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happened.”
    “I know that. I do know that, but I can’t live through anything like that again. And Heather is so much like Morgan they could be twins. When I see Heather pressing for attention, all I see is Morgan insisting that I take her for a ride on my motorcycle. I see that car pulling out in front of us. I can still hear the tires squealing and the sound of metal as it crumpled beneath me. Here I am with a bright future, and Morgan has never seen another sunrise or sunset. I can’t just dismiss that event. It took Morgan’s life, and changed me forever.”
    “Look, Lucas,” Mike said. “I can’t sit here and tell you to forget what happened. I know that will never happen—but you must not let that accident destroy two lives, and I’m afraid that’s what’s happening. Life isn’t fair. For all we know, we may not return from our flight tonight. If we make it back to St. Louis, something could still happen to either of us on our way home. If you’re going to do anything, recognize that life is precious and that you should live it to its fullest—appreciate what you have, who you are, your friends, and don’t overlook the people who may be a part of your future.”
    “I know that, Mike, but if I let Heather—or anyone—into my life, I would feel like I was betraying Morgan. That would be more than I could live with.”
    After saying that, Lucas spent a speechless moment just looking at the floor. Finally, he turned back to Mike and said, “Hey, we need to change the subject. Besides, I need to get some stuff done before we can leave.”
    “I got ya. Just think about what I said, Lucas.”
    With those parting words, Lucas opened the door and headed straight to the Convair.
    With preflight completed and departure time approaching, Lucas settled into the copilot seat, fastened his belt, and began to arrange his office in the sky. As Lucas finished his cockpit routine, he could hear Mike and Heather enter the plane, followed by Mike raising the stair and locking the door. Mike appeared over Lucas’s left shoulder as he entered the cockpit with Heather close behind. Although a tight fit, Lucas didn’t even acknowledge Heather’s presence.
    Lucas had his flying face on, and began to put order to the commotion that took place as Mike and Heather arrived.
    “Mike,” he said, “we’re ready to roll. Heather, if you hang on for just a second I’ll get that jump seat set up for you as soon as I get our clearance.”
    Lucas: “Clearance delivery, this is Convair three-seven-one-three-papa, IFR to Dallas.”
    Controller: “Convair three-seven-one-three-papa cleared as filed. Departure will be one-one-nine-point-nine—squawk zero-seven-five-eight.”
    Lucas: “That’s Convair thirty-seven-thirteen-papa, cleared as filed— squawk zero-seven-five-eight and departure one-one-nine-point-nine.”
    Controller: “Read-back correct. Contact ground when ready to taxi.”
    Lucas: “One-three-papa.”
    Looking over his left shoulder, Lucas said, “Heather, if you can move up on this ledge, I’ll drop the jump seat for you.”
    As Heather followed his instructions, Lucas’s left arm brushed the backs of her legs as he dropped the seat. She was excited knowing that she was going to spend the next five hours just inches from him—the person she’d had a crush on for months.
    Seat in place, Heather and Mike buckled their belts and settled in for their departure.
    Lucas thought to himself, This is almost more than I can take. I don’t have any interest in entertaining this chick tonight or any night . Although—and I’d never admit this to Mike—she is a looker. Her innocent, young, fresh appearance would qualify her as a spokesperson for the milk industry. Besides, what was she thinking, wearing that loose-fitting miniskirt up here? Therein lies the problem—she wasn’t thinking. Screw her. I have one task, and that is to get to Dallas and back home safely.
    “Mike, you ready to go?” Lucas asked