21 December 2018 – Hilltop Road, Lancaster, Massachusetts

Sabrina nearly crushed Adriana Rosado with her joyous hug. The two women were the same age and became friends the minute they meet years earlier. The Knox family enjoyed two vacations to Hawaii, but none since the life-changing shuttle launch in 2011. A six-thousand-mile flight was well outside ‘day trip’ or ‘jaunt,’ so the two kept in touch via email through their teenage years. Contact dwindled toward the end of high school.

“Did you lose a bet or something, Anna? How’d you get saddled with my brother until the end of time?”

Anna laughed at the question and her fiancé’s frown.

“Would you believe I ran into him at college?”

“I thought you were going to go to Cal Tech?”

“I got wait-listed there. U Chicago accepted me outright so that’s where I wound up.”

“And how’d you get tied up with this guy?”

“I was pretty sure I recognized him early on during my freshman year. I walked up to him at a party and asked if he was Alex Knox from Lancaster, Massachusetts. We spent the rest of the party getting caught up, and started dating after Thanksgiving that year.”

Sabrina’s glare fell on her brother. “And you never thought to mention to your baby sister that you were dating someone, let alone Adriana?”

“You were still settling in at the academy when she and I met. That Christmas we were still just getting started, so I didn’t say anything to anyone. Then last year you were, shall we say, distracted? Plus, you know how we like our surprises in this family.”

“I’ll deal with you later …” Sabrina turned back to her future sister-in-law. “What are you studying?”

“Physics, but I think I’ll eventually get at least a master’s in astrodynamics.”

“No wonder you two hit it off. Geeks everywhere! You, me, him, your mom, our dad …”

“Yep, and I’m just the knuckle-dragging grease monkey …” Tony added.

“DADDY!” Adriana gasped.

“Sweetie, Mr. Knox agrees with me that your mom’s way smarter than we are. Heck, she’s probably smarter than the two of us combined!”

“I guarantee I am,” Allison Newbury growled from across the room. She hated when Tony ran himself down like that. He was a good man, period. “You keep talking like that, Antonio Rosado, and you’re going to anger your wife! You’re smart enough to figure out what that’ll mean for you, I trust?”

“Yes, dear. Sorry, dear.” Allison shook a fist at him. Tony turned to Alex. “I hope your vocabulary already includes those phrases.”

“Yessir, already in my lexicon. I heard Dad say those words to Mom all the time growing up.”

“Listen to him …” Tony snorted, “‘lexicon …’”

“Speaking of spousal outrage, Anna, have you two set a date yet?” Sabrina asked.

“Only in vague terms, Sabrina. We’ve decided that Alex should finish his schooling before our wedding and, since he’s already talking about a Ph. D., that’ll mean a long engagement.”

Sabrina didn’t see why they couldn’t get married before graduate school, but that was their business, not hers.

Sabrina borrowed the Suburban and drove Tommy home. Mrs. Jones wrapped Sabrina in a hug after she released Tommy from his.

“I am so happy for you two!” she gushed.

“Thanks, Mrs. Jones.”

“I think you’re old enough to call us John and Anne now, Sabrina.”

“I’ll try to break myself of the habit … Anne.”

“See? That wasn’t so hard, was it?”

Sabrina made no move to leave the foyer, but gave Tommy a hug and kiss.

“You’re not staying for dinner, Sabrina?” Mr. Jones asked.

“Tommy and I talked about that, Mr … John, but I feel like I should have dinner with my family my first night home. Sorry.”

“We completely understand, Sabrina, and welcome to the ‘your family/my family’ holiday shuffle. Congratulations! It’ll provide you with years of extra holiday stress! Fortunately, the older boys are with their other families this year. Your folks have invited us to Christmas dinner Tuesday, so it works out in both family’s favor this time around.”

“Having your family right next door helps, too,” she pointed out.

“That it does,” Anne commented. “That said, we’re inviting you to dinner tomorrow night.”

“I’ll be here, thank you. Oh! Did you hear Alex is engaged, or am I the only one they kept in the dark on that?”

