Chapter 25
Liam did okay on the flight to Korea. He had his moments during takeoff and landing but for the most part, he was really good. Alex and Piper took turns holding him against their chest when he would get too fussy and that usually calmed him enough that they could get him to sleep or feed him. When they finally landed in Seoul, Alex couldn't quite remember why she used to love flying so much. Her body ached and was stiff, she was tired and she was sick of being around so many people all the time. One more flight and she could spend two weeks seeing no one but Liam and Piper. She checked her watch and tallied up the hours. They had about five more hours before reaching Cambodia, then about an hour train ride. She could do it.
"Babe, can you take him? I need to run to the restroom and I'm starving. They don't feed you like they used to on flights. What was that mess?" Alex said
"Prison food. That's exactly what that was. I even looked around for Red when they sat it in front of us. Will you grab me something? Hurry though, we only have an hour."
"Sure, I'll be right back." Alex said backing away from her.
Alex headed off and Piper found a seat near their gate. Settling Liam on her lap, she reached in his bag and pulled out a jar of food for him. His eyes lit up and he started reaching for it and grunting. Laughing, Piper held the container out of his reach while she dug around for a spoon and bib. Finding them, she sat the food to the side and got Liam ready to eat. Placing the first bite in his mouth, he made a face and spit it back out. "I know baby, not your favorite but you gotta eat your greens too. Mommy hated greens for a long time. You'll learn to like them too. Come on, open up." She shoved another bite in his mouth. He still made a face but this time he gummed it a little before swallowing and opening his mouth again for more. "Decided you were hungry enough for it, huh?"
Liam had finished his jar of food and was drinking from his sippy cup before Alex made it back. "Sorry. This place is packed! I've got noodles in a teriyaki sauce and spicy shrimp and rice. You're choice."
"I don't care, just give me one." Piper said, sitting Liam in the seat between her and Alex. Alex handed her a plate and Piper dug in. Closing her eyes, she savored the first bite. "Mmmm…I don't care where you get it in the states, it never compares to getting it here. Even if it is airport food."
Alex agreed and ate her plate of food. As she was finishing up, they called for their plane to board. Gathering up their trash, Alex went to throw it all away while Piper gathered Liam's stuff up. Once boarded Alex took Liam from Piper again. "Here, I'll take him this flight. You look really tired, lean over on me and try to get some sleep. We should be there in about four hours or so."
Piper kissed her on the shoulder and put her head in the same place. Alex adjusted Liam and started patting his back. He squirmed and popped his head up every time someone passed by them, jabbering to some of them and staring at others. Alex laughed to herself and continued patting his back. As soon as people stopped coming by, he put his head on her chest and got still. Alex felt him yawn against her and slowed the pats into soothing rubbing motions. Taking his blanket, she tucked it close to his face and lay her head over on top of Piper's. All three of them were asleep before the plane took off.
/
Arriving in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, they went through customs and went to find the front of the airport. Remembering her limited Khmer, Alex spoke with a gentleman out front and he pointed them in the direction of the train station. On their way there, they passed by Phsar Thmei, the central market. Piper remembered visiting the yellow colored market and how it was teeming with stalls, all selling things like jewelry of gold and silver, antique coins, clothes, foods and flowers. Smiling at the memory, she looked behind her and saw the Vattance Capital Tower. It was still under construction when she and Alex were last here. It was now the tallest building in Phnom Penh and was truly beautiful, rising above the city like a watchman.
The city was busier than it had been all those years before but once they left the middle of the city, she caught glimpses of the Mekong River. The sun reflected off of it, creating a diamond like shimmering effect. It made Piper think of an afternoon she and Alex had spent on the opposite banks of the river. They'd picked up lunch from the market and walked out of the city. They took their time walking along the river, holding hands and kissing and touching constantly. There was a foot bridge that Alex drug them across and once on the other side, she walked into the trees a little ways before laying her jacket down and placing Piper on it. She made love to Piper slowly. The sounds of their love making mingled with the sounds of the water lapping against the shore, the distant sounds of traffic and the birds singing. By the time they were finished with each other their food had grown cold but neither of them cared.
Sighing, she rested her head against Alex and continued staring out the window. She also remembered the fights they had while here. Alex was working pretty much nonstop by then and Piper was incredibly lonely. Sometimes it seemed like the only time she saw Alex was when they were fighting or fucking. She and Alex would yell and scream at each other about stupid things, never the real issues. Then they would fall into bed and exhaust each other. Piper would fall asleep in her arms and hope she would still find herself there when she woke up in the morning. She never did. Alex was always gone and a note rested in her place. That was towards the end of their time in Cambodia. Piper closed her eyes against the memories and put her arm through Alex's, holding tight.
"You alright Kid?" Alex asked, placing a kiss to the top of her head.
