Page 124 of Owen

Lincoln

She did yeah. I planned to give it to you in two weeks when you are in Scotland for a visit. Looking forward to having a beer with you.

Holy cow.

It’s true.

On unsteady feet, Poppy waddles through to the kitchen and grabs my leg, then stretches her arms over her head. “Uh, uh,” she beams at me, asking me in her own language for me to pick her up. Bending at the knees, I scoop her up and rest her on my hip.

“Look what Aunt Camilla sent Owen,” I whisper, then hold up the phone to show her, making a shocked-looking face, and Poppy mimics me. Her eyes flaring, she makes a funny O shape with her mouth, making me chuckle. She’s been copycatting facial expressions for the past few weeks and it’s the cutest thing to witness.

Tapping the notes app open on my phone, I pull up the list of people I borrowed money from, and at the top of it sits theman who has been the best father figure I never asked for, Knox Black.

I make a plan then work out what I have left.

“I know exactly what I want to do with the money, Poppadom.”

37

JADE – TWO WEEKS LATER

“What are we doing here?” I look up at the closed air base of Licharty, situated ten miles outside of Castleview Cove.

Owen taps the side of his nose, then throws me a cheeky wink as a security guard appears from behind the locked metal gates.

I throw him a wave, and the guard opens them for us and Owen drives through.

Checking the side mirror, I find the security guard relocking the gates behind us, which has me asking about a million questions in rapid succession as Owen drives down through the hangars and out on the open stretch of the out-of-operation airfield.

Smiling smugly, Owen ignores every one of them.

With Poppy fast asleep in the back of the car, Owen leaps out of the driver’s door and runs around to open mine.

I scowl with confusion. “I’m not getting out unless you tell me why we’re here.” I haven’t flown in a plane since the crash, and since the news of my pregnancy, I don’t intend to fly in my fast jet until I get the all-clear from the doctor.

“Get out or you will spoil the surprise.”

“Surprise?” I question excitedly, unbuckling my seatbelt, taking his hand to help me out of my green SUV.

He pulls me slowly behind him, guiding me into the middle of the runway.

“What do you think?” He motions to the enormous space.

“I think it’s a recently closed-down airfield, and that makes me sad.” I hate what the Air Force is doing to cut costs. Closing air bases, merging trades, and retiring squadrons. It’s a very different Air Force than the one I joined two decades ago and, I’ve realized recently, not one I want to be part of anymore.

“It’s not closed down, it will reopen soon.” He bounces on his heels as if pleased with himself.

“Okay.” I let go of his hand and place my hands on my hips. “Spill the tea. What has you buzzing like a queen bee?”

With open arms, he motions to the surrounding space. “Welcome to Hotshot Flying School and Outdoor Adventure Training.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“Welcome to Hotshot?—”

“Oh, I heard you,” I interrupt him. “Are you for real?” Flabbergasted, I spin on the balls of my feet and look around, realizing the enormity of his words. “But how?” I know he gave everything to Richard.

“My trust fund turned up. With interest.”

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