Dane

They'd been greeted at the door to the hanger as David and Layla McDane. Dane made a mental note to read the packets John had given him, though it wasn't necessary here. These people were clearly used to dealing with private, discreet passengers, and were happy to do so.

​​

He and Lila hadn't stopped holding hands as they were ushered quickly from the front desk inside the hangar, through the massive space, to a somewhat small but sleek jet waiting on the tarmac at its other side, and encouraged to enjoy their flight.

Dane had to lean down to get through the door into the plane, though there was just enough room for him to stand once he got in.

Inside it reminded him of a wine bar in an upscale hotel. Wide, cream tables on each side of the cabin, each surrounded by four plush gold-brown chairs fitted with discreet seatbelts, that would lock into place for take-off and landing. There was a curtain halfway down the cabin that separated it into two sections, and no one sitting where they could see, though there were voices coming from the other side of the curtain.

As they walked on board and Dane set the bag down under one of the tables, a voice tickled at the edge of hearing and he stood bolt upright, snapping his head towards the curtain.

"What is it?" Lila asked, grabbing his arm.

"It can't be…"

"Dane, what—?"

But he was running through the cabin, throwing the curtain back and standing there, frozen as a large, dark-skinned and balding man turned in one of the chairs, then stood, beaming a white-toothed smile at him. "Dane! You made it!"

"Bert?!"

"I'm so glad to see you, son!" Bert lumbered to his feet and came towards Dane with his arms open. "So glad you're safe! And here! You made it!" Dane was touched to see Bert had tears in his eyes as he wrapped his arms around him.

"What are you doing here?"

"Bert?" Lila asked, hushed, from beside him.

"Lila! Beautiful! How is the happy bride?" Bert pulled out of Dane's hug and turned to her, wrapping her in his thick arms and swaying back and forth with her. Lila laughed happily.

"What are you doing here?" Dane asked again, completely floored by his friend's presence.

Bert kept his arms around Lila, but turned his head and winked. "Your friend and I have kept in touch since the wedding. And when I learned that you needed some help finding a new path… well, it just so happens that I have a Mercy Mission flight to make this week, so I thought, why not?"

"What? But—"

"It's better if you don't ask questions," Bert said in a stage whisper. "The boss gets cranky if we talk about things out loud."

"The boss?" Dane asked, confused.

"Our mutual friend," Bert said, making a face.

"John?" Dane asked.

"Shhhhh. Like I said, he gets cranky. And he'll be listening."

"I can't believe you're here," Dane said to Bert.

The man's face softened and he patted Dane's shoulder. "I wouldn't have missed it."

Dane, completely floored, looked at Lila who was standing there, her hands over her mouth, beaming at him. She stepped away from Bert to put her arms around Dane's waist and hug his side. "I told you, you're worth more than just your pretty face," she murmured through her own tears.

*****

Once they were in the air, Bert revealed everything.

John had a location for them that was perfect—even a job for Dane to keep if he wanted it. But they knew he wouldn't be back, and John had insisted that he needed some time to decompress.

"When we land, you'll still have a couple days of road-trip ahead of you. But it's all in remote areas. And when you get to where you're going, well… I think you'll agree, John's outdone himself."

The plane was at cruising altitude. They'd already eaten, and the staff had taken seats in the front half of the plane. Bert and Dane sat at one of the tables, Lila had hooked her legs over the arm of her broad chair, and raised the arm between she and Dane, so she was dozing with his thighs as her pillow. There were dark circles under her eyes and she was pale. But she was there, and safe. As Dane ran his fingers through her hair, his heart felt like it might burst with joy.

He was getting away. They were getting away. Together.

"I'm so glad you're here, Bert. But I don't understand," he said quietly. "Why?"

Bert looked down at Lila with a small smile, then back to Dane. "John knew you'd been through some… things. And he thought maybe I could help you get a fresh start before you head off on this new life. That's a lot of baggage to carry," he said. "And that was before we heard about Chris."

Dane's face tightened and he laid his arm over Lila protectively. "That was… dark."

"Did he explain himself at all?"

"Sort of. He was just jealous in the end. There wasn't much more to it. He said he owed me for helping him when we were young, that's why he killed Dad. So I wouldn't have to. But that he didn't owe me anymore so now… I don't know, Bert. It was all just ugly. I… I wanted him dead. I really did. I almost did it, too."

"Praise Jesus that she was there," Bert said with another warm glance at Lila. "You really did marry up," he quipped, but he kept his eyes on Dane's.

"I know."

"So… do you want to talk about it?"

"About what?"

"All of it. Being with your dad again. Whatever happened there. Lila. The whole thing. I… I heard about the videos. I chose not to view them, I hope you don't mind."

"Of course not. I'm grateful. It caused some issues with Lila."

"Fatal issues?"

"Almost, but… I think she's forgiven me."

Bert nodded. "But… Have you forgiven yourself?"