Chapter 10 ~ Back Together
In My Daughter's Eyes – Martina McBride
Landing roughly on the pavement, the three men started glancing around for the black van. "There." Bruce said, pointed to the car, parked on the side of the road.
Greta was out of the car and leaning on the driver's side of the door, looking off toward a flat swamp when they approached. Tiny Hulk was perched on the driver's arm rest, his eyes matching Greta's gaze. Loki cleared his throat, snapping her attention from the swamp and to them. "What the huh?! How and what are you three doing here?" she asked, panicked by the surprise of the three men's arrival.
"Loki picked up something was wrong with Lithia…" Tony said, looking off into the swamp and saw a furiously pacing figure. "What is she doing?"
Greta glared at Loki. "Seriously dude?" she questioned. "I know you're overprotective, but lay off the mind spy, got it? As for Lith…" She turned back to Tony and Bruce, pausing to decide how best to answer without breaking her promise. "Look, as for the stuff Lith said we're doing, it's far off and we've had to make a couple stops. She's a little nervous about the whole thing, so we take a break now and then for her to let it out so the roads are free from massive Lithia road rage."
Right at that moment, Lithia stopped pacing, threw back her head and screamed before falling to the ground. "Don't panic, just therapy scream number three," Greta said as the guys all took a step toward the swamp. "Just park it, guys. She'll be back up any moment."
Quite literally, Lithia sprung up and strode back to the car. "I don't care why you all are here. One rule: keep quiet or I will murder you." She snapped, jerking open the driver's door as Greta skittered to the passenger side.
The men were slightly confused 'til Lithia turned the car on. They hurried and clamored into the van as she drove off. The car was silent and only Loki could get a clean look at Lithia. Her face was emotionless but her eyes were practically screaming. They drove a half hour before the van stopped again.
"Lith, not again. It's only been a half hour since you last episode," Greta said softly as the car shut off.
"I can't do this…" she said. "I can't drive myself there… It's too close now…"
"Lith, I…" She paused and looked back at the three set of eyes glued to the scene like a couple of soap fans waiting for a dramatic climax of the new episode. "Excuse me, how 'bout a little privacy here!"
They got out of the van and lingered around. It was clear that Greta was giving Lithia pep talk but their voices were nulled by the van. This carried on for a moment before they switched places so Greta was driving and Lithia was sitting in the passenger seat. "Let's get on the road, ladies," Greta said and they got back into the van as Tiny Hulk barked in agreement.
The silence returned as Greta drove on. The only sound beside the road and breathing was Lithia's quiet directions. They turned down an old gravel road. "Hey, when did we get to Kansas?" Greta asked, slightly jokingly.
The ground was no longer swampy but a vibrant shade of green grass. On a small hill, a relatively tiny house appeared. Slowing the car down, Greta parked and Lithia spoke, "Stay here… please… and Greta, you can tell them."
She slipped from the car and walked toward the house, Tiny Hulk on her heels. It was still a fair ways off as Tony immediately asked, "Okay, what's going on?"
"Well, didn't think she'd let me let this kitten out of the bag," Greta admitted, slightly chuckling. She turned back to the three men with a smile, but her voice held a more serious tone. "Good thing all you are sitting down, because your legs will be jelly after you hear this one, especially you two" she pointed at Tony and Loki.
"Get on with it woman." Loki muttered.
"Hey, call me woman one more time, and I'll kick your ass out of the van," Greta warned. After glaring a few more seconds, Greta let out a sigh and looked out toward where Lithia got smaller as she approached the tiny house. "Look, Lith has this letter that she got from a woman from her hellhole past. In it there was an explanation and a picture Lithia hardly ever looked at because of what the person in the picture means to her. The whole reason we're here is so Lithia can reunite with someone who was taken — no, strike that — stolen from her. I convinced her to come here, and despite it supposed to have been a girl's trip, you three tagged along, adding to her already sky-high stress levels. Lith's been going through emotional hell over what to do, hence the freak out you saw on the road back there. To summarize, because I see your boredom, we're here so she can get that special person back."
Loki tore his eyes from Greta and looked after the now still woman. However, his eyes pulled back to Greta, his and the others' questions still unanswered. They all just looked at her with the same look that said, 'Just get to the point already.'
Rolling her eyes, Greta unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out of the van. She walked around to the passenger door, and opened it for Tony, Loki, and Bruce. "Come on, let's go," she said, stilling holding the door open while her free hand rested on her hip. "I know Lith gave me permission to tell you the big secret, but I think it's better if you see with your own eyes."
They clamored out of the car and approached slowly. Lithia was frozen in place as she looked over the house. The small house was just like Lithia remembered. Bright green grass, little country home shaded by huge cypress trees and a clean looking picket fence. The garden was exploding with color and, inside that color, was an older woman and a small girl. The older woman had many line on her face and salt and pepper hair pulled into a loose bun. Her bright yellow blouse and light blue wash capris were just as Lithia remembered. Ms. Kathy Olsen hadn't changed since Lithia was here last.
