Bruce disengaged Aiden's plane from the dock. He held the lock in one hand and waved with the other, as Aiden and Jas made their way down the pier. Bruce noticed Jas's stunned look as her eyes focused on the plane.

"I thought we were going to the airport. You never told me you had a plane. What is that thing, anyway."

Aiden laughed, "Crop dusting has its benefits, or had you forgotten."

"I hadn't forgotten. I just never imagined you buying a...what is that thing?"

"It's called an amphibious plane. It can land on water or air."

"It's cute."

"Thanks." He walked up to Bruce, giving him a fist bump. "What's up?"

"I should be asking you as much. You didn't tell me you'd be taking Jas back with you. I'll be damned, this is good – really good."

Jas blushed. "Stop it, Bruce."

"Hell, is the war over?" he said with his infectious smile.

Aiden was about to say something, but Jas cut him off. She placed her finger over Aiden's lips. "We are having a truce, because he hasn't told me why he came back to Ellijay."

"I'll accept that," Aiden said. "Especially since truces often lead to ending wars." He leaned down and kissed Jas soundly on the mouth.

Bruce tossed his head back and laughed. "I honestly thought I'd never see that again. Wait until I tell Michelle, y'all were kissing like that."

"I'll tell her." A voice called from the distance. They all turned and saw Ella was running down the pier with a bag in her hand. "Well, bless my heart. It's so good to see y'all together. I thought it was just you flying back, Aiden. If I'd known Jas was coming I would have put more brownies in the bag."

"Thanks, Ella," Jas said, "I'm sure whatever is in the bag will be enough."

Ella pinched Jas on the cheek. "I can't believe you are allowing yourself to have a little fun. I don't recall the last time I've seen you out of that inn for a vacation. I'm proud of you."

Jas smiled.

"Well, let's have a word of prayer. Dear God, give Aiden and Jas a safe trip. Help them find togetherness, again. Amen."

Aiden and Jas both gave Ella a kiss and hug. Bruce opened the door and put their luggage in the compartment. He held the door for Jas to get into the plane. Aiden walked to the other side and got himself situated. He slipped on his Ray Bans and fired up the engine, it purred a smooth as Flannery. Jas was eyeing the cockpit in disbelief. This is amazing. What kind of technology is this? Jas just shook her head, "You must have gotten your commercial license for this thing."

"I did."

"When did you have time to do all of that?"

He turned to Jas, lifting his shades so that she could see what his eyes said, "The time that I spent thinking about you hurt too bad. I buried my down time in flight school. It got me through, Jas." He saw the impact of his words as a tear slipped down her face. He leaned in and kissed the tear away. Her breathing accelerated. He loved hearing what he could do to her with just a kiss. "I was a foolish man. I won't make that mistake twice."

They held each other for a moment. Then he flipped his shades back down, grabbed the controls and began backing the plane away from the doc. Ella and Bruce stood on the pier waving. Jas blew a kiss to them and waved.

Aiden headed the Icon A-5 out towards the lake. He slid the control up, the plane glided across the lake ever increasing to super speed, slowly lifting until it was airborne. He banked the plane towards the right. Jas awed at the sight of autumn splendor. "It's beautiful," she breathed.

"Just like you," Aiden said, threading his fingers between hers. She turned towards him, smiling - Aiden melted.

***

Nanna couldn't believe how simplified her life had become with the new staff. She walked through her beautiful renovated inn and smiled. The inn was filled to 70% capacity, there were now full time maids to keep the rooms cleaned, bell hops to carry guest luggage and so much more. She was again the first lady of the inn and not a worker. Though she never complained about a thing, and enjoyed working diligently in her dream life; being in managing capacity was so much better.

She walked passed a picture of her deceased husband that was on a shelf. He'd been gone 33 years. She placed a kiss on her fingertips and then placed it on the cold glass of the picture frame. "We'll be all right now, Harvey."

Flannery appeared out of nowhere and slunk around Nanna's ankles. Nanna bent down, stroking her back. "You'll be all right too. He's coming back this time, Flannery." She was glad to see the cat. Just a while ago she'd been sitting in the window seat in the lobby howling because Aiden had left. Nanna tried to get her away from the window but she refused. She stood most of the time with her paws pressed against the glass, making a mournful sound.

