While Somee made sure Rylee was dressed and had what she needed for the flight, I loaded their things into the car. There were five suitcases in all, which had me optimistic that Someewas sticking to the plan to stay for a while. I was hopeful that at least one of those belonged to her.
Neither of them said much to me on the drive. It was mostly Somee prepping Rylee for the flight. With me trying to focus on driving while watching their hands moving, I only caught bits and pieces of what they discussed but enough to know Rylee was asking about seating on the plane. She wanted the window seat, and based on my method of travel, she would get exactly what she wanted. They both would.
After a stop at a drive-thru to grab breakfast, we made the twenty-minute drive to the airport, where I had someone waiting to return the rental so I wouldn’t have to deal with it.
Rylee seemed content, taking it all in as she held Somee’s hand, smiling alongside her, seemingly happy. I hated that I was jealous of the bond between the two of them but it was hard not to be ’cause Somee was more of a sister to Rylee than I was a brother. She knew everything about her. Her moods, her wants and needs, anticipating them so she could adjust and make this transition smooth. I appreciated having her but found myself feeling detached from their world when I wanted entry bad as hell.
“Why are we going in through here?”Somee signed with a scowl when we reached the private entrance to the security station for chartered flights.
“This is where our plane is.”
Her frown deepened and I signed, “Trust me.”
She did as I asked and we moved through the FBO security check in a matter of minutes since all they did was check our IDs and do a quick scan of the bags we were bringing on board. After we were done, we were taken to a golf cart that drove us to the jet I’d chartered for the trip home.
“We’re flying private?”Somee signed after we reached the aircraft.
“Didn’t you demand first class for your first flight?”
She rolled her eyes and signed, “This is an upgrade from first class. I don’t have to be a frequent flyer to know that.”
I grinned. “True, but with everything going on, I figured it was best. No cameras grabbing pictures of us that will hit the blogs with stories about my secret lovechild.”
With the lingering reputation of how I ran through women, a lovechild would be the first assumption. One picture with the three of us and everyone would assume Somee was Rylee’s mother and I was the unsuspecting father who’d just found out about the child she’d kept from me. She and I had no history, so there was no connection to be made other than that. The media loved a good scandal, so factual or not, they would run with it.
She grinned.“Right. I keep forgetting who you are.”
I was the first one off the golf cart and lifted Rylee from the seat. As soon as she was on her feet, her little hands were moving.“Is this our plane?”
Even if Somee wasn’t happy, my sister was. I decided to work with that.“It is. You like it?”
She nodded with a smile.“Can I go see inside?”
“Yes. Let’s go.”I reached for her hand and she accepted, skipping along beside me as we made our way to the stairs.
“Welcome, M-R P-A-R-K-S. We’re honored to have you flying with us today. M-S C-O-L-E, I’m A-N-N-A. I’ll be in flight with you today,”the attendant signed as she addressed me and Somee.
“Thank you.”
She kneeled toward Rylee.“And you, pretty lady, must be R-Y-L-E-E.”Rylee nodded and offered her arbitrary name, signing an R with her index and middle finger waving near her shoulder, as if flapping wings.
“Nice to meet you, Rylee. I’m A-N-N-A.”She spoke the words and signed also.“Would you like a tour?”
“Yes,”Rylee signed, grinning giddily.
The two of them climbed the stairs and Somee turned toward me.“You arranged to have A-N-N-A?”
“Yes, figured it might help. I want both of you to feel comfortable whenever possible.”
“That was sweet. Thank you.”
“See, I’m not the bad guy.”
“I never said you were.”
“But you thought it,”I signed and she shrugged.
“Maybe.”