The little girl, however, might as well have been a stranger to the young woman. She was about 6 or 7 years old and happily playing in the dirt. Her bright pink flower dress was dirty as were her once white sandals. Her dark brown hair was pulled into a high pony tail and her brilliant hazel eyes were laughing. "Ms. Kathy, who are they?" she asked, noticing Lithia and her followers.
Kathy looked up and dropped her small shovel. She stood and took the girl's hand before walking them slowly out of the gate. Lithia remained stone still as Kathy and the girl advanced toward them. Stopping many strides away, Kathy locked her older hazel eyes with Lithia's darkened hazel ones. "The girl has Lithia's eyes…" Loki whispered to Tony who nodded in agreement.
"I don't know who all of them are Evangaline… but that woman… with the bright chestnut hair… that woman is you mother." Kathy said, placing the girl, Evangaline in front of her.
Evangaline's eyes widened as did everyone else's except for Lithia. Her's welled with tears, her smile breaking broader on her lips. Slowly, the two long lost family members raced toward each other, Evangaline yelling, "Mommy! Mommy!"
Dropping to her knees, Lithia caught the flying girl in her arms, tears spilling over onto her cheeks. "Ms. Kathy said my Mommy would come for me and you came! Mommy, you came!" Evangaline said, hugging Lithia tightly.
Greta glanced over at Tony, Bruce, and Loki. The Iron Avenger had tears misting in his eyes as he looked at his daughter and… and his grand-daughter. "I always knew this day would happen." Tony said softly. "I just never thought that it'd happen this way…"
"Believe it, Tony. You just went from dad to grandpa in less than then five seconds." Greta laughed, crossing her arms as she looked back at the happy reunion. "Hey Pageant Queen," she said, focusing her attention on Loki with a slight hint of warning in her voice. "You better be good to both these girls, ya hear? Lithia comes as a full package now."
Kathy slowly approached the reunited little family, making Lithia look up at her. Picking Evangaline up, Lithia stood practically eye level with the woman. Loki noticed something but kept it to himself. They had the same hazel eyes and, if he was not mistaken, Kathy's hair had traces of once being chestnut color. He couldn't help though but to smile when Lithia hugged the older woman.
"Mommy, who's that?" Evangaline asked, pointing toward Tony, Bruce, Greta and Loki.
Lithia pulled back and set Evangaline on the ground. "The woman is my best friend Greta, the older man with the glowing chest is my father Tony, the other is a close friend of mine named Bruce and the other… is my boyfriend Loki." Lithia explained, pointing to everyone.
Evangaline instantly wiggled free and launched herself at Tony. "I have a Grandpa!" she exclaimed as Tony caught her. "And an Uncle!" she beamed at Bruce.
"Don't forget one awesome auntie," Greta said, not wanting to be left out.
Evangaline looked over at Loki. "Are you the prince charming that Ms. Kathy said would come and save Mommy?" she asked, still in Tony's arms.
Loki's eyes widened but it was Tony who replied. "No, my… wife and I adopted your mommy." He said.
Evangaline nodded. "So you're not my real Grandpa then?" she asked.
Tony shook his head. Evangaline paused before hugging Tony again. "That's okay. I like you better anyways." She said. "Especially since you saved Mommy."
Lithia and Kathy walked to the group and Loki instantly took her hand. Evangaline saw this and gasped again. "Are you my daddy?" she asked, her question once again at Loki.
Lithia stiffened by his side and everyone seemed to be holding their breath as they waited for Loki's answer. He smiled softly. "No small child I am not." Evangaline's smile fell. "But, with your permission, I would like to be." Loki finished.
Evangaline literally jumped from Tony's arms to latch onto Loki neck. "It's like Christmas!" she yelled happily. "I got everything I ever asked Santa for. I got my Mommy, a Daddy, a Grandpa, a Grandma, an Uncle, and an Auntie!" Tiny Hulk, who had been relatively silent this entire time, barked and yipped a few times, drawing the girl's attention. She wiggled out of Loki's arms and stared at the tail wagging dog. She hesitantly reached forward to stoke his head. Tiny Hulk folded his ears at the contact and his tail wagged harder. "His name is Tiny Hulk."
Evangaline looked up. "Like the big green Avenger?" she asked, making Bruce stiffen and shrink a bit as Lithia nodded.
"He's my favorite!" Evangaline exclaimed, jumping around in her excitement. "It's so like Christmas!"
"Oh kid, you ain't seen nothing yet." Greta smiled and ruffled the little girl's hair. "Just wait till you meet the rest of the family," she added. "You're gonna be spoiled sweet."
"She's just like you." Kathy said softly to Lithia.
Lithia smiled. "I was that happy about everything… once…" she replied. "Too many things have changed since then Kathy. I can't go back."
Kathy smiled sadly. "Come on everyone, I'll get some tea on and we can have cookies." She said loudly.
Evangaline cheered and grabbed Lithia and Loki's hands. "Come on Mommy and Daddy! It's tea and cookies time!" she said happily, dragging the couple after her as they led the way to the house.