by S. E. Rose
“We’ll go see her in the morning,” my mom says sleepily. Clearly, they have been given pain meds as both of them fight to keep their eyes open. It’s dinner time now. Both Nick and my mom have IV bags. Jack shakes his head as a nurse argues that he should have one too. He climbs over to the chair by my mom, but I talk him into lying in a bed. Lance and Cody help push the beds closer, so he can reach out and hold my mom’s hand. There’s a fourth bed next to Nick’s and Lance suggests that I sleep in it with him and Cody can sleep in the chairs. There are four chairs. I make Lance get in my bed, and I lie on top of him. Cody sits in one chair and puts his feet on another while using the third chair to prop up his middle. Even though it looks totally uncomfortable, I know he’s not going anywhere. We are all tired, dirty, and hungry, but it isn’t long before we are all asleep, the events of the day are just too much for us to struggle with now that the adrenaline rushes have subsided.
I wake to sun pouring through a window. I’m momentarily disoriented. At first, I think perhaps I am at the house from yesterday, as Lance lies underneath me just like yesterday. I squirm, and the bed is unfamiliar. I open my eyes, squinting from the light. I see a curtain half-pulled closed. I open my eyes wider and see that I’m in the hospital. And then everything comes back to me.
I pop up and look around. Nick is asleep in the bed next to us. His body sprawled out. His casted leg to one side and his other leg half-off the bed. I smile. He always slept in crazy positions when we were little. Some things never change. I look over and see my mom fast sleep in Jack’s arms. He must have crawled out of bed in the night and into hers. Then I realize Cody is in Jack’s bed. I smile again. Jack must have given it to Cody. I look up at Lance. He’s still sleeping. My heart melts as I watch his chest rise and fall with each breath. He’s covered in soot, but he still looks like a million bucks. I love him. Oh my God, I love him! I try to settle my thoughts. How did I miss this? When did I fall for him? I think back and realize it was that first night we slept together in the Galapagos. I smile again to myself and lay my head back on his chest, listening to his heart beating beneath me.
Lance stirs under me. I look up, and our eyes meet.
“Good morning, gorgeous,” he says with a yawn. I lean up and kiss him.
“Good morning,” I answer, my mind still thick with thoughts.
I hear Jack stirring across the room and then my mom. They whisper to each other. I smile up at Lance and he smiles back at me. Cody wakes up too. He gets up and walks out of the room. Nick is still sleeping. Nick could sleep through anything. It’s actually quite amazing.
Cody comes back a few minutes later and announces that Zoe’s doing better and starting to wake up from her drug-induced sleep. Her vitals are strong, and they may be able to move her out of the ICU today. Nick finally wakes up as Cody is talking.
Cody sits down and takes a breath. I know we need to talk. We all need to talk before we get barraged with police, news people, and others who will likely want to question them about the crash.
“So, what happened?” I ask, realizing that we have all been so focused on making sure everyone is OK that no one has talked about it.
My mom sits up and looks at me. I can tell she doesn’t want to talk about it. “When Nick said he was coming here, I had contemplated coming with him, but I wanted to give you both time with your grandparents. Then, when everything happened with you, Lily, which by the way, you are next with the storytelling, we all jumped on board the next flight and came here as soon as possible. Aunt Kristen, Rob, and Uncle Jesse wanted to be here too, but they just couldn’t arrange it on such short notice. Anyhow, everything was going fine. We got down here and got on the plane to Ibague. We weren’t more than fifteen or twenty minutes into the flight when something happened to the left engine. It sounded like an explosion of some kind and then we were just falling. The pilot told us to brace ourselves for impact. He actually did quite a good job of landing it considering we only had one engine. We were very lucky that we weren’t high up and there was a field to land in since we had just cleared the mountain. We landed hard and we all got tossed about, and the left wing, well, I guess it got ripped off in the impact because when we got out of the plane we notice there was fire everywhere. It looks like it’s been dry, and the vegetation just went up in flames. Many of us were stuck in our seats as things got moved around on impact and it was hard to get out of the plane. I’m really not sure if anyone was killed. We helped a few people around us get out and then Lance and Cody were there. They were there so quickly it seemed, but it was probably thirty or so minutes after the crash maybe an hour, I really don’t have a clue,” my mom says and pauses trying to remember other things. She throws her hands in the air. “I can’t really remember anything else. Brain…”
“I know, I know brain damage,” I say with a small smile. “God, you guys are so lucky to be alive.”
