Ollie:We're taking off now.We should land in around an hour.
Callie:Okay.I'll be there waiting when you land.
Ollie:Thanks.Can't wait to see you.
Callie:You too.
She decided that there was no way she could hang around here waiting all that time.She couldn't get started on anything.And she'd already driven herself nuts going out back a few times to make sure that the camper wasn't visible from the house or the cabin.It wasn't, but she knew that if she sat here, she'd only go and keep checking.
She collected her keys and purse and headed out to the truck.
As she pulled away, a shaft of sunlight caught on the camper, making her laugh.Of course the sun would choose to shine like a spotlight through the trees just when she didn't want it to.She'd just have to hope that the usual clouds would have closed in by the time she got back here with Ollie and Reaves.
It kind of broke her heart a little bit, though.She knew how happy Zia would be to see Reaves, and how happy he'd be to see her again.But even if it didn’t happen today, she was hoping that since Alara no longer had the offer of a job anywhere else, she'd have to stick around.And that might mean that she and Reaves — and Zia — would get the chance to spend more time together.Ollie and Reaves had contacts in Napa after all, maybe they’d be able to help her find work.
~ ~ ~
"Do you want to take the landing?"
Reaves chuckled."What, are you worried you might make a mess of it and embarrass yourself in front of Callie?"
Ollie rolled his eyes."You know better than that.As a matter of fact, when I flew her home last week, the landing was so smooth that she had to look out the window to check we'd really touched down."He shrugged."But hey, if you don't want to..."
"You know I do.You know I love flying this thing."
"You have the controls," said Ollie.
"Thanks."
When Reaves took over, Ollie sat back in his seat.It was a novelty to just stare out the window on a landing and feel like he was a passenger.Most of the time — when they flew the jet — they worked as a team.But there was no need for that in the Cirrus.It only required a single pilot.And for today, Ollie was happy to let that be Reaves.
Mendocino County was beautiful.Especially from the air.It was good to be able to just check it out.He loved this part of the coast.It was rugged and felt wild, at least compared to Napa.He wondered why he didn't come up here more often.Then smiled, hoping that he’d have a reason to come now.
As Reaves turned onto the final approach, Ollie peered down at the small airport and grinned when he spotted Callie's truck.
"She's here already?"Reaves asked.
"She is."
"How do you want to work it?Do you want to hop straight out and go see her while I tie this bird down?"
"Yeah, that'd be great, thanks."
"Not a problem."
They both fell quiet as Reaves descended toward the runway.When the wheels touched down, he turned to Ollie with a grin."That's how you do it."
Ollie had to laugh."Okay, so that might almost have been as smooth as my landing."
"Whatever.And you're sure you want me to come with you guys?"
"Yeah, it's all good.I'd love to get some time alone with Callie, but it's not going to happen today.And that's fine.It'll just give me an excuse to come back again soon."
"Or to get her back to Napa," suggested Reaves.
Ollie made a face."Yeah, but if she comes back there, there's still the slight problem of where do we even go?"
Reaves looked confused for a moment, then gave his attention to turning the plane at the end of the runway and taxiing toward the hangars."Oh shit, that's right.As far as she knows, you live in my apartment."He shook his head."Damn, Ollie, you're going to have to tell her, you know."
