Two Against Two

Chapter 15

Logan International Airport

Boston, Massachusetts

December 23, 1990-6:02 A.M. EST

(Kate's PoV:)

My eyes open slowly to the bright strains of sunlight shining through the aircraft's window. "Must be morning, wherever I'm at," I say to myself. I motion for the attention of the airline attendant, who is close by, pouring some coffee for another passenger.

She comes over to my seat after finishing with said passenger. "Yes, Ma'am. How can I be of help to you?" she kindly asks.

"Do you know what time it is, and how far we're from Boston?" I ask, letting out a yawn.

"It's 6:02 in the morning, Eastern standard time, and we're about five miles out from Logan International Airport. So, we should be landing very shortly. Would you like a cup of coffee and a pastry to hold you over, until you can get some breakfast at the airport?" she asks, smiling.

"That would be wonderful, thank you," I smile back, as the attendant goes to get the coffee and pastry. Suddenly, my thoughts turn to my children and my husband. I know Peter and the kids are doing fine in Paris, and are most-likely having a wonderful time, seeing the sights that the Capital of France has to offer.

I can see it now—Linnie is having a ball, seeing the historical sites, like Napoleon's Tomb, the Louvre (I was hoping to see the Louvre myself, since I enjoy painting), and the Arc de Triomphe. Megan is swooning at the Eiffel Tower. Buzz is eyeing the women of Paris; a frown of disapproval crosses my face at that thought. Jeff and Peter are paying their respects to those that died in both World Wars. Peter was born the same day that allied forces landed on the French beaches of Normandy.

I'm sure Kevin is doing fine, as well, under the circumstances of being home alone. Well, I'd like to hope so, anyway… I just don't like the idea of him having to depend on easy-to-cook processed foods to survive on, until I can get home and fix him something much healthier to eat. I'm certain he's making the best of having the house to himself. I just hope it's not a major mess, when I get home.

That, of course, leaves Christine, as my mood becomes more solemn. I'd like to think she is doing well, not getting into any trouble, and living her life the way she wants it, wherever she may be. She might be married with her own kids.

The idea that I could be a Grandmother makes me sad—not because of my age, since I married Peter, when I was only twenty and gave birth to Christine at twenty-one—but because her Dad and I were not there to witness it.

I had plans about making my oldest daughter her own special Wedding dress and organizing her Wedding, when the time came, but now that is just a dream. There's always Megan and Linnie, but it just won't be the same, compared to Christine. I'm jolted out of my thoughts, as the airline attendant returns with the coffee and pastry.

"Here you go, Ma'am. I put your coffee in a to-go cup, so it won't spill on you during landing. Be sure to buckle up. We will be landing shortly," She smiles, as she hands me my pastry and coffee.

"Thanks, and merry Christmas," I reply, as I buckle up and prepare myself for landing.

The attendant smiles and says, "Merry Christmas to you, as well…"

Logan International Airport Terminal

Boston, Massachusetts

December 23, 1990-6:20 A.M. EST

I drink the last bit of coffee and eat the last bit of pastry, before heading over to the ticket counter to check in for my flight to Dallas. I'm quickly greeted with a forced hello, once I walk up to the ticket counter.

"Well, that was an interesting 'hello'," I snark, voice low enough, so no one else can hear.

"How may I be of help to you this morning?" speaks the male ticket clerk, with the fakest tone of politeness I've ever heard, and wearing the fakest of smiles on his face. It's somewhat frightening, to be honest.

"I'm Kate McCallister. I'm here to check in for flight 932 to Dallas, departing at 9 A.M.. Here's my ticket," I tell the clerk.

"Okay, Mrs. McCallister," the clerk responds, snootily, as he takes my ticket and begins typing on the computer. I just mentally roll my eyes at his attitude.

I tap my foot against the floor and wait patiently for the clerk to finish his typing. Eventually, he finishes and speaks again, "Due to circumstances with the weather in the Dallas area, flight 932 has been cancelled. I'm sorry." the clerk deadpans, with no hint of caring in his voice.

'That's just great…' I mentally groan. I'm so close to getting home to Kevin, but the weather decides it needs to be an asshole. "Do you have any other flights open, like to Chicago, for instance?" I ask, hoping that he does.

"Let me check, Ma'am," The clerk groans and begins typing again on his computer.

I don't know what this clerk's problem is, but I'm starting to get annoyed with his attitude. I can't help it, if he woke up with an ugly stick shoved up his ass this morning.

After for what seems like forever, the clerk finally speaks, "Sorry, Ma'am. There are no available flights to Chicago or anywhere at this present time," Again, he deadpans.

My mind groans in agony. That's when the clerk speaks again. What does this idiot have to say now? "Ma'am, after quickly rechecking through the entire airline flight database, I discovered that I do have one opening available. Would a flight to Louisville, Kentucky, be acceptable? It's the best I can do."

I feel like a new hope is dawned upon me. "I'll take it. When and where does it depart?" I ask, feeling upbeat that fate has interceded on my behalf.

