Chapter 39. A Surrogate

Tania's POV

He moved back, tugging at my arm. Leaning across the aisle, he put his head in Phillip's lap. The boy buried his face in his fur, his little arms pulling him tight. Just like with me, Snacks settled him down.

"It's pretty smooth, probably a good time to take him out of that seat and hold him," Teri said from behind me. "I'll get him for you." Snacks moved out of the way and Teri got up. She unhooked his harness and picked him up as he reached for her. "It's all right, little man," she said. "Sit with Mama and look out the window!"

She passed him to me and I sat him on my lap, letting him look out the big window. "See how high we are," I said as I held him on my knee.

"Clouds pretty," he said as he looked out. There were puffy cumulus clouds above us.

"Very pretty. That looks like Elmo," I said as I pointed.

"Elmo?" I nodded. "That looks like boat." He settled down as we played our game, and when he tired of that he sat in my lap and le