When Secrets Unfold

Chapter 1: A Fresh Start

"Please fasten your seat belts, put all trays in the upright position, and turn off all electronic devices, folks. We're gonna descend for landing in about an hour." The pilot said over the speakers on the plane.

I sighed and looked at my sleeping four year old in the seat beside me. Her dark curls falling over her freckled cheeks, her chest softly rising and falling as she slept. I smiled down at her for a moment before looking out the window. The clouds looked beautiful as the sun sank below them towards horizon. They were so fluffy and glowing a soft, orange with hints of purple and yellow in various places. The sky itself was a brilliant reddish orange that transitioned to pink, then purple, then a dark blue. Stars were just barely visible at this point in the evening. 

My mind wandered to my brother. It's been so long since I've seen him. I was nervous about how he'll react to me having a child even more nervous about how he'll react knowing her father isn't in the picture. My brother, Travis, was always so protective of me and has wanted nothing but the best for me ever since our parents passed away. He quit school and got a full time and a part time job to take care of me when he was only sixteen years old. Since we didn't have money for a car or for him to even get his drivers license, he skateboarded everywhere. He was really good at it too, if I do say so myself. So good, he landed himself a deal with some skate company out in L.A and moved there after I went off to college. 

Things weren't perfect back then, but they were certainly better than what they are now.

"What a beautiful little girl." An elderly woman sitting in the seat next to me said, breaking my train of thought.

I smiled warmly at her and glanced at my daughter. "Thank you."

"How old is she?" She inquired.

"She'll be five in a couple of months." I responded quietly, trying not to wake Zella or be rude to this lady. I wasn't really in the mood to talk right now though, especially not to a stranger, even if it was about my baby.

"How sweet." She gushed softly.

"Please put all seats and trays in their upright position, put away all electronic devices, and put everything on the floors as we about to land in L.A.." An overly cheerful flight attendant said from somewhere near the front of the plane.

I silently thanked them for interrupting the lady next to me. She was sweet but, as I said before, I wasn't exactly in the mood to talk.

Leaning over, I brushed Zella's hair back and kissed her forehead. Her long, dark eyelashes fluttered open to reveal her bright hazel eyes.

"Mumma?" Her little voice was laced with exhaustion.

"We're gonna land soon, my love. We have to put your seat up and buckle your seat bealt." I said gently.

She nodded and, with a big yawn, sat up and allowed me to strap her in properly. Once I got her settled in, she fell back asleep. I laughed softly, wishing I could fall asleep as fast as my girl.

Once the plane landed and I had gotten all of our baggage squared away, I started to look for the car rental place. Carrying Zella in one arm and our bags in the other, I wandered around the airport for what felt like hours. By the time I found the right place, it was around 10:30 and I was beyond exhausted. Luckily Zella was still asleep, it made things a little easier on me in the long run.

"Hi!" A friendly representative said from behind the counter of the booth. "I'm Brice. How can help you, tonight?"

Brice was a shorter guy, with light blue hair neatly styled upward in the front and a silver stud in his nose. He smiled brightly at me then looked to Zella. She was fast asleep on my hip, her head resting on my shoulder as her hair fell over her face once again.