"Yeah, just remembering things." Piper said quietly.
/
The train ride was uneventful and they quickly found themselves standing on Ekareach Street, the main street in Sihanoukville. It ran from down near the port up through the town center and on to the train station. Alex looked around her and said "Well, should we try to get someone to take us down to Otres or should we take our chances with a Tuk-Tuk?"
"There is no way in hell we are riding in a Tuk-Tuk with Liam. Find someone Alex. I thought you had all this planned out and set up? It's hot and sticky. I am disgusting, I am tired, I'm hungry again and I've really got to pee. Find someone." Piper said.
"Hey, hey, easy there. I do have it all figured out. I just forgot there's no real public transportation in this town. You stay put, I'll go find someone." Alex pecked her on the cheek and went off to find someone who would be willing to take them down to the shore.
She came back about 20 minutes later with an old woman trailing after her. She wore a Krama and had deep lines on her face. Her hands were gnarled and when she smiled Piper could only see four teeth. Wiry gray hair stuck out in all directions from her head, making her look like a witch. Piper's eyes got big and she looked at Alex. "THIS is who you found to take us? No way. You're crazy! She can't even hold onto a steering wheel Alex!" The old woman looked at Piper and said something. Piper looked at her and the old woman cackled and said it again.
"Relax babe. Her son is going to drive us. She followed me here when I came back to get you. I don't know, just go with it. You remember how the locals are sometimes." Alex said, taking Piper by the hand. With the other hand, she started throwing bags over her shoulders and picked up a suitcase. Piper followed suit and set off down the street following the old woman.
The car ride turned out to be like a roller coaster ride and Piper thanked her lucky starts time and again they had remembered to check Liam's car seat. They would fly down the road then grind to a halt only to take off at full speed again, throwing everyone against their seats. Liam laughed every time they did it but Alex and Piper held on tight. When Otres Beach came into view, they both let out a breath. Alex told the driver in broken Khmer which villa should be theirs and he skidded to a halt in front of it. Throwing his door open, he ran around to the trunk and started dropping their bags into the sand. Slamming the trunk shut, he went up to Alex and rattled off something quickly, holding out his hand. Alex blinked as she tried to process what he said. Shaking her head, she pulled out some riel and handed it over. He waved, jumped in his car and sped off into the afternoon.
Alex turned to Piper. "Well, here we are. I didn't think we would ever get here."
"Me either. Really Alex, we have to figure out a better plan for going back into town. That was not cool." Piper said.
Laughing, Alex picked up some of their stuff and made her way to the villa. Opening the door, she stepped in and found a nicely furnished common area with a crib waiting in the corner. Smirking, she turned to Piper and said "See? There it is babe. Liam has a crib." She sat the stuff in her hands down and went out to get the rest of their stuff. Coming back in and putting the remainder of their things down, she walked through to the bedroom. Piper was standing at the sliding glass door looking out. She came up behind her and slid her arms around her and Liam.
Their view was amazing. White sandy beaches, a few trees swaying with the breeze coming in from the indigo waters. White capped waves peaked and crashed in the distance. Off their room was a fire pit with two chairs and a lounge surrounding it. Piper leaned back into Alex. "As much as I want to be out there, I want a shower even more. Will you watch him while I jump in?" Piper asked.
"Of course. Come here Little Man. Wanna go for a walk?" Alex said, taking Liam.
"Alex, don't you take him down to the beach without me! I want us all to be together the first time he sees it." Piper said, rushing back over to them.
"I'm not. Go take your shower woman. I want one too and I'm sure Liam would appreciate a bath soon." Alex told her.
Alex and Liam were back inside when Piper was done. Crossing to the bed, she sat down. "You're turn." She said.
Alex jumped up and went to the bathroom. She washed quickly and got out, rinsing the tub so she could fill it for Liam's bath. When she had a little bit of water in the tub, she called out for Piper to bring Liam in. Piper brought him in there and took his diaper off before handing him to Alex. As soon as she sat him in the water, he started kicking and splashing and giggling. He loved his baths just as much as Piper did. It was always an adventure with him in the bath. Especially now that he was pulling up and standing. Piper was terrified he was going to fall and get hurt while Alex encouraged him to take another step this way and that.
When they finished his bath, Piper made him a bottle and propped him on the pillows. Grabbing his foot and swinging it up and down, he looked around the room while he drank it. Alex laid down on her side next to him and Piper laid on her stomach on the other side. Before Liam was finished his eyes started to droop. Alex took the bottle from him and gave him his blanket. He pulled it up to his face and was asleep in no time. Looking over at Piper, Alex saw that she was sleeping as well. With her arm across Liam and her hand on Piper's ass, Alex put her head in the crook of her arm and quickly followed them into sleep.