Chapter 14 - Taking to the Skies
On a bright, crisp morning in late September, Toby and I walked hand-in-hand through O’Hare International Airport.
There was no hiding behind souvenir shops this time. There were no secrets, no nervous whispers, and no deceit. We walked with our heads held high, pulling our matching rolling bags toward the gate for our non-stop flight to Seattle.
Toby wore a navy-blue bomber jacket with a custom embroidered patch on the shoulder that David had made for him: CO-PILOT TOBY.
When our boarding group was called, we scanned our passes and walked down the jet bridge together. As we stepped through the cabin door, the flight crew greeted us with warm, welcoming smiles.
"Welcome aboard, little captain!" the lead flight attendant said, winking at Toby’s jacket. "We’ve got a smooth ride all the way to the Pacific Northwest today."
"Thank you, ma'am!" Toby replied politely, flashing his bright, gap-toothed smile.
We took our seats in row 4, right next to the window. Toby clicked his seatbelt shut with confidence, put on his headphones, and pulled open the window shade to watch the ground crew load the luggage.
A few minutes later, the chime rang, and the cockpit intercom crackled to life.
"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, from the flight deck," a warm, friendly female voice announced. "This is Captain Sarah Mitchell along with First Officer James Hayes. We’d like to welcome you aboard our morning service to Seattle-Tacoma. We’re expecting clear skies the entire route, smooth sailing, and a breathtaking view of the Rocky Mountains as we cross over the continental divide. Sit back, relax, and let our family take care of yours."
Toby looked over at me, his eyes shining with pure peace and contentment. He reached across the armrest, took my hand, and squeezed it gently.
"She sounds nice, Mom," he whispered.
May you like
"She sounds wonderful, baby," I smiled, squeezing his hand back.
As the heavy engines roared to life, the plane accelerated down the runway, lifting smoothly into the golden morning sky. We rose above the clouds, climbing higher and higher into the endless, sunlit blue.
