“There won’t be a car rental place open for miles. You’ll need to get to a bigger city,” Grant interjected.
“Whatever. Christian said money isn’t an issue.”
I wasn’t one hundred percent he’d meant that with the broken conversation, but I was going with it. My grandmother meant the world to me. Although I was grateful to have had that short video chat, I had to be there.
For a moment, nothing but the sound of the battering storm covered the silence, until a buzzing noise caught my focus. Grant lifted the phone and read something on the display.
After he did, he glanced up. “I’ll get you to New York.”
Both his father and I spoke at the same time. “What?” I asked in disbelief. “Son,” his father said. That one word conveyed all his disapproval.
Grant lifted his free hand and we stopped any further protest.
“Have you ever driven in this kind of weather?” I shook my head. “We’re in the Allegany Mountains and we aren’t used to weather like this. The roads are steep and hilly out of Maryland. The four-plus hour drive will probably be doubled no matter what.”
The possibility of being in a car with him that long caused me to shiver. “I can’t put you out like that.”
“You’re in luck. As it turns out, I need to be in New York too.”
Grant’s father gave him the oddest look that his son ignored.
“But first, we need to get you proper gear,” Grant finished. When I gave him my own perplexed expression, he added, “If for any reason we get stuck and we have to get out of the car, you won’t survive in that flimsy jacket.” He spoke to his father. “Can you get Chelsea to open the shop? Then we’ll eat at the diner before heading out.”
Mr. Arrogant turned into Mr. Bossy Pants. He didn’t wait for me to give a response. He just walked toward the room where the tiny bed was.
“Don’t worry. If he says he’ll take you, he will,” his father said.
It wasn’t as if I didn’t believe him. It was more I wasn’t sure I’d survive the trip. Four hours if we were lucky, he’d implied. Giving myself a pep talk, I asked, what could possibly happen?TenGrantShe hadn’t thanked me. Though I hadn’t given her much time to do so. I’d been prepared to drive her to the city to get her rental car, washing my hands of her, until that text came through along with a string of emails.
Skyland Airlines wanted to push up my start date. There was a rash of illnesses that caused them to be short on pilots. My presence was requested in New York in two days to co-pilot a sold-out flight to Dubai.
I got my go bag from the back room Dad kept for sleeping when needed. I always kept a bag ready in case I had to make an unexpected flight. It had clothes and toiletries for a few days.
“Boy, what do you think you’re doing?”
I turned to face my father.
“What you asked. I’m taking care of her and ensuring her happiness.”
His eyes narrowed on me. “What did you do?”
“I didn’t fuck her if that’s what you think. My job starts sooner than expected. I need to be New York in two days. Win-win for both of us.”
“So that’s it?”
I throw up my hands as years of pent-up frustration come pouring out of me. “What do you want, Dad? This—” I spread my arms “—was never my dream. It’s yours. I can’t pass up this opportunity.”
“An opportunity you got by screwing some rich guy’s daughter. Now what happens when Jolene gets pissed at you? She’ll have you by the balls.”
Little did he know Jolene was already pissed. But the rich girl he was referring to, Sophia, I’d broken things off with her before she tried to win me back. “Sophia may have opened the door, but I got the job based on my skills. And for that, I have you to thank.” I sighed, not wanting to fight with him. “I’m not ungrateful for all your sacrifices, but you know I’ve always dreamed of this. And maybe one day, I’ll be back.”
In an uncharacteristic show of emotion, Dad came in for a hug. He clapped my back and said what I’d longed to hear. “I’m proud of you, son.”
I pulled back, seeing the truthfulness of his words in the set of his jaw. “You closed down. Go to the cabin. There should be enough fuel for the generator to make it through the storm.”
He nodded. “Stay safe, Dad.” I pointed at him. “I mean it. Don’t be a stubborn old fool. No one is flying in today.”
I turned, feeling pressure in my chest. As much as I wanted out, it was hard to walk away from what essentially had been my life. I’d learned everything I knew about planes and flying from this place, from my dad.