Page 93 of Never Stop

“I don’t even know what to say. Except thank you.”

I kissed her again and moved up in line. “Anything for my wife.”

We checked in our bags, made it through security, and walked Cheyenne to her gate. The closer we got, the more my heart pounded in my chest. It wasn’t even the fact that I’d be thousands of miles from my baby girl or she was getting on a plane by herself. I hadn’t been without her since the cruise last year.

The fact was I was going to miss her.

“Now, Peanut, Brooke and I are going to be many hours ahead of you, but we’ll try to Facetime you as much as we can. Okay?”

“Okay.” She was staring at the gate where a flight attendant stood. “Is it time for me to go yet?”

“Almost. Let’s take a seat and wait for the boarding announcement.”

The minutes ticked by as Cheyenne played on her phone and Brooke read on her tablet. I wasn’t doing anything except staring out the window, my knee bouncing up and down as nerves raced through my body.

“She’s gonna be fine,” Brooke said, placing her hand on my knee and calming it.

“I know,” I breathed. I did know. I was certain of it. Still didn’t mean I was ready for it.

“It’s time!” Chey exclaimed as the boarding announcement sounded.

I swallowed—hard.

Brooke wrapped her arm around her. “You’re gonna have so much fun.”

“I can’t wait to tell my mom how softball season went and that I’m playing again this year.”

Brooke looked up at me, a look of question on her face. I’d never told her how Cheyenne visited Dana’s grave every time she went to see her grandparents.

“She already knows. She’s looking down on you every day.”

Cheyenne looked to Brooke and then to me. “Should I… tell her you said hi?”

“Yeah, Peanut. Tell her for me.”

Cheyenne smiled, and I handed the agent the unaccompanied minor forms I had to fill out. She checked it over and then said, “All right, you ready?” She was talking to Cheyenne.

“Yes!”

I grabbed Cheyenne and wrapped my arms around her. “We’ll be in the air still when you land, but as soon as you’re with Grandma and Grandpa, you call me and leave me a message, okay?”

She nodded and pulled back. Brooke hugged her and then the attendant grabbed her hand.

“Bye, Peanut. I love you.”

“Love you too, Daddy.”

“I love you.” Brooke waved.

“Love you too.”

And then, she was gone.

“Do we have time to get you a drink?” Brooke smiled.

I looked at the time on my phone. “Nope. We gotta run.”

As we waited in line to board, I leaned down and whispered in her ear, “How do you feel about the Mile High Club?”