Page 152 of From Nowhere

“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 Iknow, 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 ofher with hope. If I can inspire her to dream without limits, I’ll happily take any risk to make that happen.

“You know what would be cool?”

“What?” Her eyes get nearly as big as her smile.

“If someday, you, me, and your dad flew somewhere special. Just the three of us.”

She bites her lower lip, and I see the worry winning. It’s heartbreaking.

“Not today. When you’re ready, and you will be. We need to decide where we’re going to celebrate when that day comes because you, my dear”—I playfully grab her chin—“are a caterpillar shedding your skin, growing and growing, and one day you’re going to be—”

“A butterfly.” Her whole face lights up.

I fight the burning emotion in my eyes. “Abeautifulbutterfly.”

Chapter Forty

Ozzy

Yet again, I’m in a pickle.

I’m mad that Lola rode her bike to Maren’s house, but I’m grateful to Maren for suggesting Lola spend the day with her.

“Your daughter is such a joy.”

I glance up while removing my helmet. When I pulled into the driveway, I missed Aaron sitting on the porch swing with reading glasses low on his nose and a book on his lap.

“Yes. She’s quite joyous when she’s not sneaking out of the house.” I chuckle.

Aaron nods, removing his glasses. “She reminds me so much of Maren.”

“Yeah?” I climb the porch stairs and lean my shoulder against the post.

“Maren used to push all the limits. Question everything. And she tried to grow up too quickly. And the eye-rolling ...”

I laugh. “I swear Lola’s eyes will roll right out of her head someday. Everything warrants the utmost drama.”

“Maren used to stick her tongue out and razz me so much, I threatened to cut the thing out of her mouth.” Aaron shakes his head.

I smile because I like imagining young Maren.

“She and her brother were thick as thieves. And when we lost him, I worried that we’d lose her too. Maybe not physically, but emotionally. For a while, her light was gone. And we got used to her not being fully herself. After all, we’ve never been the same since losing Brandon. Looking in the mirror, you see a different version of yourself without that person. And it can take a long time to feel like life has given you enough joy to fill that void.

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