Chapter 10 - The Flight Home
One year later.
The summer sun shone brilliantly over Pad 4 at Boston Logan Airport—the exact spot where, two years ago, Damon Cross had left his twelve-day-old daughter and wife standing in the cold.
Today, the pad was occupied by the newly refurbished, sleek white-and-emerald Gulfstream G650, bearing the updated tail number: N1-LILA.
The automated stairs were lowered. Red carpet lined the tarmac.
A sleek black SUV pulled up to the aircraft.
Julian Vance stepped out first, wearing a tailored navy linen suit, looking relaxed, happy, and immensely handsome. He turned and reached into the back seat, lifting out twenty-two-month-old Lila, who was wearing a bright yellow sundress and small white sneakers, holding a plush teddy bear.
Then, Sienna stepped out.
She looked radiant. She wore a stunning white summer dress, her dark hair blowing gently in the warm ocean breeze, her left hand sparkling with the sapphire engagement band alongside a thin platinum wedding band. She was six months pregnant with their second child—a baby boy they had already decided to name Harrison.
Arthur Pendelton and Captain Sarah Lawson stood at the foot of the stairs, smiling warmly as the family approached.
"Clear skies all the way to Maine today, Mrs. Vance," Captain Lawson reported proudly, performing a crisp salute.
"Thank you, Sarah," Sienna smiled, kissing the captain's cheek.
Julian held Sienna’s hand as they walked up the stairs into the familiar luxury cabin.
Inside, the cabin had been completely redesigned. The cold cream leather and corporate mahogany had been replaced by warm teak wood, soft cream wool, and custom play areas filled with soft toys for Lila.
On the mahogany table sat the same small pink pastel suitcase Sienna had retrieved from Damon two years ago.
Sienna walked over, running her fingers gently over the soft leather of the little suitcase, a quiet, peaceful smile touching her lips.
"Thinking about that night?" Julian asked softly, stepping behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist, resting his hands gently over her pregnant belly.
"I was thinking about how much can change when you finally stop believing someone else's lies about who you are," Sienna murmured, turning her head to kiss Julian’s cheek.
"You were never broken, Sienna," Julian said softly, looking into her eyes. "You were just waiting for your sky."
Lila came running down the aisle from her play area, holding her teddy bear, shouting happily: "Daddy! Plane go up!"
Julian laughed, leaning down to scoop his daughter up with one arm while keeping his other arm tightly wrapped around Sienna.
"That's right, sweetheart," Julian smiled, looking at his wife and daughter. "Plane goes up."
The heavy hydraulic door sealed shut with a soft, smooth hiss.
May you like
Outside, the twin jet engines whined to life, roaring with smooth, powerful energy as the aircraft taxied down the runway.
Sienna sat by the window, holding Lila on her lap, Julian’s hand tightly clasped in hers, as the Gulfstream lifted effortlessly off the Boston tarmac, soaring up into the infinite, sunlit blue sky—heading home to Maine, where their empire of love, peace, and family would live forever unbroken.
