Adam caressed her cheek. “Will do.”
Jannie watched her petite sister-in-law’s gaze linger on her older brother as he headed toward the 2024, an uncharacteristic spring in his step. Those two … if she were the envious type, she would be a horrid shade of green watching them.
“Oh! There’s your dad,” Mom said. “And Erik. And of course, our very special guest.”
Jannie looked and immediately spotted her father, her youngest brother Erik, and her grandmother, all standing to the side of the gathering crowd.
Bestemor gave her a big smile, and Jannie smiled back, her heart squeezing. She wished she could run and give her a hug, but Adam was now standing on a raised platform beside his pet project, holding a microphone, waiting for the chatter of the excited guests to die down.
Jannie noted with satisfaction that Dad seemed healthy and looked great, as usual, but when her gaze shifted to Erik …
“Are you kidding me?” Her eyes widened. Runt, as she and her brothers called him, was busy snapping pictures, his biceps bulging as he wielded his professional camera. He had gained several pounds since she’d last seen him, and every one of them was muscle. Erik, she knew, would rather eat dog crap than work out. Something had driven him to go to the gym and often, judging by the looks of him.
She turned to Ian. “What happened to Runt?”
Ian grinned hugely. “He finally ate his spinach.”
Jannie snickered. Beside him, Claire laughed, and so did Eve.
“Isn’t he handsome? He wanted to surprise you,” Mom said, pride evident in her voice and in the way she beamed at her youngest.
“I’m not surprised, I’m floored.” Jannie opened her mouth to ask Ian if he knew who or what was behind this transformation. But a tapping sound from the speakers filled the hangar, and Mom gently nudged her.
“Good afternoon, everyone.” Adam paused, his gaze circling the crowd, who still murmured for a few seconds before falling silent. “Today is a great day.”
Jannie’s chest swelled with pride at the emotion in her brother’s voice and the attention he commanded. This was a moment he had earned through years of relentless work, dogged determination through setbacks and frustration, and pure grit. It really was something to see him standing there at the finish line, finally able to gather the sweet fruits of his labor.
Her eyes misted just a little. She blinked, swallowing hard.
Ian leaned toward Jannie. “See? Aren’t you glad you came?”
“Shut it, Buck,” she hissed through her teeth.
Mom gave him The Look. Ian chuckled.
Nick’s hand bumped hers, and Jannie took it, squeezing his warm fingers, relaxing in his comforting grip.
The audience waited in eager silence as Erik’s shutter clicked.
Adam squared his shoulders. “Thank you all for coming here today to share this milestone with me. I know many of you traveled a great distance to help me celebrate the reality of my dream, and your presence is truly appreciated.” He paused, his gaze scanning the crowd. “A specialthank you to my family, without whose love and support I wouldn’t be standing here today.”
He cleared his throat and swallowed. Jannie, too, swallowed against the lump rising in her throat. Adam, openly emotional, was a rare sight.
Indeed, he straightened, and his next words were spoken in his typical clear, resonant bass. “Dreams and needs are the engines that propel us forward. While needs are essential motivators for people, it’s dreams that are the jet engines of humanity.
“As a child, I was fascinated by airplanes in flight, but seeing the Concorde when I was seven left me speechless. I’ll never forget it: its power was awe-inspiring. I started collecting everything I could find about the SST, eager for the day I could fly supersonic.
“When it was announced, in 2003, that the last passenger journey would be in October of that year, I was crushed. I never got to fly on the Concorde, and I guess that’s when my obsession began: I didn’t understand why no one tried to resurrect it in some form and carry on its incredible legacy.
“As I grew older and built a career in aviation, my thoughts kept returning to the Concorde. After years of staring at the mockup of it on my desk, I finally decided I would be the one to develop a corporate jet that would inspire the world’s leaders to lead with power, grace, and speed.”
He paused and flashed a chagrined smile. “At first, uh, it didn’t go so well.”
Chuckles and guffaws rippled through the crowd, the loudest coming from the Lars mechanics.
“But giving up was not an option, persistence paid off, and, well, though later than I hoped, here we are.” He half turned to look at the 2024, and his grin could have powered all the bright overhead lights.
Across the hangar, Dad watched his oldest with the same smile he’d given him when he’d landed after his first solo. Grandma subtly wiped away a tear. Erik’s delighted smile revealed matching dimples. Eve clasped her hands tightly together, and Jannie thought she heard Mom sniffle. Claire whispered something to Ian, who wrapped his arm around her shoulders, squeezing.
