Veronica squinted up at the overly bright cream-colored balloon of the Acadia Pearl. At least that's how it seemed under the cloudless blue sky with the sun at its most cheerful—and annoying—angle. The luxury airship, the first of its kind to promise "Southern Charm with European Class for your Transatlantic Flights to the Former Confederacy," strained against the ropes holding it to the ground as though eager to be off. Although Veronica had been looking forward to joining the inaugural flight, the unease that had crept upon her during her conversation with Léonard had overtaken her excitement. So had all the wine, leaving her this morning with a dull headache and a dry mouth that no amount of tea or water could fix.
She'd expected Léonard's revelation to throw everything topsy-turvy, an
