Mom nodded. “And you certainly did put in the work. Enjoy every minute of that flight on that incredible plane.”
“Yeah, I guess that tin can passes muster,” Ian deadpanned.
Claire elbowed him. “Be nice. At least, today, be nice.”
“Thatishim being nice,” Adam said.
Dad chuckled. “We look forward to trying it out, when there’s room for us.”
Jannie opened her arms. “You done good, Ug,” she said, using his childhood nickname to make him smile. He did, and Jannie grinned back, giving him a quick peck on the cheek.
She truly had a great family. Maybe she shouldn’t have stayed away from them for so long.
Eve held on to Adam the longest, rising on tiptoe and looping her arms around his neck. “Have I told you lately …?”
“You tell me every day.” He gripped her chin and kissed her sweetly. “Gotta go.”
Reluctantly, she stepped back. “Be careful.”
“Always.” He glanced toward the plane, and excitement sparkled inhis eyes. “One seat still open. Going once …”
“I’ll go!”
All eyes turned to Erik.
Adam grinned a bit incredulously. “You serious?”
Erik shrugged one shoulder. “Well, yeah. Who else is going to take amazing promotional shots for you?” He snapped a few last photos, capped the lens, and carefully tucked his camera into its padded bag. “Besides, Grandma needs me.”
Adam slapped his back. “She’ll be thrilled. Let’s go, Popeye.”
Erik grinned hugely, evidently loving the nickname upgrade from Runt to Popeye.
Jannie watched them head toward the plane, nearly the same height and with identical hair color. Even the way they walked was the same. If Erik kept working out, he would soon match his brothers in size and strength. What had finally motivated him to hit the gym? Whatever the reason, she was happy for her little brother, who was often the target of the other two’s merciless ribbing about his skinny build.
Nick watched them climb aboard, shaking his head as if in disbelief. “I didn’t know there was another clone.”
Mom beamed. “They do resemble one another, don’t they?”
The spectators remained in place while the tug pulled the 2024 farther down the tarmac until it reached a safe distance for engine start.
“They all favor their grandfather Sven,” Mom said, “but the eye color is mine.”
Nick leaned in close, speaking softly near Jannie’s ear so only she could hear him. “I think the combo looks best on you.”
She looked at him then. Throughout the ceremony, though her attention had been elsewhere, she had sensed his presence and drawn strength from his quiet confidence. He seemed at ease, which was no small thing given that he’d been thrown into a hangar full of people and with so many of her family members. Considering his dislike of large social gatherings, he had done great.
He was, essentially, the opposite of her family: dark hair, dark eyes, dark stubble … and that five o’clock shadow was making its appearance way before five. Since he’d gotten rid of the beard, she’d taken every opportunity to fulfill her fantasy of running her lips along his clean-shaven jaw. Right now, she wanted to drag him off somewhere and test its roughness with her tongue.
“Systems check complete. Engine start at twenty-three hundred Zulu,” came a smooth voice through the speakers.
Nick glanced at his watch. “Five minutes.”
The crowd started to get excited.
“So, what are your plans, Jannie?” Eve sounded high-pitched and tense, her big brown eyes wide with worry.
“I’m going home next week.” Jannie placed a steadying hand on her arm. “Are you OK?”
