High Flying

by Kaylin McFarren

  Skylar continued to watch him soberly. “I can only imagine.”

  “We didn’t have any place to stay, so I used my savings to rent and furnish this house. We’ve been meeting here for a while now, keeping the news about our relationship a secret. Yesterday, she went home to pack all her things and was supposed to move in while I was gone.” A slow smile spread over his mouth and spilled into his eyes. “She said something about having a big surprise for me. She’s always excited about something. That’s what makes Lily so special. She’s all about celebrating occasions, like our first date, our first kiss. You name it.” He stood up and refilled his coffee cup. “I haven’t told anyone this stuff.” He chuckled. “You know…I haven’t got a clue why I told you.”

  Dylan dropped back into his seat, reached into his shirt pocket, and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. Skylar eyed them, wondering what it would feel like to casually smoke a cigarette with her old man. He must have noticed her interest because he extended the pack in her direction and smiled. “Want one?”

  “Don’t mind if I do.”

  She closed her eyes and eased a stream of smoke through her lips. It had been more than two years since she’d quit her pack-a-day habit, right after her boss gave her the choice between tuning up cars and dropping ashes.

  “So how did you end up in the air anyway?” Dylan asked, trying to make small talk in a country-boy sort of way. She exhaled another puff of smoke and told him about getting her pilot’s license and eventually getting to work at airshows. But she was careful not to disclose too much. She didn’t want him thinking she was crazy.

  “If you hadn’t talked me through that dive, I probably wouldn’t be here today. So I guess I’ll be thanking you for the rest of my life.”

  “Yeah, well, I’m sorry about that.”

  “About what?”

  “Your friend Jake. He sounds like a real dick.” Dylan rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

  “How so?”

  “I would never risk a new pilot’s life the way he did.”

  Skylar winced. Dylan had struck a nerve, compelling her to defend herself. “I’ve been flying since I was sixteen, Mr. Haines. Before hooking up with Jake, I crop dusted fields all over Sacramento and hopped fence posts just for fun.” Skylar snubbed her cigarette out in the ashtray and narrowed her eyes. “You might think I have no sense or any business flying, but you’re wrong on both counts. I have never had a plane come out of nowhere and actually hit me.”

  “Are you insinuating that I was the one in the wrong place?” He seemed shocked. “I was in communication with the tower. I radioed in with engine trouble, and they didn’t say anything about your plane on their radar. The storm must have thrown you into my path. It’s not like I knew you were there and just kept going. Christ, I’m not that crazy.”

  “Just crazy enough to confront those men.” Ah, she had him now.

  “You don’t understand,” he claimed. “I have no choice.”

  “Everyone has a choice, Mr. Haines.”

  “Not me. Not if I want to keep my best friend alive. And stop calling me that.”

  “Calling you what?”

  “Mr. Haines. You make me sound like my father or something.”

  Skylar sniffed. By this time, it was no longer a laughing matter. “What’s with your friend?”

  “It’s his fault I’m in this mess. And soon I’ll have a wife to think about.”

  “And a baby,” she mumbled.

  “What did you say?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Anyway, it really shouldn’t concern you. In fact, the less you know the better.”

  A series of rapid knocks carried from the front door, setting her teeth on edge.

  “Stay here,” he told her. “And don’t make any noise. Please.”

  Dylan disappeared into the next room, and Skylar peered around the corner. The door suddenly flew open, revealing a slim salt-and-pepper-haired man wearing wire-framed glasses and a thin mustache. His hands were clenched at his sides and an ugly scowl covered his face.

  “You need to stay away from my daughter!” he yelled. “Do you hear me?”

  A young woman pushed past him and stood toe-to-toe with the angry man. “I don’t see why you’re so upset, Dad.”

  Oh, my God! It’s my mother. Skylar stared in disbelief. The woman in the photo had come to life right before her eyes.

  “I’m upset because you disobeyed me. I specifically told you to stay away from him!”

  “Why do I need to stay away from him? He’s the nicest guy I know.”