“No, we hadn’t heard,” John replied. “Thanks for the heads-up, though. That’ll give us time to get the happy couple an engagement gift.”

Sabrina and Tommy used her father’s truck to check out their old stomping grounds the following morning, Saturday. They enjoyed the quiet time together. Her father’s ringtone sounded through the car’s speakers near noontime.

“Hey, Dad.”

“Princess, where are you?” Her father sounded stressed.

“In Ayer, why?”

“We need to go out to Greenwich today, as soon as you can get home. Grammy Alice is in the hospital.”

“Dad?” Sabrina’s voice shook.

“She’s been having little strokes over the past couple of years, Sabrina. She had a pretty sizable one this morning. It … it doesn’t sound good.”

“No …” Sabrina whispered.

“I’m sorry, Princess. Hurry home.” Jeff hung up.

“No …”

Tears rolled down Sabrina’s face. Alice Cavanaugh had been one of her role models for as long as Sabrina could remember. Alice topped a long list of strong women in her life.

“Sabrina, pull over, into this parking lot here,” Tommy said gently.

There he coaxed her out of the driver’s seat and hugged her. She clung to him and cried. It took a few minutes before Tommy was able to buckle Sabrina into the passenger’s side front seat. He didn’t speed back to Lancaster, but he didn’t waste time, either.

Jeff had both of the Suburbans out of the garage and ready to leave when they returned.

“Princess, we’ll leave in about ten or fifteen minutes if you need something to eat first.”

Sabrina didn’t respond verbally but shook her head as she clung to Tommy’s hand.

“Call me when you can,” Tommy whispered, intending to head home. Sabrina gripped his hand tighter.

“Please stay with me. Come to Greenwich with us?” She looked up at him with her puffy, red eyes.

“Are you sure? I’ve met Mrs. Cavanaugh in the past, but this is family stuff. I’m just the boyfriend.” Sabrina wrapped her arm around his and buried her face into his chest. Tommy looked over at her father.

“I don’t think it’ll be a problem, Tom,” Jeff said. “We probably won’t be back in time for dinner tonight, though.”

Tommy nodded. “Sweetie, I need to use the bathroom before we go, then,” he whispered to Sabrina. She nodded and walked inside with him.

Sabrina looked around the kitchen at the somber faces. Her mother spoke into her phone using a quiet voice. Allison met Alice Cavanaugh when she and Jeff dated in high school. Tony had met her once or twice when they came back to Massachusetts. Both wore downcast looks. Adriana was sad because her fiancé was sad – she’d never met his adopted great-grandmother.

Alex came over to hug his sister, causing her to break down again. This hurt more than Sabrina expected it would. She remembered her dad telling her about Alice being in the hospital a few times over the last few years, but it hadn’t sunk in at the time. Alice had always been there, a constant presence in her life as all of her older relatives were.

Tommy walked in and reclaimed his girlfriend.

“I talked to Mom. We’ll worry about dinner another time.” Sabrina squeezed him hard.

“We should get going folks,” she heard her father say.

Sabrina’s parents, grandparents, Allison, and Tony climbed into one Suburban. She, Alex, Tommy, and Anna claimed the other. Her parents would collect her father’s parents from Enfield while ‘the kids’ headed straight to Greenwich Valley Medical Center’s Emergency Room.

The hum of the big SUV’s tires was the only sound heard during the drive. The radio was off while Sabrina and Alex replayed memories of their adopted great-grandmother in their heads. Tommy and Anna provided silent support.

Aunt Heather grabbed Sabrina as soon as the group from Lancaster appeared in the GVMC ER waiting room. The two huddled in a corner together and cried. Tommy sat with Tom Pelley and his sons Jeff and Kevin.

Jeff Pelley was an eighteen-year-old freshman at UVM. His little brother Kevin was eleven and a Seventh Grader in the Worcester Public School system. Kevin had been a surprise to the Pelleys in 2006 when they learned of his impending arrival. Alex introduced Anna and Tommy before offering his sympathies.

The heavy latch on the inside door to the ER made quite the racket when Jane stepped back into the waiting room. Her red-rimmed eyes contrasted with the brave face she presented to those waiting for her. Jane walked up to Heather and hugged her. Jane included Sabrina in the hug also.

