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My father was quiet, but he didn’t seem terribly happy. We got my father’s picture taken and soon we were boarding our flight. He complained about that, and we both ignored him off. There was nothing we could do but just pretend to be normal people. I had the feeling we were being watched, but I could only rely on Jack to be fully aware of our surroundings.
For my part, I did my best. If someone even looked suspicious, I would point them out.
“See that guy?” I said.
Jack pushed my arm down. “It’s rude to point. Want me to go talk to him?”
I looked wide eyed at him.
My father had his head buried in a pillow, and I wanted to sleep so bad. Being on the plane with regular people was an experience he didn’t want to be a part of, but I was more concerned about any dangers.
Jack seemed to have read my mind. “It’s a long flight. I’ll be up for quite a while. Why don’t you get some rest?”
“You don’t want me to stay up with you?” I was a little hurt that he wanted me to sleep.
Jack could tell. “No,” he said. “You need your rest, in case anything happens. Besides we’re in the air now, so if anything were to happen, it would have already. Or will when we land.”
I gulped.
Jack put his arm around me. “You’re safe,” he said.
And with that, I was out on his shoulder, dreaming tumultuous dreams and feeling particularly uncomfortable. Still, I slept, and when I awoke, the plane’s lights were dimmed for the night. I looked to Jack, who seemed just as alert as he had before. The flight was long, but with Jack there, I knew it would be worth it. We were headed back to Thailand, but when I asked Jack about our new lives, he just told me to wait.
“You’ll see,” he said.
I kissed him and went back to sleep. I only woke again when we landed. Both my father and I were wide awake, while Jack was beginning to show signs of exhaustion. He was still the leader of our pack, and he didn’t falter.
Father was in a mood. “Those seats were the worst,” he was saying. “I can’t believe this is how poor people live.”
Several people around us getting off the plane gave him angry looks, and I had to do something. I managed to pull him aside into a row of seats. “You almost died, Daddy. Shut up. We can’t attract too much attention, remember?”
Daddy nodded, thought he still looked miffed, and we made our way outside of the airport.
“Did you get us a ride at least?” he asked Jack.
Jack grunted. He lifted his hand, and whistled at the nearest cab. A driver pulled up, speaking fast to us in a foreign language.
“Oh dear,” my father complained.
It was funny to watch him try to blend in with normal people, because every little thing was new to him. He didn’t like much of it, and I was grateful that I didn’t have the same spoiled attitude he did. All that mattered to me now was living a calm life, away from all the danger, and raising my baby. I had to get through this pregnancy though, and my baby bump was getting bigger. We got through the cab ride without much happening, and Jack took care to make sure the driver wasn’t offended by my father’s disgust. Jack and the driver spoke to each other in the driver’s native language.
“What are they saying?” Father asked.
“I don’t know, but they seem to be getting along,” I said.
The driver was laughing as Jack talked. We were leaving the city, headed towards the countryside. Lush green was everywhere and after a while of being on the main road, we ended up on dirt paths. I recognized them from when we were here last time. Our driver pulled up to the house, and I shrieked with joy. Even daddy was impressed.
“I thought we were only going to stay here, temporarily?” I said.
“We were,” Jack said. “But the thing is, when Aaron and I met up at the temple, I figured I’d ask him if he had any connections to the owner.”
“So?” I asked.
“So,” Jack put his hands out. “We own the place.”
“With my money,” my father insisted. “I own it.”
“No,” Jack corrected. “I had to charge you a rescue fee. Don’t worry, you’ll get an invoice from Aaron soon.”
