“What else is there?”
“Well I don’t know, but I imagine it’s a lot like North Carolina with palm trees and the ocean.”
“Sounds boring.”
“I know, but Auntie Dhara asked us to go to a concert with her. It’ll be fun.”
While she’s still in bed, I sit behind her and pull her hair up into a ponytail. Normally, I’d ask her what she wants but this is just easier for the trip. I’m afraid she’s going to be miserable. Not only is this her first flight, but mine as well, and despite reading testimonials from people who have flown before, I’m not certain I’m ready for this.
The loud knock on my door has me scrambling through my darkened living room. Fletcher and Dhara are standing there under my porch light and the only one who looks even remotely happy is Dhara.
“I think I’m still asleep,” Fletcher says as he enters my house.
“Me too. Evelyn’s a zombie. I’m really afraid she’s going to be unbearable.”
“Y’all are worrying for nothing. We’ll be fine. We can sleep on the plane and we have a really nice hotel where we can nap and have room service,” Dhara says as if winning a big contest is an everyday thing for her. “Where are your bags? I’ll put them in the car,” Fletcher asks. I point to my room and he disappears down the hall.
“I’ll go get Evelyn but be prepared, she’s crabby.”
“Eh,” Dhara says as if a tired five-year-old means nothing. Instead of waking her up again, I scoop her into my arms. She’s heavy but I only have to carry her to Fletcher’s car. Dhara locks up after I step out onto the porch and when Fletcher sees me, he comes rushing over to take her.
The drive to the airport usually takes about an hour, but with no traffic Fletcher gets us there in forty-five minutes. He drops us off curbside and tells us to wait for him while he goes to park the car. I’m thankful he had the wherewithal to do this because Evelyn is still out cold.
“Shit, I forgot to put her shoes on,” I say aloud as I start going through her bag. Luckily her flip flops are in there, but I decide to hold onto them until after she goes through security.
When Fletcher comes back, he reaches for Evelyn and picks her up. “You don’t have to.” I tell him, but he doesn’t seem to mind.
“It’ll be easier for me to carry her while we walk to security.”
“Maybe you can try to wake her up before we get there. I don’t think they’ll let you carry her through the detectors.”
Our airport is small and there aren’t too many people traveling this morning, so it doesn’t take us long to get through the line and to the TSA agent who checks our identification and boarding passes. Somehow Fletcher manages to get Evelyn to wake up, although the scowl on her face looks like she’s about to start the next world war.
By the time we’re called to board, Evelyn’s awake but moody. I’m silently kicking Dhara in the rear for suggesting an early morning flight. I get it, we want to get to the other coast as early as possible but I’m not sure this was such a good idea for Evelyn.
I get her situated in her seat with her pillow and blanket and tell her that once we’re up in the air she can have some breakfast. Except she never makes it that far because she’s out like a light before the plane takes off and so am I.
By the time the plane lands, I’m second-guessing the trip. It’s nice to get away, but the only reason I would come out here is to see Ajay and knowing that our visit is only a few short hours makes this trip really not seems worth the hassle. Dhara should’ve asked her friends from work to go with her. I wouldn’t have been upset at all.
There is, however, one shining light right now: Evelyn’s awake and pulling her luggage behind her while she carries her stuffed elephant. I have to stop every few feet to remind her to keep walking because something catches her attention.
“There’s a car waiting for us,” Dhara says as we make our way toward the exit. When we step outside, I take in the many cars waiting for everyone. The traffic at the airport alone is insane.
I grab hold of Evelyn’s hand and tell her not to let go as we follow Dhara through the mob of people. They bump into us without any regard for our well-being. I don’t like it and I’m ready to turn around and go back home. But I know having those thoughts is not productive. If I want to be with Ajay, this is where I have to be, unless I want us to live apart. I don’t. I want a chance at the fairytale I thought I was getting when I turned eighteen. Of course, in my mind that fairytale didn’t include one of the busiest airports and the feeling of helplessness I have going on right now.
“Mommy, why does that man have our name on his paper?” Evelyn stops us in our tracks and points to a man holding a sign that says, “Foster.”
“I’m sure he’s waiting for someone else. We’re going with Auntie Dhara,” I say as I turn to follow her.
“Actually, you’re not.” That voice, the one I’ve known and have had memorized for most of my life, has me frozen in spot. I turn slowly to find Ajay standing there with a bouquet of roses and a stuffed Minnie Mouse toy in his hands.
“Ajay,” I say softly. He steps forward, leans down, and places the roses strategically between us.
“Can I kiss you?” he asks quietly. I nod and tilt my head toward him, welcoming the soft sensation of his lips against mine. He pulls away far too soon.
“I thought I wasn’t going to see you until tomorrow.”
He smiles shyly and drops the roses from shielding me. I know he did it so Evelyn wouldn’t see us kiss, and I love him a little bit more for that.