“She’s hanging on for the moment,” Jane whispered.

“What else did the doctor say, Mom?” Heather asked in a hopeful voice.

Jane shook her head. “At least we’ll all be able to say goodbye before …” Heather and Sabrina sobbed at the blunt assessment. “Her body is shutting down. She’ll be with Dad soon.”

The outer doors opened. Keiko and Jeff ushered their parents into the waiting room before walking over to Jane, Heather, and Sabrina. Jane looked at Jeff and shook her head. He gathered her into a hug.

“I’m so very sorry, Jane.”

Jane’s eyes filled with tears again, but she held it together for her family.

“They’re moving Mom to a quiet area so that we can see her without disrupting the rest of the ER.” Trouping fifteen people into a single ER room would be chaotic at best.

Five minutes later a nurse beckoned to the blended family.

Alice Cavanaugh died the day after Christmas. The Knoxes, their families, and friends lacked holiday cheer during those four days. The following week wasn’t any better. Anna displayed her true worth in standing by Alex and supporting him when her parents’ visit should have been all about her.

Jane Donnelly insisted Sabrina’s family stand with hers in the receiving line during Alice’s wake, given their long and close association. Sabrina stole a glance out of the corner of her eye. Her parents stood next to Aunt Heather and Uncle Tom closer to Alice’s casket, while she, Tommy, Alex, and Anna stood with Jeff and Kevin Pelley at the end of the line.

Sabrina gave tired smiles and shook the hands of most well-wishers as they filed past. She reserved genuine smiles and hugs for the ones who understood her relationship to Alice, and who commented on how proud she’d been of Sabrina. She grasped Tommy’s hand whenever there was a lull. He smiled over at her trying to give her strength.

He’d been rather forceful when he insisted on accompanying Sabrina to Greenwich for the wake and funeral. She hadn’t put up much of a fight. Anna hadn’t hesitated when she told her parents she’d be there for Alex, also. Allison and Tony were proud of their youngest for stepping into the role of supportive spouse already. They sat in the chairs arranged for attendees as they waited.

Sabrina felt the eyes on her again as she stood in the front pew of Greenwich’s St. Anne’s Church during Alice’s funeral the following morning. Those who didn’t know the family well were still confused by the presence of ‘extra’ great-grandchildren. Sabrina was glad the Quabbin Inn had agreements with the dry-cleaners in town for expedited service for their guests. She hadn’t planned on wearing her service dress uniform until she flew back to the academy. They had her uniform SAMI-ready within hours of checking in.

When the priest finished the graveside ceremony, Sabrina laid a rose on Alice’s casket when it was her turn to file past. She paused to render a salute to Alice’s headstone, which also marked Grampy Tom Cavanaugh’s resting place. Her father and Uncle Tom, both former – though later – members of Grampy’s final command had done the same.

Now five years after Grampy’s funeral – almost to the day – Sabrina again found herself seated on a familiar stool in the Cavanaugh’s mudroom overlooking Alice’s snow-covered garden. Unlike that day five years ago Tommy sat next to her, his arm around her shoulders as she leaned on him.

The crush of people filling the house for the after-service reception was worse than during Grampy’s. The mix of people was different – fewer veterans and more of the ladies of valley society. The confused looks and probing questions were the same, though. Tommy had been the one to pull her out of the living room and to the back of the house this time.

“I thought I’d find you back here, Sabrina.”

“Hi, Grandma.”

“Got to be too much again?”

“I could tell she was getting overwhelmed, Jane, so I brought her back here.”

“Thank you for doing that, Tom. Mom found her back here after Dad’s service, too. It’s a good spot to hide from people.” Jane addressed Sabrina again. “Those biddies got to you, did they? Nosy bitches …”

Sabrina shrugged. “They were Grammy’s friends …”

“No, they weren’t, Sabrina” Jane cut in. “Mom’s true friends know your family’s connection to ours, and that she’d long since claimed you as her great-granddaughter. Heck, she even claimed your dad for all those years …”

That drew a thin smile from Sabrina, which was better than her downcast look.

