"You're afraid you'll grow bored and want out?"
"Who isn't? Forever is a very long time."
"You'll feel differently when you fall in love. At least that's what everyone says."
"But you don't believe it." He leaned back in the chair.
"I don't intend to place my happiness in anyone else's hands." She sat in the copilot's seat. "I'm quite happy with my work."
"Your buildings are your children." He looked curious.
"I suppose they are, yes."
"I do want to have kids. I enjoy the energy and enthusiasm they bring, and I suspect they could teach me as much as I'd teach them. I've been thinking more about it lately." He looked around the quiet cockpit, and she knew they were both thinking the same thing. They'd be lucky to ever get out of here and live long enough to have a child.
"Every now and then I think it might be wonderful to have a baby, to try to give them the happy, warm childhood I've always longed for. But what if I'm even worse than my own parents?" She sighed.
"You'd be a good mother. I can tell."
She laughed, trying to pretend his pointless comment didn't mean anything to her.
"How? You barely know me."
"You're a planner. You plan things and craft them. You'd create a wonderful childhood for them."
"But people aren't like buildings. They have their own spirit and character and might resist every effort of mine to raise them the way I intend."
He laughed now. "So true. I suppose you can only do your best and hope it all
works out."
"Too risky for me." She pretended to stretch. Really, she wanted to hide the uncomfortable flash of emotion that roamed through her at the thought that she was too cautious to risk a real family.
"Everything's a risk. You took a flight from Dubai to Bahrain and ended up flying off course into a desert."
"I guess I should have taken that commission to build a family compound outside Dallas."
"It would have been safer."
"But boring. I'd have hated myself for doing it."
"And you'd have missed out on meeting me." His slow smile tripped something inside her. "I won't say I'm glad we're here, but I am glad we're together."
"I hope we're not going to die together."
"I don't think we are." His smile broadened. "I believe I've fixed the radio."
"What?" She leaped forward. Why was he flirting with her when they could be calling for help?
He handed her the headphones, and she tucked them over her ears. "Why can't I hear anything?" "Listen."