Maddy was silent. Kris and Chloe started walking out of the living room, Jackson’s mother still in tears.
“I just didn’t think it would actually happen,” Jacks said, almost to himself. “Angels are the greatest force of good the world has ever seen.”
“But you don’t think anything drastic will happen?” Maddy asked quietly. “I mean, it’s the Angels . . . what could they do? The Immortals Bill isn’t really going to happen, is it? Even once Linden takes office, there are politicians who won’t vote for it . . . right?”
“I’ve talked to Mark. We don’t know what to think,” Jacks said. “But soon you might have a choice, Maddy. And I hope you choose the right side.”
CHAPTER 28
Golden afternoon light passed through the blazing orange and red leaves of the oaks that covered the open picnic area on the hillside. Autumn leaves lazily spiralled their way down to the grass. The oaks had turned the earth into a carpet of yellow and scarlet. Up above, Griffith Park extended up and over the hills for hundreds, if not thousands of acres: an oasis of wilderness right next to Angel City. A small, woodsy little shack off to the side of the tables served as a café.
It was the day after the election, and Maddy had wanted to ask a certain non-Angel’s advice.
Tom had already been waiting at a picnic table for ten minutes when Maddy arrived in a rush. He was wearing old jeans, a T-shirt and his leather jacket, which Maddy reflected was like his uniform when he wasn’t wearing his actual uniform.
“I’m so sorry I’m late. I got caught in traffic.” She remembered how annoyed Tom had been the first time she’d kept him waiting.
Tom sipped his coffee. “I haven’t been waiting long. I’ve been making friends with the squirrels here,” he said, motioning to a squirrel that was running to and fro across the leaves with an acorn from an oak tree. “Just don’t get him started, or he’ll never shut up.” As if in response, the squirrel started chirping and then dashed away and disappeared up the rough trunk of a tree.
Maddy laughed. It was so nice to remember there were creatures in the world who couldn’t care less about the Angels.
“This park is great,” Tom said, looking around appreciatively at the wilderness. “I never would have known it was here.”
“I used to come here a lot with my uncle when I was a girl. We would walk up the hill and then go to the Griffith Observatory, and I would look at all the planets. And then we would go and get pie at this all-pie restaurant. The Angel City sign is just over there.” Maddy pointed west. Her mind cast back for a moment to that simpler time.
“It’s quiet,” Tom said appreciatively. “And an all-pie restaurant? Sounds good.”
Maddy looked around with her own appreciation – no paparazzi in sight. They tended to stick closer to Runyon Canyon Park, which was one of the hottest Angel-sighting spots in town.
“I got you something,” Tom said. “For your Commissioning.”
“You did?” Maddy said, surprised and slightly uncomfortable.
Tom nodded, reaching into his leather jacket. He had something in his hand. He extended his palm. A set of golden naval aviator wings, maybe three inches across, sat there. They glittered in the fading afternoon sun.
Tom grinned at her. “Well, go ahead, take them. They’re for you.”
“They’re beautiful,” Maddy said. She reached forward slowly and took them in her hand. The gold was warm to the touch. The detailing was incredible.
“Turn them over,” Tom said.
Flipping the wings over, Maddy discovered he had engraved NATURAL on them.
“Your call sign,” he said. “If you’re ever on the flight deck, just show them these.”
“I don’t know what to say. How did you get these? Are you going to get into trouble?”
“Don’t worry about that. I wanted to get you something to celebrate. I hadn’t . . . acquired them by your Commissioning. But now you can have them. I’d be proud to have you on my wing any day.”
“Thank you, Tom,” Maddy said slowly. Was it OK for her to accept them? Yes, she decided. Tom was just her flying instructor. “It’s so thoughtful of you.”
“I remember when I first got my wings. How I felt. It seemed like everyone thought I couldn’t do it, given my pedigree. But I proved them wrong.”
Maddy nodded, holding the small golden wings between her fingers. Autumn leaves continued to fall behind them. A light breeze sent them spinning as they descended to the ground.
“I’m getting a little cold. Should we go for a walk?” Maddy said. She buttoned up her jacket.
They made their way up one of the wide trails, up the hill. Not many people were on the packed-dirt path, so they had some peace. Birds chirped enthusiastically in the trees, and the thicket of oaks gave way to stands of tall palm trees. The palms were so tall and spindly they seemed to extend to the sky itself. Soon the gleaming observatory appeared further up the mountain, a white pearl on the hillside.