Page 16 of Your Fan Forever
Five
Callie
I managedto table the wedding talk and finish up a few assignments so I wouldn’t have to deal with school over the break. I’d been to Aspen with my family in the winter for skiing. I’d never been when there was no snow on the ground. Noah assured me I’d love it. He knew me and what I needed. I knew him,too.
Maybe that was the reason the whole engagement came as such a surprise. I didn’t see it coming. I loved looking down and seeing the ring on my finger, but I was in shock over the whole weddingthing.
Four days later we took a car to LaGuardia Airport. We were flying to Aspen on a private. With two dogs and this being Valentine’s first trip on a plane, we didn’t want her cooped up the whole ride. It sounded ridiculous and awfully expensive to bring our little family across the country, but when I mentioned it to Noah, it made perfect sense tohim.
I put the dogs on a leash and let them do their business before we boarded theplane.
Valentine stayed close. Nip saw new territory to explore. He went as far as the leash wouldallow.
“Callie.” Noah motioned. “Wheels up in fiveminutes.”
I nodded. I grabbed Valentine and pulled Nip along. We ascended into the plane. It was a twelve seater Gulfstream. The interior was comfortable with plush beige leather seats and woodpaneling.
“Wow.” I said as I took a seat in the second row seat. Noah sat down next to me. Nip jumped up into hislap.
“It’s nice,right.”
“I could get used to this.” I sunk into the seats. “Can we afford to buy a privateplane?”
“I don’t know. You tellme.”
“Well, we couldn’t do it until I turn twenty five. I don’t think I could convince my father it was necessary and approve the funds. Of course it would probably give him a heart attack, he’d drop dead and then we could afford twoplanes.”
“Welcome.” The captain came from the cockpit. Noah stood and shook his hand. “My name is Captain Clancy and this is Captain Drones. Stephanie and Grace will be taking care of you on our flight to Aspen.” The captain pointed to the flight crew behindhim.
“Hi. I'm Noah and this isCallie.”
“Who are the two little ones?” Grace bent down and scratched Nip’snose.
“Nip andValentine.”
“Oh my goodness. How cute?” Grace said as she stood up and straightened her skirt and blinked her fake eyelashes atNoah.
“Flight time to Aspen is about three hours and twenty minutes.” He tilted his hat at me. “We’ll conclude final flight check and be on our wayshortly.”
“Thank you,” Isaid.
Grace put her hand on Noah’sforearm.
“Is there anything we can get you before we take off.” Her tone made me sick. I sat Valentine on the ground and stoodup.
She had her other arm across her body. I reached out with my left hand and squeezed herarm.
“You know. We’d love a glass of champagne,” I said and put my hand to my chest and wiggled my ring finger. It was all involuntary. Iswear.
“Sure no problem.” She gave a meek smile and walked to the back of theplane.
“What happened to not telling people we’re engaged?” Noah guided me back into myseat.
I flopped down and huffed. Good thing he stopped me before I backslapped Grace with my ring to make sure she sawit.
“I didn’t say a word.” I said andgiggled.
Stephanie returned with ourchampagne.
