there and tried to put it out, but he died too. From smoke inhalation.”

  Oddly, Skylar never remembered hearing about an explosion and wondered how Mrs. Capellan had come by that information. In addition, she felt relieved at hearing the news about her grandfather and Cesar Capellan’s passing. Perhaps it was true. Karma was a nasty bitch, and they had both climbed in bed with her a long time ago.

  Jake threw an arm over Skylar’s shoulder and leaned down to kiss her on the forehead. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I know you haven’t been close to him for years, but no one wants to hear about family dying. Do you want to get out of here?”

  Roxy chimed in. “Why don’t we all grab a bite together and get caught up. There’s so much to talk about and I want to know what’s been going on in your life, Sky.”

  Skylar nodded. “Sounds good to me.” She started to walk away from her plane then remembered her backpack inside. “I just have to grab my bag.”

  Roxy danced around like a silly school girl, excited to help out. “Let me get that for you,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to be a skycap.” While their backs were turned, she climbed into Skylar’s plane and came back with two pieces of luggage: her backpack and a large brown leather bag. She set them down before Skylar with a thud and joined Jake and her mother a short distance away, talking about the strange turn of events.

  Meanwhile, Skylar stared at the brown bag on the ground, wondering where it had come from. She knelt down, unzipped it, and peered inside. Stacks of hundred-dollar bills were bound together with mustard-colored currency bands, noting ten thousand dollars per bundle. The bag was stuffed full, leading her to believe there was easily three million dollars inside. Even more amazing was seeing an envelope with her name scribbled across it, tucked along-side of the cash. She took it out, slipped it inside her shirt and zipped the bag shut.

  Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. What was this? How did it end up in her plane? Was this the drug money Dylan was supposed to deliver in Mexico? Then it suddenly dawned on her that even if he had arrived safely, the cartel would have killed him for not delivering The Chaplain’s payoff.

  What was he thinking? Was he planning to get the bag from her in Costa Rica? The money she told him to take?

  Jake turned toward her and mistook her flushed face for exhaustion. “If you don’t mind,” he told Roxy and Mrs. Capellan, “I think Skylar could use some rest. Can we take a raincheck and grab a bite tomorrow instead?”

  Although Skylar would have enjoyed their time together, she couldn’t agree more—couldn’t wait to read the note she had found. She hugged Roxy and watched her climb into her mother’s car. Then she kept her eyes on Jake as he loaded her backpack and the heavy bag into the trunk of his car.

  “What’s in here?” he asked. “Were you planning to run away from home?”

  Skylar faked a laugh. “You can never have enough clothes.”

  “Yeah, right.” Jake chuckled as he walked to the driver’s side and climbed in.

  Skylar was about to climb into the passenger seat when Mrs. Capellan caught her by the elbow. “There’s something I need to say to you.”

  Skylar drew a sharp breath and thought for a moment that she had seen the stacks of bills before turning away—cash belonging to the cartel that Skylar had no right to claim. But to her surprise, the woman who she’d thought of a second mother slipped a warn, folded envelope into her hand—an envelope containing a five-year-old obituary.

  She kept her hand on top of Skylar’s and leaned in close. “Thank you, sweetheart,” she half whispered. “I owed you one.”

  The past tense word stuck in Skylar’s brain, along with the sight of a brown branded cross on the top of Mrs. Capellan’s hand. She began wondering as they drove away from the fairgrounds if Roxy’s mother was a member of the Los Vitas cartel and if she had anything to do with her husband and her grandfather’s untimely deaths. The thought made her smile. It seemed women could be just as powerful as men—sometimes even more so.

  When they reached Jake’s trailer, Skylar took the envelope with her to the bathroom. She turned on the shower, sat down on the closed toilet, and began reading.

  Hi Sky Bird: In life, everyone has choices and those choices are what make us the people we become. Even though we are only a few years apart, I want you to know that if I am fortunate enough to have a daughter, I would want her to grow up to be just like you. Skylar, you were willing to sacrifice yourself and everything you believe in to save me. You showed me that there is more light in this world than the darkness I grew up in. You convinced me that love does exist and that we’re not responsible for the sins of our fathers or the bad decisions they make. And most of all, you taught me the importance of being true to myself. I know that I’m living on borrowed time, and the sand is running out fast. That is why I am giving you this gift. Use it to reward the people you love, to make a difference in your life, and to make yourself happy. Because I can’t think of anyone who deserves it more. All my love, Dylan

  Skylar folded the note and pressed it against her heart. Then she shut off the water. She could hear Jake in the next room humming to himself and realized it was finally time to unmask her secrets, to let go of the past, and plan for the future. To trust the man that destiny had picked for her twenty-one years ago.

  She opened the door, but Jake didn’t hear her. He was in the next room on the phone.

  “Sorry, Ethan. She looked so tired, and all I could think about was getting her to bed. Would it be okay if she called you in the morning? I know she’d like to thank you for all the support you’ve given us.” There was a brief pause and then Jake added, “I’ll let you
know what she decides tomorrow.”

  After he set the phone down, he took something out of a drawer and slipped it into his pocket. Then he filled two champagne glasses with sparkling cider, probably to toast the success of their show.

  Skylar stood back watching him for a few more seconds, debating on how much to share. She knew the money would be the answer to all their problems—a way for Jake to pay off his debts and to start his life over. But would it change their relationship? Would he stay with her only for the money?

  She stepped into the room and his smile broadened. “There’s something I need to tell you,” she said. “Something that—”

  He pulled her close and put a finger to her lips. Then he dropped to one knee. He opened a small blue velvet box and turned it toward her. It was a ring. It didn’t hold a large diamond, just a shimmering cluster, but it featured a remarkable teardrop emerald, almost as beautiful as his eyes.

  Her mouth was dry, but her eyes were wet. She couldn’t believe this was happening, here and now.

  “I want to spend forever with you, Sky,” he said. “I knew it from the start. You are my world…you always will be.” He paused and swallowed. “Our life together may not be perfect, but it’s ours. After my mother died, Ethan gave me her ring. He told me that before she died, he promised her that when I found the perfect woman, I’d take care of her forever. Now I’m asking you to marry me, Sky. To take a chance on us. To believe that love is possible, if we open our hearts to one another.”

  “But we’ve only had three official dates,” she said. “They all lasted thirty minutes…I think.”

  “Yes, but it felt like twenty years. Oh, shit. That was bad.” He stood up. “I didn’t mean that. I meant to say like we’ve always been together. We were supposed to be together. Or were born to be together. Something like that.” He sighed. “Man, I messed that up big time.”

  Skylar smiled. She knew what he was trying to say. Words were just words, and actions spoke louder than words, at least that’s what she always believed. But even more importantly, this was her moment to be true to herself—to show Jake how much love she was capable of not only giving but also receiving. She wanted to say yes, she just had to. But not before telling him about the money. It could change everything. It might even confirm the corruption in her family that she had been ashamed to acknowledge.