Jake held the phone to his ear, the breeze from the rocky plains tugging at his hair as Aliya's voice came through, crisp and commanding as usual.
"I've been thinking about Mom's birthday," she said, skipping any sort of greeting. "A dinner is fine, but I think a vacation would be better. Somewhere quiet, away from the city. She's been stressed lately."
"I'm on board," Jake replied, leaning back in his chair and watching the horizon. "Find a place that fits—somewhere with a spa and good scenery. Don't worry about the cost; just send me the details and I'll handle the payments."
"Spoken like a man who actually has a balance in his bank account for once," Aliya teased, though her voice softened. "I'll look into some resorts in the delta. Oh, are you home? I need to swing by and pick up that book I left on your coffee table."
"Not yet. I'm actually out having lunch with Alex right now."
