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“But I think you’ll like it just as much.”
I exit the car and open the front door hastily. “I don’t think there’s anything you could get me that I’d like more than your—”
My breath leaves my body in a whoosh.
“Surprise?” Her voice has turned wary. “Do you like it? Please say something.”
“I…” I stand rooted to the spot as I take in the brilliant blue wing walker in my hallway.
“You said as long as it wasn’t a bus?” she whispers.
“Goddamn, Ava,” I rasp, walking over to it and running my hand along the smooth wingtip.
“It was always meant to stay in your family. I figured you’d like it back, but—”
“I love you. I love you so damn much.”
She sighs. “Thank god. For a minute, I thought I’d screwed up.”
“Never.” I walk around the plane, inspecting it. It looks even better than last time I saw it. Brighter, more alive. “Thank you,” I say, still processing the fact that the thing my mother loved so much is here in my house. Not gone anymore. Back where it belongs.
“How did you get it back?”
“I told Ophelia I was going to pull the movie. But that I’d agree to sign all rights and royalties over to her if she persuaded James.”
“You did what?”
“She said I didn’t need to surrender my royalties, that she’d persuade him. All she wanted was for the movie to go ahead. She thinks it’s a story that has to be told. But I wanted Callaghan to think they were getting something in return. You know what he’s like.”
I grunt. “Unfortunately, I do. But that’s your story. Your royalties. Why would you do that?”
“Because I don’t need it anymore,” she replies easily, a lightness in her voice I’ve never heard before now. “I needed to write it, to share it. And I’ve done that. The movie, it’s… Maybe Mum needs it. But I don’t.”
“Jesus.” I rub a hand over my jaw as I sink to the floor and rest against the wall, my eyes fixed on the plane in front of me. “You amaze me.”
“I know,” she teases.
We fall into a comfortable silence.
“Tell me when you’re ready to come home to me,” I whisper.
I hear the way she sucks in a small breath and picture the way her plump lower lip will be lifting into the smile that’s evident in her voice.
“I could come home to you right now.”
I screw my eyes shut, pressing my thumb and finger into them. “You know I’d come and get you if you asked.”
“I know you would. But I trust you when you say I need to do this.” Her voice is soft, and hearing her faith in me again makes my heart swell to twice its size, forcing a lump to my throat.
“Youdoneed to do this. As much as I’m already missing you, you have to do this.”
I listen to her breathe, just happy to be connected to her, to know she’s miles away, and I’m the one she’s thinking of. Just like I’m always thinking of her.
“I’ll call you the second I can come back to you,” she says, her breath catching in a small sob.
“Good girl.” I gaze at my mother’s plane.
“I’ll be waiting.”
