Chapter 6 - The Austin HorizonThe private aviation terminal at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport gleamed under the warm Texas sun, offering a stark, welcoming contrast to the freezing mountain blizzard we had left behind in Colorado.
As the helicopter touched down smoothly on the private tarmac, the ground crew rushed forward to secure the skids.
Waiting near the hangar doors stood Dana, my faithful COO and best friend, holding two large cardboard trays filled with steaming hot chocolate topped with mountains of whipped cream and marshmallows.
When the cabin door opened, the children let out a joyous cheer and scrambled down the metal stairs like a stampede of happy reindeer.
— Aunt Dana! — Sophia and Olivia screamed, hurling themselves into Dana’s open arms, nearly causing her to drop the hot chocolate.
Dana laughed, catching them effortlessly while managing to keep the drinks upright, before looking up at me as I descended the stairs at a more leisurely pace.
— Well? — Dana asked, her eyes wide with eager anticipation. — Did the wolf get eaten?
I stepped onto the sunlit tarmac, breathing in the warm, familiar scent of Texas asphalt and dry cedar, and smiled a slow, triumphant smile.
— Let’s just say, Dana, — I replied, pulling off my leather gloves and tossing them into my bag, — Marcus Reynolds won't be worrying about holiday expenses next year. In fact, he’ll be lucky if he has a chair to sit on by New Year's Eve.
Dana let out a loud, delighted whistle. — Oh, I love a happy ending. Come on, kids, let's go get those double marshmallows before your mother starts talking about quarterly logistics reports again.
The children cheered again, marching toward Dana’s SUV like a victorious little army.
I paused for a moment, turning back to look toward the northern horizon where the private jet had carried us home.
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The past was officially buried. The debt was settled. The ledger was balanced down to the very last decimal point.
I turned around, adjusted my sunglasses against the bright Texas sun, and walked briskly toward my children, ready to write the next brilliant chapter of our lives.