"Come on, dear." She scooped Flannery up. "Now that Jas is gone I can have a little fun with Major." She glanced at the picture of Harvey, and blushed. "I didn't mean to say that around you, sweetheart."

***

Jas tapped Aiden on the shoulder after they flew over the Statue of Liberty and still seemed to be headed north. "Isn't Syracuse somewhere about there?" she said, pointing down, still spellbound from the majestic aerial view.

"It is, but we are not going to my house in Syracuse. We're going to my home in the Catskills. I thought you'd like that one better." The Catskills was as close to a geographic twin to Ellijay that he could possibly think of. He and Jas were really country folks at heart. They could do Thailand, New York and any other metropolis, but there was nothing like the comfort and rusticity of the hills.

"Really, that's very thoughtful."

If you only knew how thoughtful. He smiled at her, lifting her hand and then kissed it. Thoughtful as in, he had the house built for Jas when he moved to New York years ago. Thoughtful as in, when he begged her to take him back when he returned to the states. Painfully thoughtful as in, how devastated he was when she rejected him. A flaming arrow pierced through his heart, even now.

"I thought that we'd be together forever, Aiden. You caused me to leave Nanna once. I damn sure won't ever do that again. Do you hear me!"

This is my last shot. Thinking about the six-month window that he had to work with was daunting. If she only knew how crazy she was making him during this period. He was doing his best for her to see how he'd changed. Aiden knew that he wasn't that same driven man anymore. Would she open her eyes and see? He'd missed it the first time by giving her expensive things. This time he'd give Jas himself, again. I love her so much.

He'd dare not say it. That might cause her to pop those pills. He watched over the last few weeks. At least three times a day she took them to settle her down. The pills were driving Nanna up the wall. Hopefully during this time away, he could speak to her about it. Aiden knew that everything about this week would have to be handled slow and carefully.

About ten minutes later they were flying over the Catskills. Jas inhaled sharply at the sight. It was even more splendid than Ellijay because the temperature was cooler, allowing the full impact of autumn to rise to a glorious display. Aiden banked the plane toward Sleepy Hollow Lake. Soon the plane was descending.

"There is going to be a slight bump, so hold on."

Jas held on to the bar on the side of the door. "This is so cool - an amphibious plane. I like it, Aiden."

The plane made initial contact on the water, giving them a bounce. Then it glided across the lake. The view was incredible. There were only a few homes tucked in the forest on that side of the lake. It appeared that they were spaced at least a quarter of a mile apart. Trees blazing in burnt orange, crimson red, and golden yellow draped around the homes. Smoky gray mountain peaks were in the backdrop like a mighty fortress.

Jas's eyes widened when she saw where they were headed. Peeking out of the woods was a massive two-level cross gabled log cabin, with a projecting wing that was covered in glass. The bottom level sank into the mountain with six large glass windows across the front. A warm yellow orange glow exuded from the inside as if someone had left a fire place on both levels. Flanked on the left side of the house was a patio that also seemed to be hewn into the mountain.

"Aiden, I'm speechless. This place is stunning."

Just what I needed to hear, babe. "My caretakers live here more than I do. When I do come to visit, they reside in cabins on the other side of the property."

"So, they stay in the house why you're away?"

"Yes. There are only two of them. An older married couple, Anna and Ted."

"And you're away most of the time?"

"Ninety five percent of the time."

Jas looked perplexed. "Then why did you build this beautiful place if it's going to be empty most of the year? It's magnificent."

He didn't respond.

The plane slowly glided to a stop at the pier that jutted from Aiden's property. He stepped out of the plane and secured it. Then he walked over and opened the door for Jas. He extended his hand and helped her from the plane.

"You didn't answer my question."

His brow arched. How was he going to answer this question without scaring the hell out of her? You really don't want to know. After fumbling around in his brain for a few seconds he simply said, "It reminds me of everything that I love."

He tried to keep a straight face as he watched Jas morph into a tomato, but he couldn't. He laughed but knew the mood had to be lightened, even though he'd meant exactly what he'd said. Aiden didn't want her to bail yet. "I'm talking about Flannery."

Jas burst out laughing. She took a step too far back and almost fell off the peer. He quickly drew her into an embrace to keep her from falling. She was still laughing.

