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I catch ht drift of coconut and fruit froh I tell myself it’s from the near-death experience we just had here, I know that’s a lie

It’s her All her The body pressed up againstht now

The overhead announceies for the bumpy ride, we’ve hit a little weather"

"You don’t say," Lacey says, pale-faced She’s still holding ht of the rise and fall of her chest, swelling against her T-shirt, and is that …? Yup A hint of red lace underneath

I grip the seat-back harder, dizzy

"We’re looking at snow-storms out of Atlanta, so we’ve been advised to divert for a landing Looks like you’ll be grounded a while Nothing’s getting through this blizzard"

The pilot clicks off, and there’s a babble of voices in the cabin: frustration and anger as people realize they ht notLacey, so I slowly release her, surprised to feel a pull of disappointment as she steps back, out of my arms

"I can’t believe this," Lacey cries

I snap back to reality "It’s just a storm, it’ll pass"

"No!" She blinks at me, wide-eyed "I did this! I said I’dblizzard! I’ll neverto kill h

I should be angry too After all, I’et back to see , and the carol services on Christ down in an airport hotel But instead of being annoyed, all I can think is, now I get a few more hours with her

A few irl who soine things I have no business i

God helpmore cheerful than I have in weeks