“Your turn,” she says.
I take a deep breath because it’s quite a story. “Well, I…” I realize I’m not sure where to begin.
I clear my throat and start again. “I had set up an appointment at the hospital where we were born to search for our records. I ran into Lance, who Zoe and I had met with his brother, Cody, on our trip to the Galapagos. Cody’s working in Ibague on a project, and Lance tagged along. Anyhow, I found our original birth certificate and that led me on this crazy search for more information. I learned about how our mom died, how she got pregnant, that we have grandparents. God, I don’t even know where to begin,” I look at my mom and she gives me a small smile of encouragement.
“Our biological mother was raped by a priest,” I decide to dive straight to the heart of the story, and I see my mom’s face cringe at this statement. “She died giving birth to us. Our father has a twin brother who found out and tried to hide my mom along with some nuns when they found out she was pregnant, but our father found her and tried to take her away. She escaped and I’m guessing went into early labor with us and somehow got to the hospital. Our father was also working in human trafficking. He was selling orphans, making it look like they had run away. I had noticed kids running away all the time at the orphanage, and when I found a nun who knew about this, I put things together. Then, one of the last nights I was at the orphanage, I couldn’t sleep. I saw some men carrying a child out front and I called Lance. They must have figured out I was awake and came for me. They knocked me out and the next thing I knew I was in a room in a small villa up on the mountain. There were four children in the room with me. My father was there, and he confirmed what I already knew about him. He locked me up, and I managed to escape and get the children free. They ran down the mountain and made it to my uncle’s church. I waited and saw Mohammed, who is working with Cody. He’s the one my father is selling children to.” I pause and take a breath. “You won’t believe it, but my father had been working with Alexei.” I stop when I hear my mother gasp, and Jack’s eyes widen. “I know I couldn’t believe it either. When Alexei died, I guess they started selling to Mohammed. I managed to get away. I heard gunshots, so I have no idea if either of them is dead or alive. Mohammed had just left, so I imagine it was not him. I fell running down the mountain. But I managed to get to the church. And that’s where Lance found me. I got patched up, we stayed at a rented villa, and then before I knew it we were getting a call about your plane in the morning before I even had time to process what had just happened on the mountain.”
“Jesus, Lil,” my brother says. “You certainly know how to put yourself right in the middle of the drama.”
“F off Nick,” I say to him with a glare. He puts his hands up.
“Sorry, I just mean it seems like you can’t escape these crazy things that keep happening,” he says apologetically.
“You’re one to talk, plane crash survivor,” I say to him and then leap out of bed and hug him. I pull back and give him a hard look. “Don’t ever, ever scare me like that again. Do you hear me?”
He grins. “I was planning
on skydiving, but I think falling out of the sky in the plane is enough for me for a lifetime.”
“Not funny,” I say sternly, poking a finger at his chest.
“Too soon?” He smirks.
I shove him and then kiss his cheek. “You’re an ass.”
I walk over to my mom and she wraps her arms around me and we just stay there, her on the bed and me standing as we hold each other. “I’m so sorry, Lilypond, so sorry. I wish you’d been talking to me,” she says. “I knew you needed your space, but to keep all this to yourself…”
“I know, Mom. I’m sorry. I was just so mad that you were keeping things from me about my past, and I realize you weren’t doing it on purpose. You know how I can be. I just needed time and then everything got so crazy and well…” I trail off and look at her.
“It’s OK. We are all alive and here and everything is going to be OK,” she says. “We really ought to call people. I’m sure everyone is freaking out.”
I pull my phone from my pocket. I have five percent battery left, and I realize I’ve had it on silent. I’ve missed about fourteen calls and thirty text messages. “Shit,” I huff. “Here, Mom, use my phone. But hurry because my battery is almost dead.”
