Page 118 of The Moment Promised

“I love you. I love you.I love you,” he says swiftly, dropping to his knees right in the aisle. Before I can even catch up to what’s happening, his lips crash into mine and kisses me fervently. He holds my face in his hands. The smell of him breathes life back into me. Cinnamon and clove.

Tears trickle out the corners of my closed eyes. I didn’t realize how much I needed this kiss until this moment. My body floats and my pain dissipates.

He grips my jaw firmly, like he’ll never let go.

I ignore the flight attendant telling Finn to sit down, that they are about to close the doors.

Finn whispers painfully, “I have to go.”

No.

I fight back a sob and nod my head quickly.I love you, Finn Walker, down to the very beat of my heart. I try to get words out, but my throat closes. “I love?—”

“I know,” he says, looking so deeply into my eyes.

We exchange a silent I love you, and then he’s gone, zipping through the aisle and taking my heart with him.

He can have it. It hurts too much when it’s without him anyways.

I replay the last minute in my mind, smiling and crying as the plane moves toward the runway.

He bought a plane ticket to say goodbye.

That’s the all-consuming love I’d always brushed off as fiction, but it exists, and I live in the aftermath.

I open the window shade, watching the world shrink down as we take off.

Normally I’d enjoy the feeling of being small, but right now, I can only hope to God our story doesn’t die right here on this plane.

But how could it not?

We belong in two different states.

I let everything go, closing my eyes and thinking of a new beginning.

The one where Adeline Miller has a true family, one of her own.

“Ohmygod! Adeline, I swear I almost forgot what you looked like.” Chloe’s high pitched excitement rings in my ears as we squeeze each other so tightly in the airport.

I peer over her shoulder, meeting Charlie’s eyes.

My dad’s eyes.

“Hey there, kiddo.” He smiles with emotion, like seeing me really means something to him…he has no idea.

Chloe releases me, and I go straight for my dad, hugging him and breathing the miracle in.

I found you, Dad. And I wasn’t even trying to.

He laughs, shocked by how long I hug him for, but he doesn’t try to release me any more than I do.

How do you spend an hour-long car ride with two people who have no idea you’re their long lost daughter and sister?

I’ve swallowed down the truth many times, even though it’s begging to be said out loud. But this isn’t the way to tell someone,oh hey, by the way, you got your ex-girlfriend pregnant, and she didn’t tell you. Oh, and it’s me, I’m your daughter. And Evia is dead. Surprise!

We are almost to Authensville, so I test my patience for a little longer.

They really need to build an airport closer, but I guess that’s the price you pay for living in a small town in the mountains.

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