“We’ve got an elevator to the roof, but it’s only a couple of flights up. You’re looking much better, I have to say,” she said.

“I feel better, and thanks for everything. I feel so silly and embarrassed.”

“As I said, you’re not the first one, though I hope you’ll be the last. Derek needs to learn how to drive like a human being.” She took a card from her pocket, scanned it, and the door to the heliport opened.

“Put that headset on now,” she instructed.

Lauren took it from her bag, pulled her hair behind her ears, then placed it over her ears. A long cord with a silver plug at the end dangled from the left-ear side of the headset.

“The pilot will hook it up for you,” Sandra Marie said, pointing to a chopper headed in their direction. She cupped her hands together and shouted, “I’ll see you at dinner tonight.”

The loud whirring of the helicopter startled Lauren, even with the headset on. She waved at Sandra Marie, curious as to what her relationship with Mr. G, or just G, was. She hoped they were a couple, because didn’t everybody need to be loved by somebody?

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Lauren clutched her Chloé bag close to her body as she made her way to the helicopter. Even though she was short and the blades were barely spinning, she ducked when she reached the chopper. A girl about Charlotte’s age helped her inside, buckled her in, then plugged her headset into the jack. “I’m Evelyn. That better?” she asked, a grin revealing a mouthful of braces.

“Yes, I can hear you. A female pilot, awesome,” Lauren said, thinking she was quite young. This was going to be fun.

“I’m not a pilot yet, but I hope to be someday,” Evelyn said. “I’m just getting some hours in.”

Lauren had no clue what she meant, but nodded. Evelyn slid into the front of the chopper and disappeared. Never having seen the inside of one before, Lauren sat there, waiting to find out what happened next. She had a death grip on her bag when the chopper’s blades whirred into action, and seconds later, they were hovering above the rooftop, then slowly gliding away from the building.

This was fantastic!