Page 24 of Conquering the Skies

Emotion gripped her chest. “Is this why you keep following me around?” she tried to joke.

“Oh no, you’ve deduced my secret plans,” he retorted in the same flippant tones.

Geneva smiled, though he couldn’t see her face from where he sat below her. “What is it you keep saying? No matter where I am in the universe, you’ll always find your way back to me?”

“Something along those lines. And I meant every word.”

She swung their entwined hands back and forth. “Maybe I should listen to you more often. You do make some good points after all.”

“Can I get it in writing?” When she yanked at his wrist, he chuckled. “Listen, Geneva, you know by now how I’ve always been a relaxed, laid-back, ‘go with the flow’ kind of guy. We were joking around before, but wherever you go, that’s where I want to be. Whether you want to stick around and try to make things work on Pasurea, or if you want to try life on another planet…hell, if you wanted to reenlist in the military, you could probably make a convincing case for it.” His grasp on her grew tighter. “From the very first mission we went on together, you’ve always had my back, and I can count on you for anything. You’re the constant, that feeling of stability, and home for me is wherever you are.”

“I’m lucky to have you.” She rested her head on her forearm. “I know I’ve done a lot of moping around and complaining tonight. I promise I’ll work through it somehow, and I appreciate you listening.”

“It’s what I’m here for.”

“Until then, I’m glad you’re—”

Movement coming from the direction of the house caught her attention, and she sat up on the branch. Dahlia approached the tree, the dusky twilight doing nothing to diminish the vibrant hues of her hair. “I thought you’d be in for dinner by now,” she said.

Geneva moved closer to the center of the tree to begin her descent. “Sorry. I guess we lost track of the time.”

Her mother waved her off with one hand. “Stay where you are. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“That’s a first,” she muttered under her breath.

“Dinner sounds pretty good right now,” Ash said. “But whenever Geneva’s ready.”

Dahlia peered up into the branches. “I won’t rush you. And you don’t even need to tell me about whatever is bothering you.”

She bit back a groan. “Am I really so transparent?”

“Darling, you’ve been coming here your entire life to sort through your troubles and formulate your plans.” Pursing her lips, she cleared her throat. “Well, minus the gap of nine years or so in the middle, I suppose.”

Geneva grimaced yet said nothing.

“All I’m saying is it hasn’t gone unnoticed. But I won’t pry.”

She returned to her favorite position of bracing herself in the fork between two branches. “It’s all going to come out sooner or later, so I might as well fill you in now.”

Ash extended his hand downward and grinned. “Want to join us? I’ll give you a boost.”

“Absolutely not.” Dahlia produced a narrow metallic cylinder she’d carried from the house. At the push of a button, it quickly transformed into a small chair, complete with back and armrests. She placed it at the base of the tree and perched on the seat, legs crossed at the ankles. “I came prepared.”

Geneva took a brief moment to marvel at how her mother could maintain her poise and dignity in a flimsy folding chair, and then gave her a brief summary of the day’s prior discussions. “So, I’m not 100 percent convinced I made the right decision when it comes to Platinum Security Solutions,” she concluded. “But, in time, I think everything will work out. Or, at least I hope it will.”

Dahlia sniffed. “I’m not surprised. I always thought it was an…interesting choice.”

Familiar irritation simmered beneath her skin, and she tried to fight it back. “You could have said something before all the contracts were signed, you know.”

“You never asked what I thought.” She smoothed the hair at one side of her head. “And whenever I’ve tried to give you unsolicited advice in the past, it hasn’t gone well.”

Ash braced his hands on his branch as if preparing to jump down. “I can go inside if you’d like,” he said.

“No, it’s not necessary.” She bit her lower lip and waited a beat before responding to her mother’s claim. “Okay, then I’m asking now. What do you think I should do?”

“Geneva, sweetie, you know I can’t answer that question for you.” Some of the stiffness eased out of her back and shoulders. “I will say, however, while I’ve loved having you closer to home since you left the military, part of me wondered how long it would last.”

Brows knit together, she looked down at her. “What do you mean? Where did you think I would go?”

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