As we boarded, Leah took the window seat.
Caleb sat beside her.
I sat across the aisle.
Before takeoff, the captain’s voice came through the speakers.
“Good morning, everyone…”
Caleb glanced at me.
I glanced back.
Neither of us smiled immediately.
Then the captain said something boring about weather.
Nothing personal.
No secret woman.
No life-changing confession.
Just turbulence over Virginia.
Caleb leaned across the aisle.
“Mom.”
“Yes?”
“No surprises this time, right?”
I smiled.
“Only good ones.”
Leah turned from the window.
“Like what?”
I shrugged.
“Maybe the hotel has a pool.”
“That’s not a surprise.”
“It will be if I forgot your swimsuits.”
They both groaned.
Then Caleb laughed.
A real laugh.
The kind I hadn’t heard for months after that first flight.
As the plane accelerated down the runway, Leah reached across the seat and grabbed his hand.
Caleb pretended to be annoyed.
He didn’t let go.
