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“So which plane will you take? Both the Cessna and Phenom are fueled up. I’ve been in touch with the airport in Rhodes. Everything is okay.”

Without hesitation I answered. “I’ll take the Phenom.”

“You remember how to fly it?” he joked.

“Please, my bird makes this look like a paper airplane.”

He led us to the plane and I did a run-through before helping Indy inside. Her hand was shaking. I kissed it. “Don’t worry, Indy. If we go down, at least we’ll be together.”

“How is that meant to reassure me? You’re right, you did inherit your dad’s dark sense of humor.”

“I’m not going to let anything happen to you,” I promised and I meant it. I was going to make it my life’s mission.

She sat in the cockpit with me while I explained the various controls and waited for the signal that I was good to take off from airport control. As we zoomed across the runway, Indy closed her eyes and pressed her back to her chair.

“Doing all right?” I asked her when we levelled out. She opened one eye and peeked out the window at the sea below us. “Uh-huh.”

It was a perfect day to fly. “Should be relatively smooth sailing. We should be there in about two hours.”

I reached my hand out and she laced her fingers through mine, breathing deeply.

“It’s so surreal being up here with you,” she said finally.

“How so?”

“I never thought I would see you again, let alone be up in the air with you,” she said quietly, and I tightened my grip on her hand, letting her know I had no intention of going anywhere ever again.

Clouds spread out beneath us like a gentle, rolling carpet. The last time I’d flown, I’d been angry, cocky, and hell-bent on challenging fate. I’d been flying like that for so long that I’d forgotten this sensation—that this was the only place I was ever at peace, between heaven and earth. The first time I’d flown solo, I’d felt her up here, my mom. She was in every atom that composed the air, the clouds, me. Since Josh’s accident, I’d felt him on occasion to, those rare times when I wasn’t out to prove something and I just was—present, complete, the hole in my heart filled with the knowledge that they’d never really left, they were all around me. I’d never shared this sentiment with anyone, but Indy was as much a part of my heart as they were, and I knew she’d understand.

“Indy, you asked me if I ever thought about you.” I took a breath. “The truth is I thought about you every day. And especially when I was flying. It was a kind of ritual I had—or have—when I get up above the clouds, I’d picture you. And I’d know that Josh was still looking out for you, still with you.

“This is where I feel him. Up here in the clouds.”

Tears leaked from her eyes and she gripped my hand harder. “I feel him too.”

“He’s still looking out for you, Indy. And I know he’s with us. Everything’s going to work out.”

And for once I was sure of it.

***

After landing in Rhodes and hustling to the ferry, we arrived on the island of Lyra in the late afternoon. Callie had described the island to me, but seeing its rocky cliffs rise out of the blue waters was—to use Indy’s words—surreal.

“I can’t believe it’s only been a few months since I was here last. It feels like a lifetime ago. This place, Levi, it’s truly magical.” She bounced from toe to heel like a little girl, leaning on the railing as we docked.

“So I’ve heard.” I smiled. Callie hadn’t been the biggest fan of the island when she first came here to open a restaurant. The locals, led by Nikos, were very resistant to the idea and had done everything in their power to make things so difficult for her that she’d give up. They’d underestimated her though; Callie didn’t give up, and she ended up falling hard for the island and for Nikos. From the first time she mentioned him, I’d had a feeling that she’d end up with him. Callie always craved a little drama, and apparently, so did he.

The happy couple was waiting for us at the dock. I hadn’t seen them since the opening of Callie’s restaurant—the one she finally ended up running back in London. Callie looked glamorous as usual, but there was something softer about her since she’d come here. She wore a billowy dress and heels, her blonde hair down and blowing in the wind that was whipping through the dock. Nikos was hidden behind a pair of dark glasses, hands in his pockets and smiling.

Indy jumped off the ferry before it came to a full stop, embracing Callie while Nikos pulled me in with a friendly thump on the back. “Good to see you, man. It’s wild to have you here.”

“You too. Cal . . .” I kissed Callie on the cheek and then got down to business. We didn’t have any time to lose. “So, where’s the sneaky bastard?”

“He hasn’t arrived yet. We were able to stall the film crew,” said Callie.

“We?” Nikos asked.

She rolled her eyes. “Okay, Nikos was able to stall the film crew. They won’t be able to leave until tomorrow. That gives you time to put your plan in action.” Callie rubbed her hands together.