“Which probably affected her social standing …”

Jane placed a gentle hand on Sabrina’s shoulder. “Sabrina, your dad is one of the finest men I’ve ever met. At one time I’d hoped to call him my son-in-law, but he and your mom were made for each other.” She then used her hand to raise Sabrina’s chin. “And their daughter got the best from both of them.”

Sabrina squeezed the air out of her grandmother.

Tommy held Sabrina as he sat next to her during their flight west. The plush leather seat made it easy for Sabrina to curl up against him and nap.

“Can I get you anything, Mr. Jones?” the flight attendant whispered. Tommy shook his head and smiled in thanks.

The emotional rollercoaster during Christmas break had drained Sabrina. Tommy hadn’t been immune from its effects, either. He dozed off-and-on during the flight, though he never fell into the deep sleep his girlfriend found. Sabrina’s snores told everyone of her exhaustion.

“Sabrina?” A gentle shake. “Sabrina, time to wake up, babe.”

She woke with a start. She shook her head and sat up.

“I guess I was really out, huh?”

“You kinda needed it …”

“I probably still need to sleep for a week.” Sabrina rubbed at her eyes. “How long until we land?”

The aircraft throttled back.

“Not long enough for you to clean up. You’ll have to wait until we get to the FBO.”

Tommy carried Sabrina’s bags into the small, private waiting area while Sabrina washed her face in the ladies' room. She hugged him and indulged herself with a prolonged kiss.

“I should get back outside for the hop to Denver, Sabrina. The duty-time clock is ticking for the flight crew.”

“I know, Tom. I don’t want to let go, though.”

“I don’t either, Sabrina. I’ll text you when I get back to my room. Call me later tonight, if you can?”

Another brief kiss and he was gone. Sabrina called the Gallardos to ask them to bring her truck to the airport.

The CQ at King Ratz marked Sabrina as having reported in. She then handed Sabrina an envelope. Sabrina would open it in her room in case the contents were unwelcome.

“Hey, Sabrina!” Dina chirped. “How was your break?”

“Not the greatest,” Sabrina sighed as she dumped her bags onto the floor. She changed out of the service dress and into shorts and a t-shirt.

Dina waited until her roommate dropped into her desk chair.

“What happened?”

“My great-grandmother died the day after Christmas. We buried her on the 30th.”

“I’m sorry, Sabrina. Was she your mom’s grandmother, or your dad’s?”

“Technically, neither,” Sabrina explained her family’s relationship with the Cavanaugh family. “Grammy Alice was one neat lady and a hell of a role model. Her daughter and granddaughter, my Grandma Jane and Aunt Heather, are just like her – fearless, bold, take-charge …”

“Sounds like one a hell of a lady, all right.”

“Still, it wasn’t all bad. Tommy was amazing. He stood by me through the whole thing, even to the point of not spending much time with his own family. Oh, and my big brother got engaged.”

“Alex? The one you’re still talking to?”

“Right. He ran into another adopted aunt’s youngest at school and they hit it off.”

Dina looked at the envelope still in Sabrina’s hand.

“What’s that, then?”

Sabrina forgot she still held the envelope.

“Guess I should find out, huh?” She tore open one end and an object clattered onto the desk. “I guess that means I’m not on double-secret probation any longer …”

“Well, it’s not ticking … What is it?”

“A Superintendent’s List pin. I’m back on the Sup’s List.” Sabrina’s phone chirped with an incoming text.

“I know that ringtone,” Dina laughed as she stood. “I’m gonna run over to Fairchild and get us both something from the sandwich place. You have an hour to finish your phone sex!”

Sabrina’s slipper smacked the back of their door as Dina made her escape.

“I don’t think this upgrade class is going to be much of a challenge for you, Sabrina,” firstie Dan Connole said as they waited for the rest of the Airmanship 473 students to file in.

“I don’t know about that, sir. Teaching someone how to teach isn’t the same as teaching them to fly.”

“It’s Dan when we’re not in class, Sabrina. And, while you’re right, your abilities as an instructor are well known.”