My mom calls a bunch of people, leaving about ten voice messages. I take the phone from her and call my grandparents, who are so relieved to hear everyone is OK even though they had no clue what had happened. I even call and leave a message for my biological uncle.
“I guess I should go look for a charger,” I say as my battery officially goes dead.
“Here, I’ll come with you,” Lance says.
As we are about to leave, I hear a commotion outside. My uncle Jesse, aunt Kristin, and cousin Rob come stumbling into the room.
“Oh my God,” is all my aunt can say as she looks around. “Where’s Zoe?” she asks after she realizes her daughter is not here.
“I’ll take you to her,” Cody says. My aunt looks at him questioningly.
“Aunt Kristen, this is Cody. A friend of…,” I start.
“I know who Cody is,” she says, smiling at him. “I just hadn’t met him yet. Is Zoe OK?”
“She’s going to be fine. She had some more serious injuries and needed surgery, but she’ll be OK,” Cody says and leads her and Rob out of the room after she hugs us all.
“So, you just can’t live a normal boring life, huh?” my uncle Jesse says to my mom.
“Fuck off, Jesse,” Mom says. Jesse smiles and they hug.
I smile as I look around the room at my family. And I know in that moment what I want.
I clear my throat, and everyone looks at me. “I know things will be a bit crazy for a few days, but afterward, since you all are here, will you come meet Nick and my biological family? I really, really want everyone to see where we are from and where our mother grew up.”
Everyone looks at each other and nods. After a minute my mom frowns. “Honey, I’m not sure Zoe will be able…,” she starts.
“Mom, I know. Zoe and I can come back another time. I’m sure Aunt Kristen and Rob will want to get her home, as soon as possible,” I say, putting a hand up to indicate I understand. My mom nods. “I mean you, Nick, Jack, and I could go back there for a few days. And Uncle Jesse, if he wants to come.”
“Sure, sweetie,” she says. “I’d love to meet your biological family.”
Chapter 23
Lily’s Playlist: “Never Let Me Go” by Florence + The Machine
The next few days are a blur of activity. My family is interviewed by Colombian police, the FBI, transportation authorities, a million and two people from the U.S. consulate, the news, and at least ten other different agencies of various governments. We learn that there were zero fatalities from the crash. The pilot becomes a sort of national hero and the airline representatives offer free flights to our family.
On day two, Zoe finally comes completely out of her sleep. I’m in the room with Rob and Cody as she wakes and looks around for the first time.
“Zoe?” I ask, gripping her hand. She looks at me and I can see she is confused and a bit scared. “Zoe, it’s alright. You’re in the hospital. Your plane crashed, and you were transported back here to Bogota. You needed surgery, but you are going to be OK. Everyone is OK.” I try to sound reassuring.
She tries to speak. Her voice is hoarse from the various tubes that I’m sure were down her throat during surgery, not to mention the smoke from the crash. She asks for water, and Cody and Rob run to get a nurse. They come back with a nurse and my aunt.
A doctor comes in before she can try speaking again and looks her over. After he declares her good, the nurse gives her some water. She takes slow sips and looks at all of us.
“How are you all…here?” she manages in a whisper.
I hold her hand and explain. Her eyes go wide when I tell her about the crash and how Cody rescued her. My aunt hugs Cody and cries as she squeezes Zoe’s hand.
“We were so scared, Zoe,” she says, tears running down her cheeks.
The doctor says we should limit the number of visitors, so Zoe can rest. I’m so glad she is awake, but I can also tell she’s a bit confused and disoriented still. My aunt and Cody stay with her and I go back to my mom and Nick’s room. That afternoon the rest of my family gets discharged from the hospital and we find a hotel nearby.
It takes us a few hours to figure out a game plan, but eventually it’s decided that my aunt, Rob, and Cody will stay here with Zoe, until we can get her a flight to the States, and Lance, Nick, Mom, Uncle Jesse, and Jack will come back to Ibague with me to meet our biological family and help me pack up my stuff at the orphanage.