She looks so beautiful when she's happy. The weary face that he'd seen when he first arrived in Ellijay had faded away. Aiden took pride knowing that he was a part of that recovery. He waited until her joy subsided. Aiden lifted her face, kissing Jas in a way that let her know this wasn't solely a business trip.

***

The Sparkman's lived in a 4,000-square foot penthouse on the 23rd floor. The home was, new furniture store, perfect, and had sweeping views of Chicago. They'd lived there since their children were young.

Troy was comfortably sprawled across his wife's lap on the bed. She was upright with her back against the pillows. They were watching a football game on their 70-inch screen. The surround sound gave them a stadium atmosphere. It was good to hear Deanna cheering for her team. Troy reached his hand in the bag of popcorn in front of him, gathering a handful and stuffing it in his mouth. Deanna twirled her fingers through his hair. Troy needed that touch of comfort. He hadn't had a day off in ten days and was so happy to be having a normal - ish day at home. A normal day had left when Aiden vanished. Deanna's cell phone rang.

Troy groaned, "Don't answer it."

"It might be Jason or Taylor."

"They can wait."

"Jason said he would call and confirm if they needed us to babysit tomorrow."

"Damn it, Deanna. It's rare for us to have a day like this."

She was too stunned to answer the phone. For Troy Sparkman to be upset enough to curse that was an indication of warning – ice on the road ahead. She placed the phone back on the nightstand. As soon as she laid it down it began to ring again. Her eyes latched on to the phone, she was itching to pick it up. Especially when it kept ringing. She glanced over at him and watched irritation etch on his face. "I'm not going to answer it, Troy."

"I want you to power it off," he said huskily.

"But what if the kids..."

"We don't have kids anymore, Deanna. We have three grown sons, and two of them have families of their own. This is the first day that I've had off in ten days and I will not allow anyone else in it."

Deanna was so touched that Troy included Aiden in their sons. Though she knew it, it was still nice to hear. But, it was not enough to move her to power it off. Instead she silenced the ringer.

"Are you upset with me, Troy?"

"I'm upset with the fact that until we get things resolved with Aiden, I can never have my wife. I miss my wife, Deanna. When we have one sane moment in our swirling world I'll be damn if I'm going to share it with anyone."

"I'm sorry, Troy." Her face began to cloud.

"Don't do it. Don't cry. Come here." Troy scooted over and beckoned Deanna to lay next to him. They were face to face. She snuggled up against him. "I love you, darling. We're going to be okay."

They forgot about the game. Suddenly, Deanna felt herself being consumed by his kisses. He started all over her face, but it ended all over her body. They hadn't made love in months. They needed to connect. From the satisfaction on Deanna's face after it was over, Troy knew that their relationship was truly going to be okay. It wasn't just hopeful words. He felt it. His Deanna would be back.

Troy watched as Deanna, satiated, closed her eyes in sleep. He gazed upon her for a long time noting how peaceful she was when the world was shut down. He was determined to help her find that peace in her waking hours. He reached over her to get the remote to flick the TV off when he saw her cell phone light up.

I told her to power that thing down. He shook his head thinking about how strong willed his wife could also be. That was a quality that he both admired and hated. But that was Deanna, and he loved her in all her perfection and imperfection. Troy stretched his arm over to the nightstand and picked up the phone. He scowled looking at the text that was flashing on the screen.

Mrs. Sparkman, I have been trying to reach you all afternoon. I regretfully have to inform you that we have lost contact with Aiden. He was seen early this morning leaving the Apple Blossom Inn with a young woman. He and the young woman went to his private plane and headed for an unknown destination. We assumed he may have been returning to his home in New York. We had our team check his home and make a discreet inquiry at his corporation. He has not been seen at either location. We dreadfully apologize and will make every attempt to relocate Mr. Ross.

The last two words burned Troy more than anything. Humph, Mr. Ross. The Sparkman name was one of honor in Chicago. There were three generations of surgeons behind that name. He'd been a good father to Aiden. Why can't he accept the good that has been lavished upon him? Until they find him, we're all in another living hell. This is going to kill her. Troy slammed the cell phone into the wall. Deanna flinched at the sound but needed sleep kept her under.