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“I love it…” he whispers in awe, and I look at him, both hands on the glass, his palms flat, his nose squashed against the window, his eyes staring at the box.
“You love planes, don’t you, buddy?”
“I want to fly one myself one day.” He pulls back to look at me, his grin bright, highlighting the small gapfrom where he lost his tooth this week. His first. One first I didn’t miss.
“Well, maybe you can fly our jet. Be our own personal pilot?” I say, smiling.
“Really?” he says excitedly, his eyes widening in disbelief like I just gave him the world.
“Sure, why not.” I shrug and laugh. Huxley and I share a jet. He lives on the East Coast and regularly visits Whispers, whereas I was on the West Coast. So we purchased a private jet together to ensure we could get where we needed to go. Whispers’ airport is small, yet full of jets, just like ours; such is the lifestyle Whispers brings these days.
“Can I start lessons today?” he asks me, his eyes sparkling, obviously ready to go.
“Not today, buddy. I think you need to be a little older before you can start, but let’s talk to Uncle Huxe about it. I’m sure he won't mind when you are older,” I tell him, ruffling his hair. I love my son and would do anything for him. I think about maybe taking him to an air museum or something, so he can see other planes up close. It might be a nice trip to take together.
Whispers’ town center is busy on a Saturday, people milling around, in and out of shops. I worked this morning and then wanted to spend the afternoon with Harvey, exploring some more. As I look around at the clean sidewalks, the graffiti-free shop fronts, the friendly greetings of people walking by, and the flowers blooming in the garden beds, I drink it all in like I have been thirsty for it for years.
There’s a low hum about the place, no one rushingand pushing; the air is clean and the sky is clear. I feel relaxed until I spot someone running across the street and my breath gets caught in my chest. While Harvey is preoccupied, I take a moment to look at her. She seems to know everyone; each person she passes gets her bright smile or a hello, taking great joy in seeing her. Her hair is down, blowing a little in the small breeze we have today, and she’s wearing jeans and a green sweater that flatter her beautiful curves.
“Let’s walk down a bit farther, buddy,” I suggest to Harvey, and we step away from the window and walk down the sidewalk.
“Lacy!” Harvey suddenly yells excitedly, spotting her and running in her direction. My steps falter in surprise as I see Lacy’s head shoot up, looking right at us, a smile immediately coming to her face as she watches my son sprint toward her.
“Hey, Harvey!” she says, her smile widening as her arms do the same, and I watch, confused, as my son runs straight into her arms for a hug.
“Ahh, you two know each other?” I ask as I step toward them both as they pull apart.
“Oh, we go way back, don’t we, champ?” Lacy says, winking at him, and I smile at her candor. My body feels light; just seeing her makes me feel completely different. I feel fresh, new, energized, and like a fucking schoolboy again, crushing on the cute girl in town.
“Lacy taught me how to make paper airplanes,” Harvey says, and my head tilts in question.
“You both came into the distillery once, and when you were busy with Tanner, I spent time with Harvey,”Lacy explains. “Oh, and your mom brought him over a few times when she came to see my mom last time you were home.” I nod. His love of airplanes is now starting to make a little more sense, since it was here where he picked up the new fascination.
“Old friends, then?” I say, smiling.
“Something like that.” She laughs a little, her cheeks tinting a soft pink, making her even more breathtaking. In the afternoon sun, her skin glows, a natural beauty.That’s because she is fifteen years your junior, and you were dating before she was even born, asshole.
“What are you up to today, Harvey?” she asks my son, giving him all her attention, leaving me bereft.
“I just found a model airplane in the toy store,” he says, his words moving so fast they tumble out of him.
“I saw that last week, the red one? Your favorite color, right?” Lacy asks, and my eyebrows rise. She sure seems to know Harvey well, and my chest warms as I watch the two of them interact.
“Yes, that's the one. And Dad said I can fly his jet later,” he says excitedly, and Lacy looks at me, eyes wide.
“Wow, really?” she says, looking between us.
“Maybe in another ten or so years, buddy. What are you up to?” I ask her, keen to know how she spends her free time.
“I’m just heading into the diner,” Lacy says, just as the diner door swings open with others coming out and going in.
“Dad, can we go to the diner with Lacy? Pleeeaaasssee!” Harvey asks, looking up at me with his big brown eyes.
I flick my gaze to Lacy, who looks taken aback. “I don’t think Lacy would want us tagging along, buddy.”
“I don’t mind,” she says quickly, and my eyes rest on hers to ensure she’s okay with it. Her face is flawless and a little flushed. Her big brown eyes widen, the color of them brought out more by the green of her sweater. She wears minimal makeup and minimal jewelry, like none of the heavily made-up women in the city, yet more breathtakingly beautiful than all of them combined. She is one of the most attractive women I have ever met.
“See, Dad, she said we can. Pleeeaaassseee?” my son begs, grabbing on to my sleeve and tugging, jolting me from my stare.