The Finding Tree

Chapter 12 - The Memory

"Mama, I'm so excited to see you!"

"I know, Janey... I'm looking forward to seeing you too."

"My plane leaves at seven, tomorrow, that means I'll arrive before lunch, will you be at the airport to pick me up?"

"I don't know, hun... we may have Richard's driver meet you, his Holiday Brunch, Meet and Greet for the Foundation may take a while longer than that. We'll see you back home, for sure."

Marcie's voice sounded bright and forced. I had a bad feeling in the back of my throat but ignored my pessimism, for once.

"Okay mama, I understand... have you seen dad, do you know how he is?"

Marcie scoffed, "I haven't seen or heard from Tom since the judge made him show up in court. Oh! Richard's back, I should get off the phone. See you tomorrow Janey."

"Bye mama, I love..."
But the dial tone already buzzed in my ear.

Setting the handset of my new cordless phone slowly back in its charging cradle, I felt confused...this was winter break. I was fourteen now, we didn't spend Thanksgiving together. Wasn't she excited to see me?

But overnight my fears were overruled by sheer enthusiasm. I was ready by five a.m. Half an hour later a knock at my door revealed a beaming Miko with a steaming cup in his hand. He was my ride to the airport again.

"Good morning Miss Janey! Are you excited to go home for the holidays?"

Bouncing on the balls of my feet, I grinned back at him. My parka rustled rhythmically with each bounce.

"So excited!!"

"Really? I couldn't tell. He twinkled at me. "Just this one bag?"

"Yes, I still have some clothes at home!"

He picked it up and started talking. "I stopped to get a coffee, yeah, because it's still so early... why'd you have such an early flight Miss Janey? Can't you tell I need my beauty sleep to make sure I stay handsome?"

He took off his hat and smoothed his palm over his shiny bald head, giving me the opportunity to giggle openly at him.

"Anyway, I thought maybe Miss Janey would need help waking up too, but you're all happy and bouncy, yeah? Maybe you don't need a hot cocoa with marshmallows?!"

"You bought me a drink?" I stopped bouncing. My eyes got big and my jaw dropped a bit.

"It's not a big thing, yeah... No trouble to pick up two drinks instead of one."

Handing the paper cup of cocoa to me, I took a tentative sip, and smiled wider than I had in a long time.

"It's so good, thank you!"

He shuffled a bit, and waved me aside. Mumbling something I couldn't understand he turned away.

He carried my bag in one meaty fist, as I locked my door and swung my backpack over my shoulder. Then he waited as I checked out with the Residence Hall office, and took me out to his older Chevy Caprice cab.

I slowly sipped the warm drink as the sun started lightening the horizon. My smile and happiness warmed with the coming day. I was going home.

He loaded my case chatting my ears off with questions about school, friends, food, teachers, even boys. The man was relentless, but I had to smile at his effort to keep me smiling and engaged. He had proven to be the best surprise about this whole experience so far, plus he stayed with me at the check in line at the airport, like an over-protective uncle or something.

"You have your ticket, yeah?"

I reached in my pocket and pulled out the bent card stock boarding pass for my flight when the loudspeaker at the terminal started fuzzily announcing something. My head snapped though as I heard my name.

"Jane Cameron, please report to the United Airlines service desk for an urgent phone call."

Repeated twice the announcer cut the sound, and the blur of voices, wheeled suitcases, and muffled roar of engines took over again.

Miko softly touched my shoulder pulling me out of the frozen stance I was in and smiled kindly.

"Janey let's go find that desk, yeah?"

I wound my way through the terminal to the United service desk, Miko trailing behind. Standing there, the attendant seemed to know who I was, and sweetly introduced herself.

"Are you Miss Cameron? I have your mother on the line. If you'd like to take the call around back here, we have a seat by the desk. I'm Sandy if you have any questions, I'll be right over there."

Picking up the handset, I put it to my ear, I knew I would sound shaky and pitiful, but I had no way to stop it.

"Mama?"