She shrugged. “My flight instructor back home had a soft touch, and I’ve patterned my instructing style after his. Making people nervous when you’re a few thousand feet off the ground isn’t really a good idea in my mind.”

“No, generally not,” he answered with a smile. Dan stepped over to the lectern and started the class.

Airmanship 473 would prepare Sabrina to instruct instructors. She almost declined to take the class when offered but then reconsidered. She enjoyed teaching the younger cadets. The academy needed people in the pipeline to continue the soaring programs, though. No one could teach AM251 if no one learned to train the trainers. The 306th Flying Training Wing might oversee flying instruction at the academy, but the cadets were the ones who did it.

The AM473 students were among the first cadets to use the new holographic simulators at the academy. Instead of projection screens, the new technology used lasers and advanced optics to produce true three-dimensional images inside the simulator bubbles. Someone outside the bubbles wouldn’t see anything other than smoked glass and faint figures inside. The only thing missing was the rising/falling/banking sensations full-motion simulators produced.

Dan Connole was Sabrina’s first ‘student.’ Her calm, patient instructing style made it impossible not to learn, even as he tried to be obstinate.

“You were saying something about instructing instructors, Sabrina?” Dan laughed at the end of the simulation.

“Huh?”

“Sabrina, I was trying to be a horrible, unteachable student, and I failed. You made it impossible to not learn something!”

“Well …”

“Not only are you a natural pilot, but you’re also a natural instructor, Sabrina. I’d sign you off right now if they’d let me.”

The 2018-2019 hockey season wasn’t going well for the USAFA women. Mental mistakes were costing them games. They were the same mistakes the Devens Warriors made during Sabrina’s senior year there.

“We’ve gotta find our focus out there, ladies,” Sabrina sighed after the first period of their first home game in January.

“We get it, Sabrina, but what are we doing wrong?” Mara Wayne asked. “We’re clicking during practice, but we don’t during games. What the hell is it?”

“We’re too tight during games,” Joanie Sondergaard said. “We’re much more relaxed during practice because there’s no pressure there.”

“We’re supposed to be having fun, right?” three-dig winger Mitzi Langenhagen asked.

“That’s the theory,” Sabrina answered. “We’re not getting paid. Well, USAFA is paying us, just not to play hockey … I mean, they kind of are, but … Oh, you guys know what I mean!”

“So, bragging rights, then? Is that what we’re playing for?” Mitzi asked next.

“That’s as good a reason as any,” Joanie pointed out. “I’m hoping women’s hockey will be a varsity sport eventually, but it’s not going to happen anytime soon. Let’s just remember why we kept playing all these years and go out there and skate.”

The second period opened with USAFA playing an extended game of keep-away in Grand Junction’s end. For five minutes, the cadets snapped passes as they cycled around the zone. They looked for scoring opportunities but didn’t jump at every opening, either. A frustrated Grand Junction team finally sent too many players to pressure the puck. This left two USAFA players unguarded in front of the net. Two quick redirects left Mitzi Langenhagen with the puck sliding her way and a wide-open goalmouth in front of her. She buried the puck.

“Tic-Tac-Toe, baby!”

“Nice finish, Mitzi!”

“Hey, if I can’t hit a wide-open net from four feet, it’s time for me to hang ‘em up!”

Grand Junction was less impressed with the cadets’ passing exhibition. Their play became more physical as the second period continued. USAFA countered with a similar increase in intensity, losing the playful style of play they displayed at the start of the period. They picked the team from Grand Junction apart with pinpoint precision.

“I think my hand just froze …” Mitzi muttered as they skated away from the end-of-game handshake line.

“Yeah, they sure didn’t like being toyed with, did they?” Joanie asked in reply. “Weird …”

The Gallardo family waved to Sabrina and her teammates from their seats behind the bench. They waited for their sponsor cadet outside the locker room.

“Nice game, Sabrina.”

“Thanks, Joe.”

“How come the other team looked so angry at the end of the game?”

“Well, Mia, I think they felt as if we were toying with them – making fun of them if you will – by playing keep-away with the puck. We kinda were, but that wasn’t intentional. Part of our problem this year is we’ve been too uptight during games. That’s affected our play, so today we tried to have a little fun out there.”

