Page 67 of Something Blue

“Both?”

She nods.

“I’ll be right back.”

The drive takes us out of the city and into the wide open spaces and rolling hills of nature and mountains. It’s beautiful and because we left even earlier than expected we are lucky enough to be driving right into the sunrise. Warm orange streaks paint the sky with hints of the adventure we are going on. Neve is going to be over the moon. I know it.

Sitting next to me in the car holding her croissant and nibbling at the edge in between sips of hot cappuccino in a take away mug - she is smiling and watching the sky ahead of us.

She leans over and presses on the stereo. Music fills the car, and she sings to it.

This is what I wanted for my life.

My life with her.

This is heaven to me.

It takes us an hour and a half to get to where we’re going.

When I pull off the long open highway and down a dirt road Neve sits bolt straight in her seat. “Are we here?” She asks, her voice tight with excitement.

“We’re here.” I chuckle.

A mile down the road I pull off into a parking area, a wide gravel space with a concrete building ahead of us that looks like a bunker.

“What in the world?” Neve mutters, climbing out of the car, too impatient to wait for me to open the door for her.

I hurry out too, because I want to see her face when she sees the surprise.

Grabbing her hand I stop her from running ahead and she does a little skip next to me.

“It’s just ahead - in the valley.” I grin.

And when she sees it her face lights up like guy faux day. Her eyes glittering with happiness.

The valley is a landing site for three different helicopters. I point to a black one with the word Hawk written on the side. “That is ours for today.” I smile.

“We’re going on a helicopter tour.” She shouts.

“Yes, but also, today is your very first lesson in flying. You’ll do simulation training, they are going to give you a book to study, you won’t be allowed to fly the chopper yet, but we are going for a flight today.”

She turns towards me, her mouth hanging open, her brows knotted.

“You - you signed me up for a lesson?”

“Yes, a package of lessons. In a few months you will be qualified to fly on your own. This base isn’t the only one they have. They have one in the city too, so we won’t have to drive out all the way here every time. But I wanted the first lesson to be out here because we have another surprise for this evening.”

“I’ll be a qualified pilot? I will be flying on my own?” She says in disbelief. For a moment I can’t tell if she’s scared or excited. I realize it’s both.

“Do you want to do this?” I ask, nervous that I’ve made a mistake.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” She screams, jumping into my arms and covering my face in kisses. “This is freaking amazing. This is - this is - I can’t—” she trips over her words and I laugh at her outburst.

“Celso.” She says my name, and it’s a whisper of air. “This is amazing.”

“Come on. Let’s go meet your instructor.”

Neve’s first lesson is a few hours long. I relax by the pool near the training base and enjoy lunch at the restaurant and when she comes walking in with a smile that stretches across her entire face, her eyes glittering like diamonds and her chin held high and happy - my heart is filled with love at the sight of her.

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