Chapter 529: Airliner Over the United States

Wednesday, February 22nd, Morning

The airplane seat was not the most comfortable. This was also only the beginning, the first leg of their trip back to El Paso. It was a crazy couple of days, mainly checking on houses and various other locations, including the high school.

Damian leaned back, and when the seat belt sign went out, he pulled out his briefcase. He looked over to the window seat and saw his daughter sitting there looking out the window. There was a look on her face when she turned to face him because she couldn't be on her smartphone.

"There was a time before social media," Damian said.

"I've heard this a million times, Dad; you also went to school uphill both ways in the snow with dinosaurs," Jordan said.

"Funny, Jordan," Damian said.

Jordan made a face at her dad. He laughed and looked through the notes he made.

"So, what are you doing there, Dad?" Jordan asked.

"I'm looking over the houses we looked at and some of the other things that go with them," Damian said.

"I really liked that place on the beach," Jordan said.

"Yeah, so did I; unfortunately, I ran the numbers," Damian said.

"Of course, you did," Jordan said.

Damian nodded, "That's my job, well, my job now," he said.

"So, you're point, Dad?" Jordan asked.

"Well, I narrowed it down to three places," Damian said.

Jordan nodded, "So have I," she said.

Damian nodded, "So, how did you do it?" he asked.

"I sent pictures to my friends, and we discussed it," Jordan said.

"Let me guess, they all liked the beach house," Damian said.

Jordan nodded, "Yes, they did," she said, then pouted, "But you took that off the table."

Damian nodded, "Yes, since it was unsustainable," he said.

"No, fun, Dad," Jordan said.

"Being a killjoy, that's sort of in the job description of being a Dad," Damian said.

"So, well, the cottage was the only other one I liked," Jordan said.

Damian looked at Jordan and cocked an eyebrow, "What cottage?" he asked.

"The one with the redhead for the neighbor," Jordan said.

"What's your obsession with that redheaded woman? Am I going to have to call you Charlie Brown now?" Damian asked.

"Wow, showing your age there, Dad. Charlie Brown, really? Anyway, Dad, she was the First Woman you really noticed since Momma," Jordan said.

"Well, that's not a criterion for picking a house," Damian said.

"Where was it on your list based on your criteria?" Jordan asked and put up air quotes on the word criteria.

"Snarky, are we now?" Damian asked.

"Well, Dad?" Jordan asked.

"It was top three," Damian said.

"Why was it top three? Was it the redhead?" Jordan asked.

"No, she didn't enter why I selected it in the top three," Damian said.

"Why not?" Jordan asked.

"Because there are more important things than having an attractive neighbor, Jordan," Damian said.

"But Dad, even though you walked with the dinosaurs, you're still young and need to be out there; that's what Momma would have wanted," Jordan said.

"Remind me how old you are again?" Damian asked.

"Fifteen, Dad," Jordan replied.

"You're talking like your Aunt Maggie," Damian said.

"Ah! I had to grow up fast, as Momma used to say, since it was just her and me while you were away," Jordan said, her grey eyes had a sad look.

"I'm sorry about it, Jordan, when Uncle Sam called, I had to go," Damian said.

Jordan nodded, "I know, dad, believe me, I know, that was a lesson I learned at a very young age," she said.

Damian nodded, "So, what else do you like about the cottage?" he asked.

"It just, I don't know, Dad, I don't want to sound weird," Jordan said.

"I don't think it's weird," Damian said.

"Well, the cottage just had this feeling," Jordan said.

"What sort of feeling?" Damian asked, unsure what to take off his daughter's statement.

"It will; I don't know, Dad; it felt like home," Jordan said and turned to look out the airplane's window, "I never felt that way before."

"You don't want to move to North Carolina?" Damian asked.

Jordan shrugged, "It's another new place, another new place, and I hoped we'd stay at the last place when you retired," she said.

Damian nodded and sighed, "We make this move; I promise it will be our last," he said.

Jordan nodded, "I hope you keep that promise," she said.

Damian nodded, "I hope so," he said, "That's one promise I'd like to keep."

Jordan turned back from the window, "I want you to keep that promise," she said.

Damian nodded, "So, do I," he said.

"When we get to North Carolina, I'll be sixteen," Jordan said.

"You want a car," Damian said.

"It would be better than driving me everywhere," Jordan said.

Damian nodded, "Let's cross that bridge when we get to it," he said.

"Dad," Jordan said.

"Don't Dad me, first we have to move, second, get your license, third, then we'll see about getting your car," Damian said.

"Why is everything you do it is in steps?" Jordan asked.

Damian smirked, "I do?" he asked.

"As far as I can remember, Dad," Jordan said.

Damian shrugged, "Maybe, it's my training," he said.

Jordan nodded, "Well, how long before you're done and we have to move?" she asked.

"Sooner, I'd like to think about it," Damian said.

Jordan nodded and looked out the window, "Why did you make this choice?" she asked.

"Which choice?" Damian asked.

"Leaving?" Jordan asked.

Damian sighed and nodded, "I have the time in; I'm ready to start the next chapter in my life. Finally, and most importantly, I have you, and I need to be a better dad to you than I have been in the past," he said.

"Dad, you've been a good dad to me," Jordan said.

"How can you say that? I've hardly been there?" Damian asked.

Jordan sighed, "It's not the times you were away that mattered; I learned that a long time ago. It's the quality of the time when you were home. Dad, you always spent high-quality time," she said.

Damian cleared out the corner of his eyes to stop the tears, "So, you like the cottage," he said.

Jordan nodded, "Yes, I do," she said.

"Your Momma taught me something long ago," Damian said.

"What did Momma teach you?" Jordan asked.

"Listen to the important people in your life; they know you better than you know yourself," Damian said.

Jordan turned to Damian, "Yeah?" she asked.

Damian nodded, "Yeah, and you, Jordan, know what's the best for me right now," he said.

Jordan chuckled, "I guess Momma was a smart lady," she said.

"The Smartest, well, at least smarter than me," Damian said.

"So, what does that mean?" Jordan asked.

"When we land, I'll call the realtor about the cottage," Damian said.

"Yay!" Jordan said with a laugh.