Page 113 of Come Fly with Me

It’s not that difficult, really. We are apart a lot with being on different flights and both of us working a lot. That’s going to change in the coming months though, because I won’t be able to fly. I’ll be stuck at home which will be a real change for me.

“Twelve weeks,” I say, smiling so big that my cheeks begin to hurt. I can’t even believe Jake has turned me into the kind of person who announces her pregnancy to an entire plane full of people, but I can tell he loves it. And that’s what matters.

“Oh my god, so like three months?” he mutters, his eyes going wide again. “I’m behind. I need to start reading. How big is the baby? Don’t tell me you know the sex already.”

He lets out a panicked sigh, dragging a hand through his hair. I rest a hand on his cheek, my thumb brushing gently across the stubble that has grown with his overnight flight.

“We have plenty of time,” I tell him. “I haven’t had an ultrasound, and I don’t know the sex of the baby.”

“Oh good,” he says, letting out a sigh of relief. “I want to do all those things with you. I want to be there for everything. All of it.” He kisses me again, his lips curling up in a smile now.

“So you were surprised?” I ask, shocked that I’m letting all of this play out in front of the passengers.

“Surprised? Baby, you knocked me on my arse,” he says, laughing, his hands now moving to the almost nonexistent swell of my belly. “But how?” His brow is furrowed now as he looks down at where his hands are resting.

“Jake, do I really need to tell you how babies are made?” I joke, and the small crowd of people around us laugh.

“But I thought…” he starts, looking around the plane, not wanting to expose everything to all these random strangers.

“Remember when we took that long leg from London to Iceland and then back to London and then New York?” I say, and Jake nods. Not that either of us could forget. It was probably one of the only times in the last year we were together in the cockpit for more than one flight. “Well, I forgot my birth control pills.” I shrug sheepishly.

When it happened, I didn’t think much of it, looking at the calendar and thinking I had things under control. Turns out, I didn’t, or maybe I did since this is the way it turned out.

Surprise pregnancy feels very Jake and me. While I’m a planner by nature, always on time, always needing to be in control, Jake is entirely the opposite. It seems like he’s rubbed off on me.

“I’ve never been so happy that you did,” Jake murmurs, his mouth next to my ear. “And I can’t wait to get to Hawaii and celebrate.”

With that, I give him a quick kiss, knowing these passengers are ready to begin their vacation or get back home.

Just as I’m about to walk back to the cockpit, Jake reaches for me, his fingers closing gently around my wrist.

He calls out to the packed plane, “Can we all wish a congratulations to my amazing girlfriend, Captain Taylor Patterson? Not only is she the best captain to ever fly with Crescent Airways, but she’s also going to be the best mother.”

The plane full of people erupts with applause once again, and I’m overcome with emotions, filled with excitement and nervousness, happiness and fear, but all in the best possible way.

“Thank you,” I say, smiling at the crew and the passengers. “Now I think I have a plane to fly. Thank you all for celebrating with us, and for bearing with us as I give Jake the craziest news of his life.”

“You make my life far more exciting than it could have ever been without you in it,” Jake tells me, stealing a quick kiss before heading back to his seat.

“See you in Hawaii!” I yell to him, this time blowing him a kiss.

Jake

I wait in my seat until everyone has left the plane. It takes a while, because pretty much every person onboard wants to stop and congratulate me on the way out. I don’t mind though, accepting everyone’s well wishes with the smile I’ve had on my face since Taylor told me the news.

And even though I’m tired and exhausted from my flight yesterday, I haven’t slept a wink because I’m just so fucking happy.

Having kids isn’t something Taylor and I have really talked about, which isn’t to say we didn’t want them, we just hadn’t really worked out a plan for when we would have them. Both of us were always more focused on our careers, especially after the battle Taylor went through to succeed at hers. And I was always totally fine with that, wanting her to have everything she’s ever dreamed of.

Including kids with me, apparently.

Finally, the last person leaves, and I stand, accepting the hug from Ali as I make my way to the front of the plane. Taylor stayed in the cockpit as all the passengers left, and I know that’s because of the big announcement she made before we took off. My girl would have hated doing that, but she knows I will have loved it. Which is exactly why she did it.

I rap my knuckles on the open door of the cockpit, and Taylor turns, a look of surprise on her face that quickly gives way to a huge smile.

“You waited?” she asks, standing and walking over to me.

“Of course, I did,” I whisper, pulling her into my arms as I kiss her deeply. “I’m so fucking happy right now.”

---