America
The hum of the plane’s engine almost stirred Rai to sleep, despite the peat coals in her stomach. Once the decision to go had been made they hadn’t wasted any time in getting the tickets. They’d gone to see Ean’s mother, Fenella and left from Glasgow, with a layover in London. Her soul felt like an eggshell, cracked and letting yolk escape, but not quite completely open yet. However the feeling pressed harder and harder on her the closer they got to New York. Fifteen years was a long time to be away from anything, but the peace and cool of the Scottish Highlands could not compare to the heat and steam of the city. Or the memories. Her last memory of New York was by far her happiest and even it was fraught with anxiety and fear and now as she watched the most beautiful skyline in the world appearing through the foggy haze of dawn that Rai allowed even that last New York memory to flow back into her mind, as Dougal snored his little baby snore in her ear. Fifteen years ago, her hair had been to her waist and a shiny golden blond.
The long length’s of it twisted into a pretty crown braid by her foster sister, was her name Mary? Mae? Rai was ashamed that she could no longer remember.
“You won’t tell.” Rai asked the other girl as she stuffed her passport and a few clothes into an overnight bag. “Promise.” She’d pressed and the girl’s eyes watered as she continued to braid her waist length hair.
“I Promise, Raisin.” She whispered and not for the first time in all those years did Rai wonder what trouble the other girl had gotten into for covering for her. Her fosters thought she was going on a weekend trip to the city with school. Assured, but knowing what she was doing was illegal and wrong, Rai knew it was now or never. This moment, Ean and Scotland were her last chance to get away. With her hair tied into it’s intricate braid, Rai raced down the stairs of that tiny white house. Her plan was to go through the kitchen and out the back door before anyone noticed. Just her luck the foster mother was awake early on a Saturday. The new baby was fussing and the foster was feeding it. Rai remembered her as old she and the foster father usually took in the older kids, like her and the girl she shared her room with. They’d taken in Mississippi because Rai insisted and the baby was just temporary.
“Don’t you look pretty, I’m glad you like your dress.” Said the foster mother, trying despite herself. For the last five years that woman had tried, so calm and patient and Rai never had a word for her. Knowing perhaps that today was the last time she would see the woman Rai looked her in the eye.
“Thank you, Donna.” She turned away from the shocked expression in the woman’s eyes and the sad ones of her foster sister. She was at the back door almost gone when a voice called out to her from the living room. Catching her before she burst out the back door to freedom. Rai froze, planting a happy smile on her face. The secret one; the one she knew her brother would recognize.
“When’ll you be home, sissy?” he asked rubbing the sleep from his eyes looking up at her. He stopped cold when he looked at her; a frown puckering his brow. He knew her face was a lie and for one second Rai considered grabbing him and taking him with her. Something in her said that Ean wouldn’t mind; but she knew that was kidnapping and kidnapping was different from running away. She was eighteen in six weeks anyway. They wouldn’t look too hard for her. But for Mississippi they would turn over the earth. He was still adoptable.
“Oh, soon little man.” she answered, holding tight to her bag, her passport and the money saved from her babysitting and summer jobs tucked tightly into it. The foster mother was busy with the baby; she did not notice the tension between them.
“But when?” he insisted.
“Monday, okay? I’ll be back on a Monday.” she lied and her brother smiled and threw his tiny arms around her legs. “Promise, sissy?” he said as he held on to her, prying him off and Rai got down on her knees.
“I promise, Mississippi, I’ll be home on a Monday.” She still remembered the smile that lit up his baby face before he turned to go back to watching cartoons.
“Have fun.” Called the foster mother as she poured more cereal and then Rai was gone she dashed out the door and gotten on the bus. It took longer than she thought to get to the city on the bus and she prayed Ean would still be there waiting. She ran from the bus stop to the steps of the courthouse, her well worn white flats skidding against the pavement, her heart beating so hard she knew even these indifferent New Yorkers could see it trying to pop through her dress. Tendrils of hair loosened in the glorious braid as she stood on tiptoe looking for Ean.
Ean stood in an ill fitting dark suit, holding one white rose tied with a pink ribbon. She knew she was late and she rushed up to him.
“Sorry. I got tied up.” She said and he drew her into his arms.
“Thought you’d changed your mind, bonny.” He smiled. “Never.” She said, smiling back.
“Ready?” He asked, giving her the rose. She smiled then, her false smile, the one that didn’t fool her brother, but dazzled Ean.
“Yes.” She said taking his arm and from the crowd his American friend from the internship, Robin and his girlfriend, came along as witnesses. They waited in line with all the others, some in tuxes and wedding dresses, other dressed like them in simple attire, others in jeans and teeshirts. They stood before the judge and said their vows and a bubble of joy, one that Rai had never felt, exploded in her chest when they were pronounced husband and wife. They made their way to a little cafe just down from the courthouse to celebrate, and Robin had snapped a picture on a Polaroid; the only picture of their wedding day.
The next day they left for Scotland and in the fifteen years since they’d never returned. Until now. She could see the new skyline, different from what it was when she left the city. So much had happened, both to New York and to her in the intervening years that Rai wasn’t sure either, her or the city of her birth would ever completely heal.
“Ma’am he’ll need to be strapped in, we’re coming in to land soon.” the kind faced stewardess reminded her and Rai hissed at Ean. He shot awake at the sound. “Take the lad.” she whispered and Ean lifted the sleeping toddler from her chest.
“Tis been a bit since we’ve taken this trip, hasn’t it bonny.” Ean yawned, settling the sleeping child into his own seat and strapping him in.
“Aye and I already miss, home.” Rai spat over Dougal’s sleeping head. “Let’s fight after we’ve slept in a bed for about 12 hours, bonny.” Ean groaned.