  “Lily, I’m not speaking to you about this.”

  “Why, Dad? Why don’t you like him? Is it because his father is one of your patients?”

  “Of course not. You ignored what I was trying to—”

  Lily interrupted him. “Just because someone has anger issues doesn’t make them crazy. And it doesn’t mean Dylan is going to turn out the same way!”

  “Don’t you dare raise your voice to me—”

  “You never listen to me! You and mom work day and night, and I hate it here because I feel so alone in this stupid town. I hate college. I hate my teachers and the people in my classes. I hate waking up every single morning knowing I’m stuck here. Dylan is the only person I want to see. And if it wasn’t for him, I would be dead.” She pulled back her left sleeve, exposing fresh cut marks on her arm.

  Skylar sucked in a breath. Holy shit! As a kid, she had seen a patchwork of scars on her mother’s forearms and thighs. But her mother had covered them quickly, claiming they were the result of a car accident. Skylar dismissed them—forgot all about them. But now there was no doubt. Lily was a cutter too.

  Her voice dripped with sarcasm. “My dad is a successful therapist, yet he doesn’t even know his own daughter is suicidal. Such an amazing doctor! Nothing gets past you, does it, Dad?”

  Her father slapped her in the face. “How dare you talk to me that way!” He looked like he was going to explode. “This is why you can’t be with Dylan! He’s filling your head with nonsense! Your mom and I care about you!”

  “Oh, please. You’re the only one spouting nonsense.”

  Lily’s dad threw a chair against the wall, knocking over a lamp and sending shattered glass everywhere. He looked shocked by his own action.

  “That’s enough!” Dylan yelled, standing by the door. “You’re not welcome here. You need to leave.”

  Lily’s father ignored Dylan’s command. “Who the hell do you think you are? You’re nothing but a small-time hustler, trying to pass yourself off as a businessman. I’m not stupid. My daughter doesn’t need to be hooking up with the likes of you…or cozying up with anyone in your family.”

  “Well, she happens to think otherwise!” Dylan’s face was flushed and his eyes were wide.

  Her father shortened the distance between them. “If you don’t let her go, I’ll call the police.”

  “Are you nuts? I’m not holding your daughter against her will!” Dylan was screaming at the top of his lungs. “If you don’t get out of here right now, I can’t be responsible for what—”

  “Dylan!” Lily put her hand on his chest. “Don’t! He followed me here. He just needs to understand that we love each other. But how am I supposed to change his mind with the way you’re acting?”

  “Dammit, Lily. He hit you.”

  “Back off. I provoked him, Dylan. It’s my fault.”

  “It doesn’t matter. He shouldn’t have hit you. No man has the right to hit a woman.”

  Lily lowered her head. “I know, you’re right. But he’s still my father.”

  “And a complete asshole too. Aren’t you, Mr. Gerstman?”

  Lily’s father raised his hand, like a judge handing out a sentence. “You’re finished, Dylan Haines! I’ll make sure of it!”

  Dylan balled his fists. “What did you say?”

  “Please stop it!” Lily demanded. “He has a heart condition. He’s just an old man!” She moved close t
o her father and rested a hand on his shoulder. “Are you okay?”

  Dylan yanked his fingers through his hair. “I don’t understand. You complain to me all the time about how much you hate them. Why are you acting like—”

  “I can’t do this anymore,” Lily said, shaking her head. “I honestly can’t.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, I can’t do this. It’s not worth it if we’re going to be fighting all the time. I just can’t,” she repeated.

  Lily’s father cleared his throat, as if he was preparing to say something then changed his mind.

  “I’m not going to argue with you about this,” Dylan told Lily. “That’s not who I am. You know that…”

  “I’m leaving,” she said. “There’s no future here anyway. Not for me.”

  “Lily? What are you talking about? I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make you happy. Just tell me what you want.”

  She paused and then answered, “Freedom.”

