* * *
The cloudless sky seemed to go on forever. Three-year-old Evangeline stared out the tiny window wishing she was back in their grandmother’s house; her little hand shook in her sister’s. The lingering smell of the Christmas dinner they’d had the day before still clung to the air when they left for the airport.
Instead of cereal, she had begged her grandmother for a sandwich with turkey, dressing, and cranberry sauce. She had never had the jelly before, and she hadn’t wanted to eat it at first, but it was now the most wonderful thing in the world to her. It tasted just like Christmas.
If her sister hadn’t managed to talk their parents into them going alone to visit their grandmother, so they would be able to experience a real Christmas with snow and presents, she wouldn’t have ever known that dark cherry jelly tasted so good. She wanted to live with her grandmother forever so she could eat it every day.
The visit had been so short that the brightly decorated tree was still standing when they left that morning. Her sister had to tug her away from the tree as their grandmother waited impatiently by the door.
“We have to go.”
Staring up at the blinking star on top of the tree, Evangeline had wanted to fall to the floor and beg her to let them stay longer. Catching the worried glance her sister gave their grandmother, she had allowed herself to be led away.
“It’s going to be okay. Don’t be afraid.”
Pressing her trembling lips together, Evangeline turned away from the small window to look at Trudy. Her sister never lied to her, so if she said it was going to be okay, it would be. Then, why was she so scared?
Her stomach lurched as the plane she was in jerked suddenly. Gripping her sister’s hand tighter, she bit her lip to keep from yelling out.
“It’s going to be okay.”
Squeezing her eyes tightly closed at the repeated reassurance, she tried hard not to cry. “I’m scared. I don’t want to play our game anymore.”
She felt her sister shift as close to her as the armrest would allow.
“You have to, Evangeline. Snow White didn’t want to run away. She was scared at first, too, but she had a happy ending, didn’t she?”
“I guess so,” Evangeline reluctantly mumbled, trying not to cry. “I want to stay with you.”
“You can’t. If I go with you, the mean king and queen will find you.”
The only good part about the game that Trudy had talked her into playing was that she wouldn’t have to see their parents again. They scared her. They scared everyone. Even Manny, who was older and stronger than her.
“Don’t cry.”
She opened her eyes at her sister’s voice. Trudy looked like she also wanted to cry.
“I won’t.”
“You promised me to be brave.”
Nodding her head at her sister’s reminder, she forced herself to let go of her sister’s hand. “I’ll be brave.” Out of all the promises that Trudy had begged her to swear to during their trip, this one scared her the most. She didn’t want to break her promises. Trudy had told her what could happen if she did.
“I know you will be. I will, too.”
Her big sister being just as scared helped calm her rolling stomach. Evangeline didn’t want her sister to be afraid. It made her sad, and she didn’t want Trudy to start crying again like she had last night. She heard the sounds of her crying in the small bed that they shared together after her grandmother tucked them in and turned the light out.
A movement from the front of the plane had her grabbing her sister’s hand again. Terror filled her when the man rose from his seat and moved toward them.
Placing a hand on the back of Trudy’s seat, he leaned over them and adjusted their seatbelts. “You girls ready?”
Evangeline could barely hear him over the sound of the engine, so she looked at her sister, then mimicked Trudy’s nod.
“When I yell, now, I want you to hold your breath and close your eyes tightly.” His eyes pinned her in place, his direct gaze making it difficult to swallow down the panic that had her wanting to cry again. “You’re going to hear a lot of scary sounds, but you won’t be under water long before someone will help you. I’m not going to let either of you get hurt.”
Evangeline found the tight knot of fear easing at the man’s assurance.
“I’m not afraid.” Her voice came out so squeaky that Evangeline had to clear her throat. “I’m not afraid.”
The pilot’s expression softened. “Trudy said you wouldn’t be.”
Evangeline’s eyes watered when he pressed the palm of his hand down on Trudy’s head to lower it to her knees. Seeing that he was about to do the same to her, she forestalled him by doing it herself. She was shaking so badly that she was glad he tightened her seatbelt, afraid she would have slipped out of her seat if he hadn’t.