I’m the last one out of Zoe’s room, except for Cody who won’t leave her side. I can tell she wants to tell me things, but not in front of Cody. I whisper in her ear as I leave that we need to catch up once we are both back home and rested, and she nods. As I walk out of the room, I look back and see how Cody is looking at her and I know that something is seriously up between them. I smile at this and turn to head downstairs. Instead, I find myself plowing right into someone.
“Oh, lo siento,” I start and look up to see Lance’s eyes staring at me with amusement.
“No problemo.” He smirks.
“Very funny, jackass,” I say with a smile.
“You have a very dirty mouth, Miss Stevenson,” Lance scolds. “Whatever am I going to do about that?”
I smile innocently up at him. “Well, I have one or two ideas,” I say as I walk off down the hallway toward the elevator. It doesn’t take him long to catch up to me and as the elevator doors open, Lance pushes me inside the empty box and presses me against the wall, his mouth crashing down on mine.
“God, I missed you, gorgeous,” he says as his tongue claims my mouth and his hands press against my breasts.
I moan my agreement into his mouth and then the elevator stops, and he pulls back and smiles at me as he grabs my hand and leads me to a taxi and back to the hotel. We all decide to drive back to Ibague. It takes five hours to drive there. We’ve never done it before, but after the last flight mishap, my mom and Nick are understandably squeamish about taking the short flight.
Chapter 24
Lily’s Playlist: “Feel Again” by OneRepublic
It takes us the better part of the next day to get back to Cody and Lance’s villa. Jack has arranged security for us and is going to help work the investigation on the human trafficking ring. He had colleagues from the FBI, CIA, and Interpol arrive the day before and set up operations with the local national police in Ibague. I no sooner have thrown my bag on Lance’s bed when Jack announces that I’m going to the Colombian federal police building in Ibague for debriefing. I spend the afternoon getting interviewed. I feel like it’s Scotland all over again. I’m told they haven’t found my father. They have located the villa on the mountain. By the evening, I’m exhausted. Jack and I pick up pizzas on the way back and I practically faceplant into mine. Lance announces that it’s my bedtime. I feel
a bit awkward about sleeping in his room with him considering my family is here, but he announces to my family that he is not letting me out of his sight again. I roll my eyes and my mom grins. I hug her goodnight and she whispers in my ear that she is so happy that I have found such a wonderful young man. I thank her, and Lance and I go upstairs.
Lance’s bed feels like the best bed in the world. I am so tired that I just flop down and leave my clothes on without a second thought. In my half-asleep stupor, I feel Lance remove my clothes and put a t-shirt on me. I vaguely remember him tucking me in before pulling me back against his chest. I am passed out before I can even feel his arms come completely around me.
I sleep like a baby and don’t wake up until 10:00 a.m. the next morning. And the only reason I wake up is because I smell chocolate chip pancakes. I go to move but realize that Lance’s arm is over me and his leg. I am essentially a prisoner of Lance’s body. I snuggle against him and he stirs.
“Morning, Lil,” he says sleepily.
“Morning, sleepyhead,” I say.
“I think you have that the other way around,” he says with a laugh. “I was up three hours ago, but you wouldn’t budge, and I didn’t want to wake you. I must have dozed off again.”
I smile at him as I turn to give him a kiss. “If my nose is working, I do believe my mother is downstairs making my favorite breakfast.”
He sniffs. “Pancakes?” he asks.
“Not just pancakes, chocolate chip pancakes,” I say with a nod of my head. He laughs again.
“Come on,” I moan as I squirm my way out of his death grip and pull him from the bed. I start to walk out when he clears his throat. I turn around and he nods at my attire. My eyes widen as I realize I’m wearing underwear and one of his oversized t-shirts. I quickly grab yoga pants and a t-shirt I had previously left at his house and throw them on before heading down to partake in my mom’s pancakes.
Lance laughs when he sees his cartoon-character-shaped chocolate chip pancake. Jack has one that looks like a bunny and I have one that looks like a bird. I shrug. “Mom always makes our pancakes shaped like cartoon characters or animals.” I smile at my mom.
