Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 106538 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 533(@200wpm)___ 426(@250wpm)___ 355(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106538 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 533(@200wpm)___ 426(@250wpm)___ 355(@300wpm)
“Trust me. It’s fine.” She climbs onto the stool at the counter where my mom sets her plate of food.
Mom smiles at Lola before padding toward me with wide eyes and a stiff smile. “Do you need me to get your phone so you can text someone?” she asks under her breath.
“Yes. Thanks. It’s on my dresser.”
“What grade will you be in, Lola?” Dad asks.
“Fifth,” Lola mumbles after taking a bite of her doughnut.
“What’s VR?” He narrows his eyes at her.
Lola giggles at my dad’s question. “It’s virtual reality. It’s a headset I wear, and things look real. It’s so cool. It was Maren’s idea.”
Dad shoots me a look.
“It’s to simulate being in a car again. How’s that working for you, Lola?”
“It’s fun. But I know it’s not real.”
Mom returns with my phone.
“You’re not calling my dad, are you?” Lola doesn’t miss a thing.
“Lola, I need to let him know where you are.”
“You can’t. He’ll be mad. And I’m fine. I wore my helmet. I looked both ways when crossing streets. And I didn’t talk to strangers.”
“You stopped for doughnuts,” I say with a frown.
“That’s different. The people who work there have seen me a lot, so they’re not real strangers.”
“What if I let your dad know you’re here and ask him if it’s okay for you to stay until he gets off work?”
She licks the frosting off her lips before twisting them. “Hmm, then he’ll know I rode my bike here. But I think it would be fun to stay today.” She shakes her head. “No. I can’t risk him finding out.”
My parents eye me while standing at the counter, eating their breakfast.
Maren: Thank you for the love note. I’m never replacing the door
It takes a few minutes for Ozzy to reply.
Ozzy: How are you feeling?
Maren: Conflicted
Ozzy: ?
Maren: Someone rode her bike to my house but she doesn’t want me to tell on her. So I’m conflicted
Ozzy: WTF? Why would they let her do that? I have to call them
Maren: If you’re talking about her grandparents, they don’t know
Ozzy: I’m going to kill her
Maren: What if you don’t? What if you let her stay here for the day and stop by to get her after work?
Ozzy: I’m so sorry
Maren: Don’t be. I’m looking forward to spending the day with her
Ozzy sends me the unamused emoji.
I send him the kiss emoji.
“You need groceries. Will you be okay if your dad and I go shopping for you?” Mom asks.
“I can watch her,” Lola says like such a grown-up.
My parents have to suppress their snickering.
“That would be great,” I say. It would give me some time alone with Lola.
Maren: Don’t forget to tell her grandparents
Ozzy: I just did. Thx
When my parents leave, Lola sits beside me on the sofa, playing with Bandit. “I should get home.”
“Actually, you’re spending the day with me,” I say.
Lola freezes, except for her eyes, which shift her gaze to me. “You told him?”
“I had to, because it’s more important that he and your grandparents know you’re safe than it is for you not to get into trouble.”
“Did you at least tell him not to ground me?”
“I didn’t, but if you help out today, I’ll put in a good word for you when he gets here after work.”
“Are you going to fly again?” She changes the subject so quickly that it takes my brain a few seconds to catch up.
“I’m planning on it.”
Lola drops her chin and traces the stripes on Bandit’s back. “Aren’t you afraid of crashing again?”
“Sure. I always have a tiny fear, but I love my job. I love flying.”
“Aren’t you afraid of dying?” she murmurs.
“I don’t want to die. Not yet, anyway. But I’m not afraid of it. However, there is nothing wrong with being afraid of dying. It’s a normal human fear. And honestly, there are a lot of pilots who don’t get back in a plane if it goes down, and they live to tell about it.”
“Like me not riding in cars anymore?”
“Yes. Like that.” I put my good arm around her. “But I think you will ride in cars again.”
“You do?”
I rest the side of my head on top of hers. “Yes. The car accident sent you on a detour. And that’s okay. I can only imagine losing your mom at such a young age has left you feeling scared. But I see who you really are—a brave and strong girl. And I know, without a doubt, that one day you will be too big for Missoula. Your wings will spread, and your heart will need to soar. And this fear you have now will be too weak for your need to really live life.”
Lola lifts her gaze with a glimmer of hope in her eyes. “Do you think I’ll be able to fly like you?”
If there was any doubt that I’d fly again, it’s officially gone. Lola’s looking at me like I’m a prophet of her future. I want to fill every inch of her with hope. If I can inspire her to dream without limits, I’ll happily take any risk to make that happen.