Chapter 436: Will The Animals Still Remember Me?
The private jet steadied after a smooth climb to the cruising altitude. The city below had shrunk into a scatter of lights and snow. It would fly over the vast ocean soon.
A soft chime sounded overhead as the stewardess announced, "You may now unfasten your seatbelts."
Lorianne wriggled excitedly in her seat, tugging at her belt, "Can I go look at the clouds now? Daddy, help me unlatch this seatbelt."
Nathaniel chukled over the little one’s excitement while unfastening the latch, "Come. I’ll take you around."
"Okay!"
Lorianne immediately darted toward the wide window near the lounge area, her twin pigtails swaying behind her small back. As Elsie leaned over the seat to rest, Nathaniel trailed after their daughter.
The father and daughter duo had fun exploring the private jet. They walked through the aisle of the plane, listening to the steady hum of the engines beneath their steps.
Along the way, Lorianne tugged at Nathaniel’s sleeve. Anticipation glimmered in her eyes as she asked, "Daddy, can we see where the pilots are?"
"We have to ask first. If the captain isn’t busy, we can visit the cockpit."
Nathaniel led Lorianne toward the cockpit door. After asking the steward to get the captain’s permission, they were allowed in.
"Captain Reyes, I’m sorry for the trouble."
Nathaniel smiled at the head pilot. He had known the captain for the past decade. Captain Reyes was one of the pilots who worked for the Faulkner family.
For this flight, Captain Reyes brought his junior as the co-pilot. Nathaniel heard they attended the same aviation academy almost twenty years ago.
The captain turned with a friendly grin, "It’s nothing, Mr. Faulkner. We’re steady at cruising altitude now, so it’s safe. So, does the little miss want to explore the cockpit?"
Lorianne perked up. She quickly nodded, like a chicken pecking grains. Her eyes widened at the sight of the glowing panels and blinking lights.
"Mr. Captain, it looks like a spaceship!"
Captain Reyes laughed, "In a way, it is. Little miss, these help us fly safely above the clouds."
Nathaniel placed both hands on Lorianne’s tiny shoulders, "Just for a bit, okay?"
The little one nodded eagerly, leaning forward to peer at the horizon through the cockpit windows. The sky seemed endless, dusted with gold from the winter sun.
After fifteen minutes, Nathaniel led Lorianne out of the cockpit. The little girl waved at Captain Reyes and the co-pilot.
"Thank you, Mr. Captain and Mr. Pilot~"
Then, Lorianne tugged Nathaniel’s sleeve, this time to hurry him to return to the lounge. They saw Elsie sitting in the same seat while reading a book.
The little one excitedly shared her experience touring the jet, including the cockpit.
At mealtime, the family of three gathered at the table of four by the windows. The stewards served them plates of food before retreating to give them privacy.
While forking her pasta, Lorianne asked curiously, "Mommy, do you think Grandpa and Grandma’s horses, sheep, ducks, chickens and everyone~ at the farm still remember me?"
Elsie and Nathaniel glanced at each other, amusement flickering in their eyes. Their daughter’s question had tickled their hearts.
"I’m sure they do, sweetheart," Elsie replied, her lips tugging into a smile, "Didn’t your grandpa and grandma let you talk to them? You can meet them soon."
Throughout the months Lorianne lived in Velondia, the Winslows didn’t forget their granddaughter’s beloved animals on the farm. They often video-called the little one from the barns to let her greet the animals.
"Daddy, Lorrie can ride the pony!" Lorianne proudly exclaimed, "Lorrie will show Daddy, okay?"
Nathaniel reached for the little one’s head, giving her a gentle pat, "Okay. I’ll make sure to record a video. Our Lorrie will grow up to be an excellent pony rider, right?"
"Hehehe~ Yes!" Lorianne beamed, "I can’t wait to show Granda and Granny too!"
Aside from the Winslows, the little girl had grown closer to the Faulkners. Once she learned that she would celebrate Christmas and the New Year with both sets of grandparents, she was over the moon.
"They’ll be there soon," Elsie assured. She picked a slice of rolled omelet before putting it on Lorianne’s plate, "You can meet your granda and granny tomorrow."
After having lunch, the family of three took a short stroll inside the lounge. Elsie and Lorianne leaned closer to the window, admiring the vast ocean below. As for Nathaniel, he picked one of the magazines from the shelves.
The flight passed in soft conversation and hearty laughter. They played word games, talked about Christmas gifts and even took a short nap.
Later, Lorianne spent half an hour drawing a picture of their big family. The sketch was filled with stick figures holding hands under falling snow.
"This is pretty! Mommy’s darling is so talented!"
Elsie smooched Lorianne’s cheeks, enticing her to laugh nonstop.
Nathaniel held the paper with just the tip of his fingers, afraid of causing even the slightest wrinkle. He smiled affectionately at the giggling Lorianne.
"Lorrie, wanna hang it in your room?"
"Can I show it to Grandma, Grandpa, Granny and Granda?" the little one asked by mentioning each grandparent, as if she was afraid to forget any.
"Sure," Nathaniel quickly agreed, "I’ll ask someone to keep it safe. We’ll show it to your grandparents later."
Then, he called for the steward.
After several hours, the jet entered Norvonna’s airspace. Outside the window, the vast expanse of the country spread like a dream.
"Lorrie, come and look here!"
Elsie waved at Lorianne from the window. The little girl hurriedly ran to her mother. Before she could jump, Nathaniel picked her up.
"Isn’t it pretty?" he asked, smiling at both his lover and their daughter.
"Absolutely pretty!" the little one chimed.
Endless snowfields, forests dusted white and ribbons of freezing rivers greeted the family of three, welcoming them back from another land.
As Lorianne was engrossed in watching the breathtaking scene, Nathaniel looked at Elsie, his tone softer, "I can’t believe I’m here with you again."
Elsie chuckled, eyes glimmering as she patted Nathaniel’s back, "Isn’t it magical? I feel the same way."
After thousands of days and nights, they would welcome the new year together.