Page 90 of Kaine

Chapter Thirty-Four

HER

You know how they saywhen you die, you see your life flashing before your eyes? Pictures of people you love and videos of your most memorable experiences?

I hope mine will just be a slow-motion re-enactment of my flight from Teterboro, New Jersey, to Harrisonburg, Virginia, on my 28th birthday.

The first fifteen minutes of my flight are spent staring out the window in awe.

Watching as the houses and factories of New Jersey grow smaller and smaller as we ascend to the sky while the heavens soar closer and closer.

Finally, at cruising altitude, I sigh and sink back into my seat. Kaine reaches over and taps me on the knee.

"Happy?"

"Happy," I reply and hope he can see it in my eyes.

"Good. Hungry?"

"Always!"

"Okay, but you can't eat too much, your grandmother will kill me."

The mention of my family makes my heart squeeze and I clap my hands together.

"I can't believe I get to see them today."

"When’s the last time you saw them?”

"About a year and a half ago. It was during one of Gabriel’s good periods. He was even working as an office messenger, so we paid for them to come visit and take in a show. It was great.” I smile at the memory.

“And you haven’t seen them since then?”

“Not unless you count their tiny faces on facetime, no.” I stare out the window, at clouds floating by, without a care. “How did you do this?"

"Don't ask. Just enjoy."

"Fine. Now, you were saying something about a snack?"

He laughs and presses the button. The flight attendant comes out, holding a tray.

"Mr. Ashley, Ms. Sinclair, how has the flight been so far?”

"Wonderful, thank you. What've you got there? It smells great.” I crane my neck to see what her tray holds.

“Just a selection of light snacks. Mr. Ashley said you had a big lunch planned,” she replies, placing the tray on the table in front of me.

Family, food, a private plane charter, and Kaine.

Best birthday ever.

***

Two finger sandwichesand a gin martini later, I dab at my mouth with a napkin, rubbing my happy stomach.

"How long is the flight?" I ask Kaine.

"Not much longer, about 30 minutes, I'd say.” He looks up from his phone. I can’t imagine what he had to do to just take off, while his company is so busy preparing for their launch.