Page 57 of Undefeated Love
“I’ll fly,” Lei Lu said quickly.
Ashlin Cartwright glanced at the baby. “I think it’s my turn.”
It took nearly twenty minutes for everyone to get seated. As soon as they took off, Katlin handed Alex a bottle. “Keep him drinking until we hit at least thirty thousand feet. It will help clear his ears.”
“Look at you being the good mother.” Nita patted Katlin on the back. “If you didn’t hand him a bottle, I was going to.”
Kira Frost grinned and held up another bottle. “Great minds think alike. I’ll put this one in the fridge until you need it.”
An hour into the flight, Nita sat down next to Katlin, across from Alex who was holding a sleeping Ric.
Tori sat in the seat across the aisle attempting to sleep.
“Is everything okay?” Katlin started the conversation.
“So, you’re going to take over as director of operations, is that correct?”
“Yes. I was ready to resign my commission and leave the Navy but General Lyon at USSOCOM and General Standish asked me to take this position.”
“My contract is up soon. Daniel and I have talked about it quite a bit. I want to become a doctor.” She leaned over and gazed at her nephew. “Believe it or not, a pediatrician. I have another year and then I can sit for my boards.”
Katlin reached around and hugged her sister-in-law. “That’s wonderful.”
Nita glanced around the cabin. “But I don’t know what that does for Black Swan Team One.”
Katlin giggled and shrugged. “Neither do I but we’ll figure it out. Have you told any of the other Ladies?”
Nita reached across the aisle and punched Tori in the arm. “I guess you now know.”
Tori lifted one shoulder. “I’m not surprised. You’ve been talking about this ever since you got married.”
Several hours later at the next shift of pilots, Lei Lu strode directly back and took the seat beside Katlin. “I’m pregnant. Tell me everything I need to know.”
From across the table where Alex was playing with his son, he interjected, “You’d better tell Henry right away. He’s not going to want to miss a minute of this.”
“I already told him. More like showed him. He already knows.” Lei Lu stumbled through her explanation.
“What did you do?” Katlin accused.
“When we left on this mission, I left a gift on the table.” She blushed. “It was a silver baby spoon and one of the many sticks I peed on.”
All the women around them started laughing. “That’s perfect.”
Tori leaned across the aisle and asked, “Are you going to stay with the team?”
Lei Lu looked pained. “My contract will be up before the baby is born.” She shook her head slowly side to side. “I’m thinking about joining a cybersecurity company. Maybe they’d even let me work from home.”
“Strange you should mention that.” Alex handed their son to Katlin. “He needs changing and I want to talk to Lei Lu.”
“Give me all the shitty jobs.” Lei Lu moved out of the way so Katlin could make her way back to the bathroom.
“As you know, I have several cyber guys. When Katlin and I were talking about expanding the business last night, opening a cyber division came up. Would you consider heading that division for us?” He grinned. “You can work wherever the hell you want. I can guarantee you I pay better than the military.”
“Let me talk to Henry about it. I like the idea, though.” As soon as Lei Lu left the seat, Katlin returned to her seat with the baby. Grace sat down.
She immediately hugged Katlin. “I’ve missed you so much.” She leaned back and stared at her former team leader. “I can’t believe you were pregnant at my wedding, and I didn’t even notice it.”
Katlin giggled. “You were a little bit busy that day.”
