grandfather’s extended family. But everyone knew Libby’s story, thanks to the TV show based on Libby’s modern-day fairy-tale romance with Hollywood charmer Cooper Lindstrom.
“Hi, Daria. I’m so glad you’re on your way again—I think Cal had a rough night. Apparently, Bruce isn’t very happy with the situation and he aimed some of his fury Cal’s way.”
Daria’s stomach writhed and contracted, sending a flood of acid up her esophagus. She was half afraid she’d need to stop the taxi so she could throw up. Last night’s spicy pizza, more than the coffee, was probably the culprit.
“Thanks for being there for Cal, Libby. I talked to him before we left the hotel. He seemed okay, but I could sense he was upset about something. He probably didn’t want me to worry.”
“No one’s blaming you, Daria. I just didn’t want you going in blind when you got to Cal’s.”
“Thank you,” she repeated numbly as the taxi pulled up to the airport. “I’ll call when we get to Sentinel Pass to let you know we’re safe.”
She practically threw the phone over William’s shoulder and had her door open before the cab came to a complete stop. As quickly as her shaky fingers would allow, she undid her seat belt and got out, gulping in deep breaths of cold, fresh air.
William’s door opened a few seconds later. “Would you mind…?” he asked, handing her the cardboard drink tray.
He leaned in to pay the driver, then shouldered her bag and his own after helping the girls with their backpacks. He wasn’t a father, but he certainly acted the part well, she decided.
“Are we ready?” he asked. “Our plane awaits.”
Between Libby’s call and the dozen or so text messages Bruce had left on her phone that morning, Daria felt as though she might be verging on a breakdown. She ordered herself to stay strong. And focused. One step in front of the other. But her head ached and her stomach was on its own damn roller coaster. She might have curled up in a comforting little catatonic ball on the tarmac if William hadn’t gently, respectfully walked her through the motions.
He hustled them aboard the plane, instructing the girls to eat while he made all the necessary checks. Daria remembered snapping her seat belt then closing her eyes—for a minute—to collect her thoughts.
When she opened her eyes, the plane was in the air. Looking out her window, she saw a thick white blanket of clouds far, far below them. Her mouth was dry and she was exceedingly thirsty. The cup of coffee she’d ordered from the fast food menu was sitting in the cup holder in the seat across from her. The thought of cold coffee made her queasy again, so she grabbed the bottle of water she’d slipped into her purse and took a sip.
Her stomach made a complaining sound audible even over the hum of the engines. Food. She needed food. A white bag with its easily identifiable logo was in arm’s reach. She opened it and looked inside. By the number of choices available she could only guess that William had decided against sampling any of the items he’d purchased.
She didn’t blame him. She wasn’t a fan of fast food, either, but the granola bars she’d brought from home yesterday were long gone. She selected an English muffin and egg duo that looked fairly edible.
“Mom? You’re awake. Are you feeling better?”
Daria leaned sideways to look at Miranda. The two girls had switched sides of the airplane, for some reason. She finished chewing and nodded. “Much. I didn’t sleep very well last night. What are you watching?”
Miranda held up the case of a recently released DVD. It didn’t belong to them, so Daria had to assume William had provided it. “Nice. You wanted to see that one, didn’t you?”
She nodded. “It’s good. Hailey’s watching the new Disney movie. We’re going to switch when she’s done. If we have time before we get to Great-Grandpa’s. William said we’re cruising on a tailwind and making good
“Hi, Daria. I’m so glad you’re on your way again—I think Cal had a rough night. Apparently, Bruce isn’t very happy with the situation and he aimed some of his fury Cal’s way.”
Daria’s stomach writhed and contracted, sending a flood of acid up her esophagus. She was half afraid she’d need to stop the taxi so she could throw up. Last night’s spicy pizza, more than the coffee, was probably the culprit.
“Thanks for being there for Cal, Libby. I talked to him before we left the hotel. He seemed okay, but I could sense he was upset about something. He probably didn’t want me to worry.”
“No one’s blaming you, Daria. I just didn’t want you going in blind when you got to Cal’s.”
“Thank you,” she repeated numbly as the taxi pulled up to the airport. “I’ll call when we get to Sentinel Pass to let you know we’re safe.”
She practically threw the phone over William’s shoulder and had her door open before the cab came to a complete stop. As quickly as her shaky fingers would allow, she undid her seat belt and got out, gulping in deep breaths of cold, fresh air.
William’s door opened a few seconds later. “Would you mind…?” he asked, handing her the cardboard drink tray.
He leaned in to pay the driver, then shouldered her bag and his own after helping the girls with their backpacks. He wasn’t a father, but he certainly acted the part well, she decided.
“Are we ready?” he asked. “Our plane awaits.”
Between Libby’s call and the dozen or so text messages Bruce had left on her phone that morning, Daria felt as though she might be verging on a breakdown. She ordered herself to stay strong. And focused. One step in front of the other. But her head ached and her stomach was on its own damn roller coaster. She might have curled up in a comforting little catatonic ball on the tarmac if William hadn’t gently, respectfully walked her through the motions.
He hustled them aboard the plane, instructing the girls to eat while he made all the necessary checks. Daria remembered snapping her seat belt then closing her eyes—for a minute—to collect her thoughts.
When she opened her eyes, the plane was in the air. Looking out her window, she saw a thick white blanket of clouds far, far below them. Her mouth was dry and she was exceedingly thirsty. The cup of coffee she’d ordered from the fast food menu was sitting in the cup holder in the seat across from her. The thought of cold coffee made her queasy again, so she grabbed the bottle of water she’d slipped into her purse and took a sip.
Her stomach made a complaining sound audible even over the hum of the engines. Food. She needed food. A white bag with its easily identifiable logo was in arm’s reach. She opened it and looked inside. By the number of choices available she could only guess that William had decided against sampling any of the items he’d purchased.
She didn’t blame him. She wasn’t a fan of fast food, either, but the granola bars she’d brought from home yesterday were long gone. She selected an English muffin and egg duo that looked fairly edible.
“Mom? You’re awake. Are you feeling better?”
Daria leaned sideways to look at Miranda. The two girls had switched sides of the airplane, for some reason. She finished chewing and nodded. “Much. I didn’t sleep very well last night. What are you watching?”
Miranda held up the case of a recently released DVD. It didn’t belong to them, so Daria had to assume William had provided it. “Nice. You wanted to see that one, didn’t you?”
She nodded. “It’s good. Hailey’s watching the new Disney movie. We’re going to switch when she’s done. If we have time before we get to Great-Grandpa’s. William said we’re cruising on a tailwind and making good
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