“It sure looked like you had fun,” Helen remarked. “In any event, we made reservations at our favorite teppanyaki place. You can come with us, right? You don’t have to report back right away?”

“No, I can join you. Let me call the CQ desk at my squadron.”

Helen nodded to Felicity while Sabrina made her phone call. Felicity’s thumbs flew over her phone for a brief second. She had it tucked back in her pocket before Sabrina hung up. The USAFA cadet climbed into the back seat of the Gallardos’ SUV after tossing her hockey bag and sticks in the cargo area.

“How’s school, you two?” Sabrina asked her little sisters. Felicity and Mia’s answers kept the three occupied during the drive.

“Here we are …” Joe said as he put the vehicle in park. “You ladies coming, or should Helen and I get you some take-out?”

“DAAAAD!” came the stereo, exasperated answers.

“Just for that, we’re ordering the most expensive thing on the menu, Joe.”

Sabrina heard rapid-fire Japanese from the staff as the hostess led the family to their reserved table. She was confused when she noticed someone already sitting there.

“Hey, everyone.”

“Has my dad been giving you pointers on surprising people?” Sabrina asked as she hugged Tommy.

“Advanced classes.”

“You’re going to need a new car if you keep driving down here every weekend.”

“He doesn’t drive down every weekend, Sabrina.”

“This is the third weekend in a row, Helen!”

“I guess the magic is gone already …” Tommy quipped, a sad look on his face.

“Some of my friends have older sisters already in college, Tommy,” Mia chimed in. “You up for a rebound romance?”

Sabrina’s eyes narrowed. She glared at the pre-teen as the others at the table laughed. “You’re a funny girl, Mia. I’ll kill you last …”

In early March, Sabrina reserved flight time in a USAFA Flying Club Cessna 152 to help keep her powered-flight skills up. She didn’t think her skills had eroded all that much, especially when she was an active glider instructor pilot, but she had a free Saturday and the planes were available. An Air Force technical sergeant led her out to her assigned aircraft.

“Here you go, cadet,” the man said while waving at the blue-and-white aircraft in front of them. “One-one-three had its fifteen-hour inspection yesterday, and she’s got plenty of hours left before she needs a four-hundred hour.”

Aircraft inspections are scheduled at certain intervals based on the hours the aircraft has flown. Routine maintenance inspections occur at shorter intervals, while more in-depth inspections happen less frequently.

“Thanks very much, Sergeant. It’ll be good to get some powered-flight hours again. It’s been a while.”

“Your logbook did look a little dusty …”, the man laughed. “Here’s the aircraft logbook. You all set with the walk-around?”

“As long as the checklists are in the door, I should be fine.”

“I’ll leave you to it, then. Have a good flight.”

Sabrina took her time doing the pre-flight inspection and followed the printed checklist, just as Hamish had taught her. There was no reason to rush. It was better to lose minutes of flying time than miss something which would put you on the ground in spectacular fashion. Satisfied things were as they should be with the aircraft’s exterior, engine, and control surfaces, Sabrina climbed into the cockpit.

The 152’s instruments had been upgraded at some point to sleek, multi-function displays collectively known as ‘a glass cockpit.’ One lonely set of analog instruments occupied the center of the panel as a backup. She pulled out the start-up checklist and talked herself through it. The familiar drone of the Lycoming engine soon filled her ears.

“Academy Ground, Air Force Cessna one-one-three at the Flying Club requesting permission to taxi.”

Ground control handed her off to the tower once at the threshold, and she was in the air less than five minutes later. She exited the traffic pattern heading southwest along the Front Range.

Today’s weather was perfect for flying. The bright sun reflected off the remaining snowpack below, making Sabrina glad she wore polarized sunglasses. Winds were moderate out of the north-northwest. The forecast called for continued good weather into the middle of next week.

Sabrina kicked herself for not joining the academy’s flight club earlier. Her personal flight log showed it had been eighteen months since her last powered flight, enough to merit a refresher/update class with an instructor. She completed that task through the club last weekend. The week’s delay worked out for her – today’s weather was even better than last Saturday’s.

