An Irish Affair (Heart of Hope 2)

We buckled Andrew into a seat where he could look out the window. Serena and I sat on the couch that ran along the length of the main cabin area.

“I guess this is nothing but a thing, for you,” she said, taking in the leather seats.

“I’ve been fortunate in my life financially.”

She turned to look at me. “But it sometimes is a weight?”

I smiled as I gently tugged on a tendril of her hair. “The money isn’t. The way people act because of it is. Expectations from my family. People who see dollar signs instead of Devin.”

She pressed a hand to my cheek. “I see Devin.”

“I know.” I pulled her hand to my chest. “That’s the real fortune.”

She sighed, and while she looked happy, there was something in her eyes that I could only describe as concern. Was she afraid to fly? Was she worried about me not treating Andrew right? Maybe she was concerned about my family, which admittedly, was a legitimate concern. While my mother had backed off on pushing me to marry Evie, I had no doubt she wouldn’t be happy about my bringing Serena home. Dealing with Serena’s father was a piece of cake compared to what my mother might do.

So far, my plan had been to keep my mother out of my personal relationships, but if this thing between Serena and I progressed, I needed to prepare them both. Especially with Andrew now involved.

With the plane ready and doors locked, we headed out to the runway and soon the wheels lifted and we were airborne.

When I first met Serena, my life was one endless bore of a day after another. With her, I’d been able to see the world with new eyes. I’d been able to have new experiences. The same was turning out to be true being around Andrew.

How many times had I been on this plane? I arrived back from Europe on it on Friday. To me, it was a mode of transportation. But watching Andrew, his eyes wide, bouncing in his seat, laughing with such joy, I knew I’d been spoiled and jaded.

“I don’t know that I’ve ever seen him this happy and excited,” Serena said. She was smiling because her kid was happy. I vowed to do as much as I could to make them both happy.

Less than an hour later, we were coming in for a landing.

“Is that the Washington Monument,” Serena asked looking out the window.

“It is.”

She whipped her head to me. “We’re in Washington, D.C.?”

“Yes.”

“What’s Washington, D.C.?” Andrew asked from his perch by the window.

“It’s where the president lives,” Serena said.

“Are we going to see the president?” Andrew looked at me with wide-eyed awe.

“No. We’re going to see something better.”

I had a car waiting which took us over the Potomac and to Jefferson Drive.

“Where are we?” Andrew asked as I ushered us out of the car.

“Andrew. Welcome to the National Air and Space Museum.”

“Oh God, Devin…” Serena looked at the building and then at me. For a moment I thought I saw love in her eyes. My heart clenched in my chest as I realized I wanted that. “I can’t believe you did this.”

“What is it?” Andrew asked, grabbing my hand and jumping up and down.

I squatted down. “This museum has planes and rockets and all things that fly in the air and in outer space.”

Andrew’s mouth and eyes rounded like saucers. “Really?”

“Really. We’re going to see it all.” I took his hand and put my arm around Serena taking them to the entrance of the museum. They weren’t mine. Not really. But I felt like they were. I definitely wanted them to be.