Maya gasped at the white clouds below. “It looks like a giant bowl of vanilla ice cream, Daddy. Can we touch it when we land?”
“Not quite, honey,” I laughed, feeling a genuine smile cross my lips for what felt like the first time in years. “Clouds are just made of cold water drops, but they sure look pretty.”
About twenty minutes into the flight, the seatbelt sign chimed off. Sarah brought Maya apple juice and a snack box of cheese, crackers, and chocolate.
Maya treated the snack box like treasure, arranging each cracker before eating. Her delight made every late warehouse shift worthwhile.
Soon, the cockpit door opened again. The first officer stayed at the controls while Captain Hayes emerged with a manila folder.
He took the empty seat across from us, leaning forward. His expression was serious but compassionate, like an older comrade.
“Daniel talked about you during every family dinner after he came home,” Thomas began softly. “He spoke about the ambush in the valley, when the fuel tank ignited on his transport vehicle.”
