“Wow,” both Lily and I said in unison.
“Yeah, Mom doesn’t do anything halfway. Her itineraries make me tired just looking at them, not sure how they pull it off at their age, but they do. She even makes these super cool photo books after each vacation. Now those I could spend all day admiring.”
“That’s awesome and super adventurous of them to be gone for so long. I’d love to reconnect when the timing is right. I remember your mom fondly, as well.”
“You got it. I’ll just message Jaxon once they’re back and settled.”
“Honestly, no rush. It’s not like I’m in the position to go away anywhere like that now anyway.” She shrugged, and I didn’t like the resignation in her voice.
“Right, so, ah, Jaxon. You know where to go and get all set up. I’ll give Terry a ring and make sure we’re still wheels up in twenty. Did you want me to tag along and record the jump?”
I looked to Lily to gauge her thoughts. “What do you think?”
“Is it normal to do that?” she asked.
“Yes, but it’s not a requirement or anything formal. Some people like documenting the experience; it can be a fun memory to look back on.”
“I’d love that, so sure, let’s do it.”
“That’s my girl.” I smiled at her before confirming with Carl. “Thanks, man.”
While Lily looked cute as hell in her yellow jumpsuit, she had gone quiet on me in the equipment hangar. I suspected her nerves were preparing for battle as I helped her step into the tandem harness, and the reality of what we were about to do began to sink in.
Once all the straps were in place, I adjusted the chest and leg straps over her slight frame. I even tried cracking a joke while I double-checked my work, giving each buckle a firm tug to make sure everything was locked in the proper position, but she didn’t budge. Only offered me a tight smile that had me second-guessing my own instincts to bring her here.
“Lily, if you’d rather not do this, it’s okay. Don’t be afraid to tell me. We can leave right now if that’s what you want; it’s no big deal.”
“No, I want to do this with you. I’m just anxious, is all, and all up in my head giving myself a mental pep-talk.”
“You sure?”
“Yes, positive.”
“All right, I’m going to put your goggles here.” I opened the hook on her shoulder and slid the elastic over the metal clasp before taking a step back to admire her. “Just when I thought you couldn’t get any cuter.”
“Oh? So, you like the fashion statement I’m currently making?” She jutted her hip out to one side.
“I do, I do,” I sing-songed and added a wink for good measure.
She then lifted her yellow-sleeved arms and held them together above her head. “Do you find me appealing?” she asked, leisurely lowering one arm to her side with a giggle.
“The best damn banana I’ve ever seen.”
“Okay, you two ready to go?” Carl called out from behind me.
“Yes, sir.”
Carl and I did our run-through of the checklist again before boarding.
“Watch your head as there’s a metal bar across the top of the door just inside,” I instructed over my shoulder as she climbed the three portable stairs up into the plane behind me and settled between my legs on the floor with her back to my chest.
“Are you good?” I shouted as the plane lifted into the air.
She gave me a thumbs-up.
“Just remember, feeling scared is totally normal; it’s your body’s way of recognizing and responding to something unfamiliar, being challenged, and testing your boundaries. Your head knows you’re about to do something so powerful and momentous that an adrenaline rush can be confusing.”
Lily nodded her head in front of me.