MY PILOT HUSBAND WAS SCHEDULED TO FLY ON OUR ANNIVERSARY, SO I SECRETLY BOUGHT A SEAT ON FLIGHT 482 TO SURPRISE HIM. THEN HIS VOICE CAME OVER THE INTERCOM: “THERE’S SOMEONE VERY SPECIAL ON THIS PLANE TONIGHT…”—AND THE NAME HE SAID NEXT MADE MY BLOOD RUN COLD.
My husband, Adrian Cole, had never missed our anniversary.
Not once in twelve years.
It didn’t matter if he was exhausted from a trip.
It didn’t matter if our celebration was nothing more than takeout at eleven at night.
Adrian always found a way to make August 18 ours.
Until this year.
His schedule put him in the cockpit of Flight 482 on the exact evening we were supposed to celebrate.
When he realized it, he looked genuinely miserable.
“Claire, I tried swapping the route.”
“I know.”
“I’ll make it up to you.”
“I know.”
“Dinner tomorrow?”
“Absolutely.”
He kissed my forehead.
“I hate missing tonight.”
I smiled because he had no idea I had already solved the problem.
I BOUGHT A TICKET ON HIS FLIGHT
My name is Claire Bennett.
Two weeks earlier, I had quietly booked a seat on Flight 482.
The flight was short.
About ninety minutes.
Adrian would depart from Westhaven International Airport, fly the evening route toward Bellmere, and finish early enough that I could surprise him after landing.
At least—
that was my plan.
I curled my hair.
Put on the red dress Adrian still claimed was his favorite because I had worn it on our first date.
And arrived at Westhaven International Airport early enough to avoid being seen.
Then I almost ruined everything.
