Lynn gripped the armrests of the seat as the plane landed. Even in her plush surroundings, she felt her nerves jitter as the wheels of the jet touched the surface of the rural airport. She looked out the window at the holywood trees rushing past them, thrilling for a moment that she was seeing them for the first time after reading about them all her life. The slow-growing trees provided the hardest wood in the world, which explained why the species was endangered. Her daddy had told her about them, marveling in their existence. He hadn’t lived to see them, though.

She certainly thought she never would either.

“I finally get that Caribbean vacation.”

She looked from the window to the Roxy. “I can barely stand it.”

“I do wish, however, we were staying at a resort. One of the Sandals places, where the couples do three-legged races in the commercials. I’d like to wear my bikini and stun them all.”

“You’re a mess.”

“It’s about time we got here.”

That was true, Lynn thought, as the jet came to a stop. I’ve counted the days, the hours even, to come here.

They walked down the aisle of the private jet and waited as the flight crew prepared the stairs.

“I hope you enjoyed your flight, Mrs. Roseworth,” said the pretty flight attendant. Like all the staff, she wore a green hologram of a Q on her lapel.

“I certainly did. Thank you. This is incredibly nice.”

“It is Mr. Martin’s favorite jet, after all,” the woman said. “And we’ve come to enjoy making this trip. Looks like we’re ready for you.”

They walked out the door and down the stairs. The sunlight was almost blinding, the air tasting as beautiful as the crystal blue sky above them. It took her a moment to adjust to the brightness, to see the woman standing before the Jeep.

She waved, her long brown hair pulled back in a ponytail. Lynn and Roxy returned the gesture as she hurried across the dirt towards them.

Jane hesitated. “Is it OK to hug someone you only met once, inside a helicopter?”

“You are my family,” Lynn said, bringing the woman into her arms.

As Jane stepped back, she wiped tears from her eyes.

“And I may not be blood, but I’m part of the circus,” Roxy said.

“I hear you’re the star attraction,” Jane said, hugging her as well. “William says he was raised by two brilliant grandmothers. He can’t wait to see you.”

“I can hardly wait,” Lynn responded.

As the flight attendants went to pick up their bags, Jane motioned to the ragged Jeep. “You’ll have to forgive your transportation. You know your grandson.”

“It’s his preferred mode of transportation,” Lynn said. “His grandpa was the same way.”