  “If that’s what you need, then leave.” He put his fists up to his head and turned around, trying to get a hold of his emotions. When he turned around with a sigh, Lily’s dad was gone.

  And so was she.

  “I don’t understand,” Dylan mumbled. “What just happened?”

  Skylar stepped out of the shadows and into the room. She wrapped her arms around her father, and he hugged her back, more intensely than she expected. For far too long, she’d been the silent observer, afraid of becoming involved. But now she was here, sheltering her father from heartbreak, while embracing her own.

  Dylan pulled away from her and collapsed on the couch. “I can’t believe that just happened. I don’t know what I am going to do without her.”

  “Neither do I. But we need to figure something out.” Skylar paced around the room for several minutes saying nothing. Then all of a sudden she halted in her tracks and said, “You know, I might be able to help you after all. But it would require me camping out here for a few days and—”

  “Really? Then of course! If you think you can help! But I’m sure you have more important things to worry about.”

  She lifted her head, brown bangs falling across her eyes. “Not so much at the moment.”

  Dylan smiled. “Okay then. Stay right there. I’ll be back in a jiff.” He disappeared into the kitchen, leaving Skylar alone with her thoughts. Was he going to keep her a secret? For all intents and purposes, he was doing the honorable thing by trying to win Lily back. And she was merely a lost soul, drifting through time with no connections, expectations, or relevant plans.

  “Here you go,” he said, handing her a beer. “I just thought you might enjoy a little something to take the edge off…after everything that happened today.”

  “I appreciate the offer, Dylan, but it’s been more than a year since I’ve had a drink. I was told by some friends that I’m a much better person without it.”

  “Nice friends.”

  “Yeah, well…it happens to be true.”

  Dylan set the beer aside and sat down in the gray club chair across from her. He took a swig from his bottle and said, “I set up my DVR to record Animal Planet, but I haven’t watched it in over a year. I gave it up cold turkey.”

  Skylar shrugged a non-committal shoulder, unsure of the relevance. “I suppose everyone’s addicted to something, aren’t they? Snow Leopard, Famous Grouse, Fat Bird. There are people in this world determined to turn everyone into creatures of habit, if you let them.”

  Dylan smiled. “Wow. You’re one clever girl…I’ll give you that. But now it’s time to fill me in. I have a feeling that you’re not from around here. So what’s your story, Sky Bird?”

  The nickname made her smile. She cocked her head and thought, Should I dare? Could she trust him not to freak out?

  “You would never believe me if I told you,” she said, weighing her options. Tell him the truth or come up with a story.

  Dylan took another swig from his bottle. “Go ahead. I’m more open-minded than you might think.”

  Open-minded, huh? What could she say without sending him running? I’m your twenty-one-year-old daughter? Just four years younger than you. We could have had a good life together, if you weren’t such an asshole. Oh…and already dead.

  She drew a deep breath and stared a hole in the coffee table, debating on what to say. “You’re right. I don’t belong here,” she finally said. “I’m actually from another place.”

  “Okay, we’re making some progress here…” He held up his beer and smiled. “Where? San Diego, Chicago, Denver? Give me a clue, Sky. Is it hot, windy or cold?”

  She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and bit the inside of her mouth. Roxy, what am I supposed to do? He’ll never understand. How could he when I don’t even get it myself?

  “Come on,” Dylan said. “You can tell me anything. I’m not going to judge you. How can I? There are more skeletons in my closet than Vincent Price.”

  “Who?”

  “The actor…you know…from House of Wax. Come on, Sky. It can’t be that bad.”

  She gave a mirthless laugh. “All right…if you insist on knowing, I’m from…” What could she say? Alaska? Timbuktu? Your worst nightmare? “Planet Nine,” slipped out of her mouth. “Some zillion miles from Earth. It’s a place where people wander around in a trance. Where they’re forced to face mistakes they’ve made in their lives. Ever heard of it?” Now he was sure to think she was crazy.

  Surprisingly, he nodded and smiled. “Yep, just as I thought. An angel straight out of heaven. So can I get a last name at least?”