The months of rust melted away the longer Sabrina flew. Flying truly was like breathing for her – she belonged up here, at the controls of an aircraft of any type. For two and a half hours she flew, soaring past Fort Carson, Pueblo, and into the academy practice areas north of the chemical weapons depot. The vast emptiness of the Colorado landscape unfolded below her, stretching for miles.

“Springs Approach, Air Force Academy Cessna one-one-three at the Wigwam towers.”

“Academy one-one-three.”

“Academy one-one-three, refuel and pick up at Springs.”

“One-one-three, maintain heading three-five-zero and climb to three thousand feet A-G-L. Squawk zero-zero-four-niner. Contact Springs Tower on one-one-nine decimal nine at Fountain.”

“One-one-three, roger, Approach. Thank you, good day … Springs Tower, Air Force Academy Cessna one-one-three at Fountain. Heading three-five-zero at three thousand feet A-G-L for refuel and pick up at Front Range Aviation.”

“Academy one-one-three, land three-five Lima and expedite. Taxiway Alpha-five if able, otherwise Alpha-four. Altimeter two-niner-niner-seven, winds three-four-five at seven. You are second in line behind Southwest six-six-one-three heavy.”

“Academy one-one-three.”

Sabrina lined up for Runway thirty-five left and watched as a Southwest 797 passed overhead. She made sure to stay clear of its jet-wash. The Cessna 152 kissed the tarmac just behind the runway numbers.

“Academy one-one-three, turn left immediate Alpha-five and contact Springs Ground on one-two-one decimal seven.”

“Springs Ground, Academy one-one-three at Alpha-five for Front Range Aviation.”

Two minutes later, Sabrina shut down the plane. She hopped out and headed for the FBO.

“Can I get twenty of one-hundred low-lead?” she shouted to a fuel attendant she didn’t recognize. He gave her a thumbs-up and she hustled inside.

“Be right out!” Sabrina called to the Gallardos before ducking into the ladies’ room.

“Sorry about that,” she sighed five minutes later.

“Not a lot of room for a lav in that thing,” Joe commented while waving at the light plane on the ramp.

“Yeah, not really. Felicity didn’t want to come?”

“No, she’s hanging with a friend today. Flying’s not really her thing, not like this one, here.”

“DA-ad …” Mia sighed in the exasperated tone most teenagers develop.

“Mia, can you wait on that tone of voice for a few more years? You’re not even ten yet.” Mia rolled her eyes at her father. And then hugged him. “Where are you taking this one?” Joe asked.

“I thought I’d take her around Denver to the west over the peaks, pass just south of Cheyenne, and come back east of Denver’s airspace. Be about three hours, I figure.”

“Sounds like a plan. I’ll just hang out here. It looks like a comfortable place, and they said I can use the WiFi while I wait.”

“They better let you use the WiFi, considering the money I spend here!” Sabrina grumbled while shaking a fist at Jose Peña, the manager. He looked oh so charming smiling back at her.

“Speaking of spending money, Miss Knox …” Peña said while sliding a fuel slip toward her. Sabrina tossed her debit card onto the counter.

“Just ring it up, Jose. And don’t add your mortgage payment like you did the last time!” She turned to her little sister. “C’mon, Mia. Let’s get out of here before this thief tries to sell me the government-owned aircraft I flew in on.”

Sabrina showed Mia how to preflight an aircraft, and told her why she never skipped doing it. They checked the control surfaces, the gas cap, the engine – everything on the checklist – before climbing inside. Mia read the start-up checklist, watching carefully as Sabrina performed each step. The older woman showed Mia how to change radio frequencies and squawk codes on the transponder.

“Do you have sunglasses, Mia? It’s going to be pretty bright up there.”

“No, I didn’t think to bring any.”

“Here.” Sabrina handed Mia a sunglass case. Mia opened it.

“Wow! Thank you!”

