Chapter 10 - The Flight We Never Missed
Three months later, the private aviation tarmac at Phoenix Sky Harbor was bathed in the golden, warm glow of an Arizona sunset.
The heavy corporate iron grip of Lorraine Whitlock had dissolved under a mountain of federal fraud investigations, corporate restructuring, and public exposure. Marcus Vance was currently facing federal indictment for obstruction and forgery, while my mother had retreated into self-imposed exile in a Swiss alpine estate, stripped of her voting shares and corporate power forever.
The departure board near Gate 14 flashed destinations across the world.
"Are we really going to Seattle, Daddy?" five-year-old Leo asked excitedly, clutching a miniature airplane tightly in his small hand as his twin brother, Julian, chased a rolling suitcase across the polished concrete.
"Not just Seattle, buddy," I smiled, dropping to one knee to straighten their matching dark jackets. "We're going everywhere."
I stood up and looked across the tarmac. Tessa was standing near the boarding steps of our private chartered jet, the evening wind catching her dark hair, a soft, radiant smile on her face—a smile I had mourned in the dark for six agonizing years.
I walked over to her, slipping my arm around her waist as we watched the boys run up the boarding stairs ahead of us.
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"You know," Tessa murmured, leaning her head against my shoulder, "the last time we were at this terminal, I thought my life was completely over."
"And the first time I saw you today," I whispered, kissing the top of her head, "I realized my life was only just beginning."