  “Brennen.” For the time being it would have to suffice. Jake’s last name prevented complications and would be easy enough to remember.

  Dylan nodded. “Oh, yeah. Just like a kid at the Aerocon shop…always asking questions. You wouldn’t by chance be related to JJ, would you?”

  She fiddled with her earring, unsure how to answer. “I…I wouldn’t think so.”

  “Okay. Now that we’ve solved that mystery, I thought I’d throw some burgers on the barbie. You all right with charred beef and grilled tomatoes, or do they worship cows on your planet?” The look on his face was sweet and mischievous, and for a few precious seconds, Skylar was actually happy.

  7

  Trepidation

  “Sleeping is so hard when you can’t stop thinking.”

  — ANONYMOUS

  Skylar pulled her father’s Padres t-shirt over her head and looked at her hazy reflection. With her wet hair, straight from the shower, and the oversized shirt, she looked like a young, naive teenager—so different from the confident woman she’d perceived herself to be. A cool draft hit her bare legs, reminding her of her state of undress. She slipped on her jeans and collected her thoughts before walking towards the living room. There were difficult subjects to discuss tonight and each one could lead to her expulsion from Dylan’s home, and ultimately the end of his life.

  At the sound of her footsteps, he turned around. “Is that my shirt? Looks good on you, because why wouldn’t it?”

  She pulled the clinging fabric away from her chest, and almost laughed at the rhetorical question. What a perverse set of circumstances she’d encountered by being brought here.

  “So you’re a drug smuggler, but not by choice,” she began. “Tell me, Dylan, how exactly does that work?”

  He stood with his back to the fireplace and stared down at his feet, as if gauging how much to share. “There’s not a lot to tell.”

  Bad start. There was plenty to say. Drug trafficking was illegal, dangerous and completely insane. But for some unknown reason, Dylan thought he could beat the system and come out ahead. Or so it seemed.

  “Are you okay?” he asked. “I mean…you seem upset.”

  “I’m all right. Really.” Tired, achy, and too warm, but perfectly fine, apparently. Her biplane was out of gas, she hadn’t been born yet, and her flight crew was going on with their lives, twenty-one years in the future. She also fought a
gangster dude and witnessed her parents fighting. But Skylar decided she was going to rise above it all. She was tough enough to survive anything God and his band of twisted angels threw at her. That was her thing—developing thick skin, overcoming all the odds. Just as she had for most of her life.

  “I guess you have a right to know,” Dylan admitted. “But after tonight, no more questions. Agreed?”

  She nodded and sat down on the sofa.

  A dark look passed over Dylan’s face and suddenly he was providing more information than she ever expected.

  “I take off from Riverside County’s Corona Municipal Airport before dawn,” he said. “After picking up a load from the Los Vitas cartel, I fly back over the California freeways, down a stiff drink at the hotel bar, and plan my route to Nevada. Outside, there’s nothing but clouds, but inside I’m carrying 242 pounds of cocaine and a shitload of worry.”

  “What about cops pulling you over? You know…the DEA?”

  “There aren’t any curbs in the sky,” Dylan said. “There’s no place for anyone to pull you over.” His humor was sad and ironic, especially knowing he wasn’t long for this world.

  “After you land, who do you hand it all off to? Gangsters…like the guys that beat you up?”

  “No, a distributor from Carlsbad. He’s got a full crew he calls his white angels. They swarm the plane and strip it clean in a matter of minutes…like a school of piranha. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

  “So, are they…you know…the cartel, paying you for all of this?”

  He nodded. “I’ve been told to keep two thousand dollars per kilo to cover expenses, but a good portion of what I get is being used to pay off my friend’s debt. I was working as a flight instructor at Riverside when they picked me up the first time. They had him in the back seat and said they would kill him if I didn’t cooperate. I didn’t know what to do.”

  She could see the pain in his eyes, remembering that fateful day.

  “Skylar, you need to know that I would do anything for the people I care about.”