“Gotta dress the part, kid. We’ll get you a flight jacket later.” Mia put on the smaller copy of Sabrina’s eyewear and smiled at her big sister. “Looking good! Let’s get in the air, shall we?” Sabrina keyed her radio mic. “Springs Ground, Air Force Academy Cessna one-one-three at Front Range Aviation requesting permission to taxi. I have information Echo.”

The light plane leaped into the air five minutes later. Sabrina headed north-northwest toward Denver.

“OhmyGod, this is AWESOME!” Mia squealed from the passenger’s seat.

Sabrina smiled at her enthusiasm. She scanned the landscape around her as pilots do, noting her position and constantly updating where she could land if necessary. With urban Colorado Springs to her east and rising foothills to her west, options were quite limited. She pointed out the Air Force Academy and other landmarks after they leveled out.

Sabrina’s stomach dropped when the droning sound of the engine changed less than ten minutes into their flight. Her eyes checked her instruments, looking for any indication of trouble. The best indication of trouble came from the sputtering engine. She could feel the aircraft losing power and looked around to recheck her position. The sputtering Lycoming died and the silence was deafening. Sabrina remembered her training.

First: aviate. Fly the damn plane. She attempted an engine restart without success. With limited altitude to trade for distance, she set her flaps for the Cessna’s best glide speed of sixty knots indicated airspeed. Still, she would lose one foot of altitude for every nine or so feet of forward travel.

Second: navigate. She needed a flat surface long enough and close enough for a safe landing and roll-out. She glanced down at I-25 below and grimaced. That would be her last option. Things like wires and bridges across roadways interfere with safe landing operations – fatally in most cases. She kept searching.

Third: communicate.

“Mia, change the transponder to seven-seven-zero-zero and press ‘IDENT.’” Sabrina swapped her radio to the standby frequency, which was set to ‘GUARD’ – the international distress frequency.

“Mayday, mayday, mayday. Air Force Academy Cessna one-one-three declares an emergency. I have a single-engine failure, two souls on board, and three hours on the fuel. I am at two thousand feet A-G-L, passing just east of Aardvark Auxiliary Field over I-25, heading three-four-two magnetic.”

“One-one-three, Springs Approach. Is Aardvark an option?” Aardvark is a closed auxiliary runway less than five miles north of the main academy field. Sabrina heard alarms screaming in the background as the controller spoke.

“Negative, too low.” By the time Sabrina could turn for the field and line up for a landing, she’d be too low to the ground to make the runway.

“Roger, one-one-three, proceed as you see fit and tell us what you need.”

‘A damn miracle …’ she thought to herself.

“There!” Mia exclaimed, pointing out the windscreen in front of them.

To their eleven o’clock and less than two miles away was a faint trace leading north. From what Sabrina could see it looked flat. It also appeared to have been paved at some point. The edges were too crisp to be dirt. The days of bright sun and recent lack of snowfall had exposed the track and the scrub on either side.

“Mia, make sure your seatbelts are tight and everything’s put away.” Mia did as she was told. “Now open your door and keep it from re-latching.”

“Huh?”

“The door might get jammed shut if the landing’s too hard. We want to make sure we can get out of the plane in a hurry.” The noise from the slipstream rose only slightly.

Sabrina picked her target on the track in front of them. They sailed over a truck stop west of I-25 named, of all things, ‘Pilot.’ She was so focused on the task at hand she didn’t see the –

“TRUCK!” Mia shouted.

A wide access road for another gas station bisected the trail where Sabrina intended to land. A tractor-trailer was about to get in their way.

Sabrina pulled back hard on the yoke. The Cessna fought for altitude again and the landing gear cleared the top of the truck by mere feet. Sabrina pushed the yoke forward before trying her flare again. The plane slowed and descended again as she did. At five feet, she decreased flaps and put the plane on the ground. She fought the temptation to stand on the brakes.

Behind them the trucker pulsed his airhorn, drawing attention. A pickup shot out of the gas station lot and across the snow and dried grass. It roared up behind them and its driver locked up the brakes. Sabrina and Mia unbuckled and stepped out.

“Holy shit! Are you okay?” the man asked.

“Yeah,” Sabrina answered as she pulled out her cell phone. “Can you tell me where we are? I need to tell the academy where I parked their plane …”