Thank you for flying with us today, folks. Please ensure your seat backs and tray tables are in their upright positions as we make our final descent into Albuquerque, New Mexico. And remember to choose American Airlines for your next adventure.
Hailey took a deep breath and put her boarding pass into the middle of the book to save her place. It was the perfect metaphor for her life – using whatever she had with her in a completely different function than it was intended because her life was beyond planning and hope. The man next to her began to shift his weight back and forth again, as he had done the whole flight, clearly nervous about what awaited him in Albuquerque. Hailey had no clue what would await her in Albuquerque but she knew that whatever it was, it had to be better than what she was leaving behind in Seattle.
Before she knew it, the fasten seatbelt light was off and the whole plane was in a flurry of activity with people rushing to get their bags and either get home to their loved ones or start their trip. The common factor being that these people knew where they were going next and they were anxious to get there. When it came time, she got up and grabbed her bag and went with the flow to get off the plane. It was almost comforting to be a part of the rush for just a minute in that path from plane to baggage carousel. At least she had a purpose: get off plane, follow people to baggage claim, get bag. However, once Hailey grabbed her army green faded duffel off of the carousel, that’s when she completed her purpose and it was back to reality once again.
She had two options here. She could rent a car but there was a matter of limited funds and credit cards could be traced. Or she could jump back in and call someone to pick her up. There would be no hiding from reality then. It would be time to face the music, however loud that music chose to play. She touched her growing stomach and knew the decision had been made for her. She wouldn’t chance being found by using a credit card just to avoid the judgment a little while longer. And with the decision made, she moved forward to the pay phone and dialed the number that she knew by heart.
“Hey, Gram. It’s me, Hailey. I’m actually here in Albuquerque. Can you pick me up from the airport?”
Last Chance Baby Description:
Hailey sought adventure in Seattle the second high school was over but what she found was more than she had bargained for. When Hailey suddenly comes back home to New Mexico pregnant and harboring secrets, everyone assumes that it is the father of the baby that she is running from. Hailey is happy to let everyone make those assumptions if it keeps them safe from the truth.
But Gram’s new farm hand Chuck has his own secrets and is too highly trained to ignore the red flags coming from Hailey’s direction. When her dedication to keeping her secrets leads to grave tragedy, Hailey finds that she may have to let Chuck in more than she would like as they find themselves navigating a world of crime, danger, and loyalty that neither had anticipated. Can Hailey keep those she loves safe or will her past cost her the ultimate sacrifice?
