Echoes of the Fallen by Joseph Sackett

Author:Joseph Sackett [Sackett, Joseph]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-12-19T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter fifteen

The Uncle

They checked in early, and grabbed coffee and waffles before takeoff. A.J. had yet another hot chocolate and devoured her waffles covered in ice cream and syrup in record time. She was so excited, so in awe of the magic of flight. She gazed out the window as an Airbus A380 launched itself from the runway, and watched as the enormous metal bird turned mid air, graceful and elegant.

“It’s amazing,” she sighed. “How does it even work?”

“It’s a little thing called aerodynamics that I’m sure they’ll teach you all about in school,” Matt replied. “Basically, air is pushed over the top of the wing much faster than beneath the wing, creating something called lift.”

A.J.s eyed rolled as she yawned.

“I don’t think she’s quite ready to become an aero engineer just yet,” Lyndsey said, laughing.

“I guess not.”

Matt couldn’t shake his feeling that something bad was about to happen. He knew it was illogical and based on emotion rather than fact, but the feeling stayed with him. Nevertheless, like a scent he couldn’t shift. He toyed with his stetson, pulling his dark denim jacket across his chest.

He glanced around the concourse, watching as hundreds of travelers dragged pull-along bags to their gate, always in a hurry, always appearing like they should have been there minutes ago. Families raced along, the parents dragging the kids who were always seemingly preoccupied with something in one of the store fronts. Business people pushed their suitcases in front of them, as if they were walking square dogs, sipping takeaway coffee and talking through earpieces that made it appear like they were speaking to themselves. Couples walked arm in arm, some arguing about which gate they were supposed to be heading to, others looking like they were racing off on a romantic getaway. Lone travelers shuffled along like zombies, appearing as though the airport was the last place they wanted to be in the whole world.

Nothing looked out of the ordinary or out of place. It was just life, and it was happening all around them.

“Are you okay, Matt?” Lyndsey asked, touching his hand. “It looked like we lost you there for a moment.”

“No,” he replied, shaking himself from his thoughts. “Just thinking about the trip, that’s all.”

“You worried about meeting my mother?”

He frowned. The woman had seemed a little full on, but he’d never been anxious about meeting people. Meeting people was the easy part. Maintaining any sort of meaningful relationship was the bit he always found more treacherous.

“Not at all. I’m looking forward to it.”

“The therapy then?”

He thought about that for a moment. Sure, he was a little troubled about the whole thing, concerned that he would be forced to reveal things about himself that he would really rather keep buried.However, it wasn’t playing on his mind, not as much as the notion that they were heading for some form of disaster.

“Hey, I’m fine. It’s just a little early, and my social battery isn’t fully charged yet.”

She smiled, before glancing up at the digital screen that was hanging from the cafeteria wall.

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