Page 49 of Animal Beats

“How much longer?”

Ashley, the flight attendant, replies, “We should be there in about an hour.” Sensing my nerves, she places her hand on my arm. “Let me get you both a cup of tea.”

Leg bouncing, I look from my cell to the tablet to the window and back. Cell. Tablet. Window. Cell. Tablet. Window.

“Alright, Babysitter. Talk.”

I turn my head to the intruder on this trip. “About what?”

“About what the hell’s got you so spooked.”

Guess I can’t delay any longer. “I need to get to my sister.”

“Excuse me?”

“Mila’s school called this morning.” I pause. “Mila’s my sister.”

He blinks and looks to the ceiling. “I figured.”

At a loss about how to respond, I simply say, “She needs me.”

“Did the strap on her sandal break? Her pen run out of ink? How about, she wanted advice on the right skirt to wear on a date?”

Ashely arrives with our drinks, which she places on the table. “Tea always cures whatever’s ailing you.” When neither one of us says anything, she puts a plate of cookies next to the mugs and leaves.

Río doesn’t know my sister. I never explained to him about her. Given how his parents are, I can only imagine how poorly his sister has been brought up. This one thought gives me the courage to explain. “You’re wrong. Mila’s a great little sister.”

He rolls his eyes. “Got one of them too, remember?”

“Mila’s not like that. She has”—I reach for the tea and take a healthy swallow. Putting it down, I continue, “Down syndrome.” I suck in all the air on the plane and rush forward. “I think I already told you that my parents got pregnant with her when I was eight. The whole family was elated. I was included on every doctor visit, including the one where we learned she was going to have this genetic condition.”

His hand lands on top of mine. “Hayden. I didn’t know.”

I nod. “It didn’t matter to my parents and, therefore, to me. Mila was special. Mom used to say when you love someone, you take on their burdens.”

I sniffle. “When Mila was born, I wore a t-shirt that said, ‘I’m the Big Sister.’ We were all so proud.”

“Sounds wonderful.”

Lost in my memories, I continue. “Mila’s a good kid. She has some health issues, which we always addressed. As she got older, though, it was more difficult for her to stay in our local school system, especially when she has one of her episodes. The Haverford School has been a godsend. Expensive, but still amazing with Mila. She loves it there.”

“Is that where she is now?”

“Yeah.” Río doesn’t need to hear about all my financial worries. How my parents’ insurance is almost gone, and how much I need UC’s job to keep Mila at the school. What her next steps will be once she ages out of Haverford next year and how I’ll pay for it. Right now, her tuition’s covered and she’s in good hands.

Río sips his tea. “What happened this morning?”

I pick up a cookie. “Once or twice a year, Mila gets into this state, I guess you’d call it. No one at the school can get her to focus. She acts out, hits people, and cannot be controlled. When my parents were alive, they would go to her right away and calm her down. At the beginning of your US-leg of their tour, I had to make an emergency run there. I hoped she would be calm for the European leg.” I drop the cookie on the plate. “Guess I was wrong.”

“Hey.” Río’s finger lifts my chin. “You did everything you could to make Mila comfortable while you were away, didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

He smiles, kindness emanating all the way from his brown eyes. “And you’re going to see her now.”

“Thanks for lending me your jet.”

His hand flips. “No biggie. My jet is your jet.”