Chapter One
“Rosie, hurry up! We can’t miss our flight,” Mira yelled while tying her shoe laces.
“I’m ready now, Mom.” Six-year-old Rosie Cullen entered the bedroom moments later. Her pink and white back-pack hung sturdily across a pink, short-sleeved blouse with frilly sleeves. Blue jeans slackly covered her legs and matching pink tennis shoes snuggled her tiny feet. Her black, medium-length candy curls glistened from the extra spiff of her mother’s oil sheen. “See, Mom, we look just alike now, except for your blouse— it’s blue. I told you pink is fancier.”
Mira smiled. “You’re probably right, Rosie, but Mom didn’t have any pink blouse like yours. Sorry.” She stood up. “All set?”
“All set!”
“Perfect! Let’s go, then.” Mira grabbed the two carry-ons as Rosie led the way to the front door.
Abruptly, the little girl stopped and looked back at her mother. “Is Uncle Wade coming too?”
“I’m afraid not, honey.”
“Well, who will I play with at Nana and Pops’ house? I’ll be so bored. Why can’t Uncle Wade send Tommy?” She sulked.
Mira crouched down to her daughter’s level. “Your Uncle Wade and Aunt Norma are very busy at the hospital right now. They couldn’t break away to fly up the same time as we are and they won’t send Tommy on the plane alone.”
“So when will we ever see them again? I miss them!” Rosie’s big, brown eyes had a tinge of sadness in them.
“I’m sure we’ll see them soon. Maybe we’ll take a trip down there to The Bahamas one weekend or they can come here to L.A. How’d you like that?” Mira hoped the proposition would excite the child.
“That sounds neat, Mom!” Rosie’s mood suddenly elevated. “Okay, let’s go.” She opened the door and headed outside toward the waiting cab.
Passing the champagne-colored Mitsubishi parked in the driveway in front of their white condominium, Rosie asked: “Why can’t we take our own car to the airport, Mom?”
“Because I don’t want to have to yank my hair out from the hefty fee I’d have to pay when we get back, honey.”
“Good morning, Ma’am.” The driver was standing next to the cab. He was of slim build; had a prickly beard and dirty-blonde hair tied into a ponytail. Looked like he was well into his fifties.
“Good morning.” Mira smiled back, then looked at Rosie.
“Good morning, sir,” she said.
“I’ll get that for you.” The driver quickly opened the back door and Rosie climbed inside.
“Thanks for coming,” Mira said to him.
“My pleasure.” He took the luggage and placed them in the trunk.
Mira slid inside next to Rosie as the little girl prissily positioned herself onto the leather seat.
“You look beautiful, Mom.”
“And so do you, my little princess.” Mira tucked back the child’s hair.
The cab driver got in and started the engine. He cleared his throat and glanced back at Mira through the rear-view mirror. “All set?” He asked.
Mira’s eyes met his. “Yes, we are.”
They were on their way.
“Mom, can I sit by the window?” Rosie asked excitedly.
“Excuse me,” a young man said as he brushed past Mira and Rosie who had just arrived at their appointed row.
“Sure honey, you can sit at the window,” Mira answered.
Rosie quickly went through and climbed onto the seat. After resting her backpack on top of her lap, she buckled her own seat belt, then eagerly peered out of the window.
“Those men look like ants down there,” she remarked.
“No, they don’t!” Mira laughed as she fastened her seat-belt. “We haven’t lifted off yet. How can they look like ants from this short distance?”
“Well, they do to me!” Rosie returned.
“My goodness… what beautiful hair you have, little girl!” An elderly lady commented as she was slowly passing by.
“Thank you, Ma’am!” Rosie shifted proudly in her seat, pressing her lips together as if she were the queen of that flying castle.
“She seems rather classy too.” The lady bent down slightly toward Mira; voice lowered.
“She does. Doesn’t she?” Mira grinned.
Smiling, the nice stranger continued on to one of the back rows.
“Can I put that into the overhead compartment for you?” a beautifully-attired attendant asked. She was referring to Rosie’s backpack.
“Does she have to take it, Mom?” Rosie pouted.
“You can put it under your seat instead. Would you prefer that?” The lady offered.
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“I’ll take it for you,” Mira reached over and placed it under Rosie’s seat as the flight attendant walked off.
Everyone sat quietly as the plane revved for the take-off.
“Ready?” Mira asked Rosie who was looking out the window again. By then, the tarmac was clear.
“Yes, I’m ready. I’m ready to see Nana and Pops again. Are you ready?”
Mira could not recall Rosie’s smile being any cuter.
“Yes. We’re going to have a great time there. Mom and Dad are so excited to see you again.”
“I’m excited to see them too!”
As the plane took off and smoothly elevated into the clear, blue sky, Mira looked over at the ground below.
“Everything down there looks like ants now, don’t it?” Rosie turned to her mother.
“Yes, honey.”
After a few moments, Mira rested her head on the head-rest. As she shut her eyes, her life in recent years suddenly flashed before her. Before long, she successfully blocked it all out and drifted off into a dreamless sleep.
