Page 26 of An Alaskan Twin Surprise (Home to Owl Creek 2)

Please don’t let fear diminish this blessing.

“I hope things won’t be awkward between us—” Rachel began before being cut off by Gabriel.

“Rachel, let’s just focus on getting your mother to Anchorage so she can get better. Right now, that’s what matters most.”

She let out a sigh of relief. Flying was nerve-racking enough without having to deal with tension between them. For now at least, they were on the same page.

“We’re going to have a great flight,” Gabriel said, taking her hand and squeezing it. “I even brought some peanuts and pretzels for you.” He reached into a bin and handed a few bags to Rachel, who laughed as she accepted them.

“You’re safe with me. I promise,” he said, his voice full of conviction.

You’re safe with me. Hadn’t Gabriel uttered those same words after he’d proposed to her?

And yet in the deepest regions of her heart she hadn’t fully trusted in him. If she’d truly felt safe she never would have run away. That realization made her sad. Gabriel had always been trustworthy to a fault. In the end her actions said so much more about her than Gabriel. She was the broken one.

* * *

Gabriel walked them through every step of the process, explaining everything in detail before takeoff. He was calm and professional. He gave each of them a headset so he could easily communicate with them during the flight. As the plane gathered speed and took off from the runway, Rachel felt the firm pressure of Helene’s hand holding her own. The roar of the engine intensified as the seaplane soared into the sky. She began doing breathing exercises and having her own private conversation with God, praying for a safe journey. Her nerves were all over the place, and she couldn’t seem to stop her legs from trembling.

“If you look to the right you can see Kachemak Bay.” Gabriel’s steady voice flowed through the headset. “Personally speaking, it’s one of the most stunning views in Alaska.”

Rachel leaned toward the window and looked down at the glistening waters filled with chunks of ice and snow. It was so different seeing it from this vantage point. She’d gotten glimpses from her commercial flight, but it was nothing remotely like this. It felt so up close and personal. She had the feeling it had everything to do with Gabriel being at the controls. He still had the ability to make her feel safe when she leaned on him. She was reluctant to admit it to herself, but she still sought him out as a source of comfort.

Throughout the flight, Gabriel continued to point out locations and places of interest. The sound of his voice through the headpiece was soothing. Every time he spoke, she felt a little bit calmer. She relaxed slightly as memories of her dad flying her around Alaska washed over her. He’d been passionate about flying and had taken it upon himself to educate her and Neil about all aspects of aviation. If she closed her eyes she could picture him sitting in the cockpit in his black leather bomber jacket and Ray-Ban sunglasses. His face had always been lit up with a grin in expectation of his next adventure.

As they headed toward the Lake Hood seaplane base, Helene began to point out familiar areas she recognized on the ground. She too had taken this same flight with her husband many times over the years. Rachel sensed her mother was reliving those glory days, judging by the tender sm

ile gracing her face. How Rachel wished she could be as centered and calm as Helene regarding the flight. She would give anything to rid herself of all the fears that left her stomach in knots.

Once Gabriel began the descent, the plane began to shudder and shake due to sudden turbulence. Rachel cried out and gripped the armrest. Fear threatened to choke her. She shut her eyes tightly and began to pray. She let out a sigh of relief when the plane stopped shuddering.

When Gabriel landed the plane, Rachel wanted to stand up and cheer. The whole experience had been a bit surreal. During the moments of turbulence, memories of her father had surrounded her, almost like a blanket of protection.

It wasn’t as if her anxiety completely dissipated during the flight, but during the moments of turbulence Rachel had managed to soothe herself. She’d still feared the plane going down, but those thoughts hadn’t plagued her throughout the journey. She’d had some moments where she had enjoyed the scenery and felt a connection with her father.

“I forgot,” she murmured. “I can’t believe I didn’t remember.”

“Forgot what?” Helene asked, frowning. “Did you leave something at the house?”

“I forgot how amazing it can be to be up among the clouds. It’s the closest I’ve ever been to God. That’s what Daddy always used to say.” Up until this moment she’d pushed that particular memory out of her mind. “I can almost hear his big baritone voice saying it right now.”

“You’re absolutely right. He said the same thing to me when he took me up with him,” Gabriel chimed in. “I think of it almost every time I take flight. I’ve never known a human being who loved to soar as much as he did.”

Guilt swept over her. “I’ve been so focused on how he died, I really haven’t spent a lot of time remembering how he lived. And how much he adored flying.”

Helene nodded. “Other than being a family man, that’s what he was. A pilot.” She shrugged. “I’ve always been thankful he died doing what he loved.” It was hard not to notice the wistful tone of her voice. “I’m sorry I didn’t share those thoughts with you and Neil.”

“It’s all right. I’m thankful you’re telling me now.” And she meant it. A lot of the resentment she’d felt toward her mother had diminished since her return to Owl Creek. After all of these years Rachel was finally finding common ground with her and understanding the pain she’d endured as a woman who’d become a widow way too soon. As a teenager she hadn’t been able to empathize fully with the scope of her mother’s loss. She’d been too busy nursing her own wounds and trying to block out the horrifying images of the crash.

“Are you ladies ready to deplane?” Gabriel asked. “There’s a car waiting to take us to the hospital.”

Gabriel had thought of everything, even the small details that she’d completely forgotten about. If she hadn’t already thought the world of him, this experience would have placed him at the top of her list. He was so genuine and caring. He possessed all the best attributes for a father and husband. She’d always known this, but at the moment the knowledge crashed over her like a tidal wave.

He was going to make an Owl Creek woman a fine husband one of these days. She imagined her mother wouldn’t hesitate to let her know she’d been foolish to let him slip through her fingers. But she’d never had the heart to tell her mother the extent of her worries regarding Gabriel’s profession. She hadn’t ever wanted to show all of her scars from having witnessed her father’s fatal crash. Even now, she knew Helene had no idea how terrified she’d been to fly to Anchorage.

“I’ve come too far to turn back now,” Helene asserted, dragging Rachel out of her thoughts. Her mother drew herself up to her full height and puffed out her chest. “Let’s do this!”

Gabriel held out his arm for Helene and she quickly grabbed hold of it. As Rachel followed behind them as they exited the plane, she offered up a special thank-you. She was filled with gratitude for reaching Anchorage safely, and most of all, for her mother’s courageous attitude regarding treatment. Maybe someday she could be as brave about flying.

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