"Flight 443 to Louisville boards at 6:45 A.M. today at Gate 11. Here's a partial refund from your ticket to Dallas, since the ticket to Louisville costs less. Here's your ticket and boarding pass. I hope you have a Merry Christmas,"

"Thank you so much,"

Letting go of my anger towards the clerk, I make my way to the seats close to Gate 11 and just wait for the boarding call. My thoughts soon turn to Kevin and Christine again. I hope things go smoothly, when I face Kevin again. I just fear the worst, when that time comes. I know the close bond we share with one another is likely shattered, and that our relationship is strained.

In a way, my youngest has every right to be mad at me about everything what's happened. My heart and soul would be devastated, if I had to go through the nightmare all over again with Kevin, like I did with Christine seven years ago, because of a simple mistake, like leaving Kevin behind.

To be honest with myself, it's more than leaving Kevin behind… It's not giving the attention Kevin needs; it's the giving him the impression that I single him out, when he's in trouble, which, in reality, I don't, because I do punish Buzz for his misdeeds, and occasionally, I have to punish the twins and Jeff for something, which isn't often.

Then, there is Fred getting into mischief, like knocking over and breaking one of my house plants, rolling around in my flowerbed, or making a mess with the garbage. So, I'm always on my toes, and that's not including work or keeping up the house. The twins and Jeff do their best to pitch in. I have to get Fred onto Buzz to get him to pitch in, and, of course, Kevin tries to help, which I'm grateful for, but he gets overeager, and just makes new messes.

Maybe I need to prove to Kevin that he doesn't get singled out, and that the family doesn't hate him, because I feel if things keep going the way they are, I'm going to lose Kevin in the same way I lost Christine. That's when I silently cry…

(Airport Intercom)

"Flight 443 to Louisville is now boarding," I quickly clear my thoughts and make my way to Gate 11.

"Only one quick flight left to go. After this flight, I'm home to my son," I smile, as I hand the stewardess my ticket…

(Peter's PoV:)

Rob's Apartment

Paris, France

December 23, 1990-12:00 P.M. CET

My exhausted body crashes into the nearest sofa, soon to be joined by my brothers, Frank and Rob. "Any luck on Kevin?" Rob asks, concerned, while he straightens up his glasses.

"None. The police back at home claimed we miscounted. They said Kate was hyper and delusional, when she called in, letting them know that Kevin was home alone," I reply, as I shake my head, feeling frustrated. "In other words, the case is closed to them."

"You know what I think… I think the police are being damn lazy, and they just told you that bullshit story, so it would be less real work for them to do in making sure that an innocent kid, who's home alone, is okay. They'd rather use their time, stuffing their mouths and expanding their fat asses with donuts," Frank chimes in, riled up.

"That's an interesting view, Frank," Rob responds. "Care to elaborate on that, about why you feel that way?"

I agree with Rob. "Yeah, Frank… I didn't know you cared for Kevin,"

Frank just gives us both a nasty look. "Of course I care about Kevin, Peter. I admit, I can be too much a jerk to him, sometimes, but how else is the kid going to grow a spine and stand up for himself? That also means I don't want nothing to happen to the tike,"

"How about not being a jerk, at all? You're just making Kevin not like you and think you don't love him, by treating him the way you do You should try and show Kevin some kindness and compassion, instead of being an asshole," Rob counters. "I don't think tough love is needed to make someone strong."

"I think it's too late for that, Rob. Kevin would be suspicious, even if I did try showing him kindness and compassion. He's that clever of a kid, you know, and good-hearted, but I went too far with the actions for Kevin to forgive me about the way I treated him," Frank confesses.

Rob and I just look at Frank, in shock.

"There's another thing I'd like to clear up. I know I get a lot of remarks and insults about being a cheapskate and a tightwad, but there's a reason that I am one: It's because I have a fear of another Great Depression occurring. You just do not have any clue to how horrible it was to see the pictures of people lining the streets, begging for food, having no place to live, hobos riding the rails, looking for work, etc…

"Reading about those events, made me paranoid about being prepared for another Great Depression, should one come; hence the reason I don't spend money much. I have it mostly invested in hard metals, like gold, because paper money would be worthless, if the dollar should collapse. I just don't want my family to have to live through such hard times on the street, if the worst came." Frank admits.

"Frank, I didn't realize The Great Depression left such an impact on you. You should've said something sooner, but you don't have to worry about you or your family living through hard times, because Rob and I will be there to help you and the family out, if the worst should happen. So, you can stop worrying about that, Frank," I tell Frank, while Rob nods, in agreement.

"That means a lot, you know. I'll be sure to do the same for you guys, as well, if the worst does happen," Frank replies.

"I have an idea: How about I take the whole family on a sightseeing tour of Paris and maybe have some French cuisine?" Rob suggests.

"I would like that, Rob. I could use a distraction, since there's nothing I can do, anyway, about Kevin, at the moment, even if I wanted to," I tell my brother, while Frank nods, in agreement…

END