Finally back! Sorry for the wait. Been job-hunting and it's put me in writer's block. I would like to thank Melissa and Alejandra for their feedback. Not gonna lie, I was beginning to lose motivation, but you've encouraged me to keep moving forward. I'm real glad you love reading this as much as I love writing this. I'm already on the next couple of chapters so hopefully it won't take two months this time.
Eliza relayed her uncle's message the next day while Kit returned his guardians' answer. Thankfully, they were just as accepting and agreed Friday after school would work best. They would have a weekend ahead without interfering with homework. Good thing too, because their teacher had already assigned heaps of complicated math. This was exactly what they needed before a stressful weekend. When the day finally came and school ended, Eliza asked Kit who was picking them up.
"We're walking."
"You sure that's safe?"
"Oh yeah. I do it all the time."
"But I thought you said Baloo and Miss Cunningham were your friends."
"Yeah, but Rebecca has to be around to take clients and Baloo runs the job." Kit grinned. "He can't drive anyway."
"But how can he drive a plane?"
"Planes and cars are different. Besides, flying's more fun."
"You're sure flying with him is safe?"
Kit hesitated before answering. "Yeah, definitely." He almost sounded uncertain.
"And your parents don't mind?"
Kit's face fell and he went quiet for a moment.
"Kit?" said Eliza, her voice quivering.
"I don't have any," he finally answered.
"Oh, Kit!" Eliza clapped her hands over her mouth, wishing she could take back her words. "I'm so sorry! I had no idea."
"Hey, it's okay," Kit said quickly. He touched her shoulder. He probably just meant to calm her down, but he froze once he realized what he was doing. He jerked his hand back. Both looked away to hide their embarrassment. "Uh, anyway," Kit stammered. "It's alright now." Eliza turned back to see him smiling. "I've got Baloo and Rebecca. They're fantastic!"
Eliza smiled back. "You're lucky." After a pause, she added, "I miss my mom too." She didn't why she said it, but she hadn't been able to talk about it in a while.
"Gosh, Eliza," Kit's eyes widened.
"It doesn't hurt too much anymore," she said, not wanting Kit to feel worse. "Dad and I share our favorite memories about, so it always feels like she's with us."
To her relief, Kit smiled. "That's good," he said. "And you've got an uncle to help you too."
"Yeah, he's okay." It wasn't total lie. Shere did let her out after all.
They eventually made it to a run-down little building on the docks of the bay. It almost reminded Eliza of her old home with her father. Except this one had a nice view of the water. Kit slowly opened the door, allowing them to hear a woman's voice.
"Yes, sir," said the voice. The children crept in so as not to disturb the woman. Her voice came from behind a mess of papers towering on a desk, hiding all but a crown of brown hair. "Your cargo will be there soon. My pilot was delayed."
"Uh oh," Kit muttered.
"What's wrong?" asked Eliza.
"This could get ugly."
Before Eliza could ask for detail, the woman finished with an apology. The click of a phone hanging up followed and the woman stood and stretched, giving full view of her long brown hair and pink sweater. She finally noticed the children and smiled.
"Oh, Kit. You're back."
"Hi, Miss Cunningham," Kit smiled back. "This is Eliza."
"Hello there." She left her desk to offer her hand to Eliza. "I'm Rebecca."
"Hi," Eliza shyly accepted the warm hand. Even though Kit said things could get ugly, her worries melted quickly. Rebecca had a kind face and a gentle hand. Like Eliza's mother. She felt a pang in her chest but hid it with a smile.
"Where's Baloo?" asked Kit.
Rebecca groaned and returned to her desk. "I sent him on a delivery job, but he's late for the next one." She collapsed back into her chair and propped her chin on her hand. "Probably stopped at Louie's again."
"Who's Louie?" asked Eliza. Before Kit could answer, an excited ball of fur hurled into the boy.
"Ugh, Molly!" Kit groaned underneath the smiling little girl wearing a red cape and a colander on her head.
"I got you again!" Molly laughed.
After the shock wore off and the reality sunk in, Eliza allowed herself a fit of giggles. Kit groaned again, while Molly looked curiously at their guest. Her expression changed to defiance as she climbed off Kit and pointed a spatula at the stranger.
"You brought ren-" she stumbled, and her brave face changed to a confused face. "Rine-"
"Reinforcements," Kit finished.
"Yeah, those."
"Molly," Rebecca scolded. "Be nice. Sorry, Eliza."
Eliza nodded, unable to answer through her chuckling.
"Kit," said Molly. "You promised to play Captain Cannoli."
"Captain who?" Eliza stifled a laugh.
Kit stood and dusted himself off. "Some guy from Danger Woman. Molly, can't you see I'm busy?"
Molly's face fell. Eliza stopped laughing. She remembered being that young and asking her father to play, only to get the same answer every time: "I'm busy."
"You know," Eliza said to Kit. "We don't have much else to do. So maybe while we wait…" she nodded back to Molly.
Kit stared. "Are you sure?"
Eliza shrugged. "You got a better idea?"
"Yippee!" Molly squealed, tugging on Eliza's arm. "You can be my sidekick."
"But that's two against one!" Kit groaned.
Eliza gave him a mischievous look. "Then you better get moving."
The game ran the way the pirate game had on the playground, except Molly's energy could outmatch Ernie's entire gang. Eliza wondered if she had been that lively at six years old. Maybe while her mother was still alive. Surprisingly, Kit played the villain brilliantly. He pulled off an evil laugh as if he had heard one on a regular basis. For most of the game, Eliza just followed Molly's lead, as was the sidekick's job. She soon engaged Kit in a sword fight with wooden spoons from the kitchen. Just as they both tired out, Molly tackled Kit from behind.
"I beat you!" she waved her spatula triumphantly. Kit groaned while Eliza laughed. The sound of engines interrupted them, and they looked out the window to see a yellow sea plane coming for a landing. "Baloo!" Molly cheered, bounding to the door, much to Kit's relief.
He looked at Eliza, who finally calmed her laughing and now tried covering the rest with her hand. Kit propped his face on his hand and looked away frowning. "It's not that funny." Eliza lost control of the last giggles she tried concealing.
The door opened to reveal a tall, heavy-set gray bear with a yellow jacket and pilot's hat.
"Baloo!" Molly squealed, leaping into his arms.
"Hey there, Molly," Baloo greeted.
"I'm not Molly," the child toughened her face.
"Oh, right." Baloo observed the room's mess and the withered Kit getting up from the floor. "Danger Woman," Baloo corrected, setting Molly back down.
"Baloo!" Rebecca scolded. "Do you have any time what time it is?"
"Uh," Baloo tapped his cheek with a finger, clearly faking his cluelessness. "Time for lunch?" Molly giggled. Kit and Eliza concealed their snickers.
"It's time to get moving, buster. We got more clients by the minute."
Eliza nudged Kit and whispered, "Is he busy? Maybe we should fly later."
"Nah," Kit waved a hand. "I help him on his deliveries when I'm not at school. Don't worry it'll be fun."
"Hey, hey, what's with the whispering," Baloo chided, startling both children. "Ain't you going to introduce your friend Lil Britches?"
"Oh sorry, Papa Bear," Kit replied. "This is Eliza, from school."
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Baloo," said Eliza.
"Woah there!" Baloo chuckled. "What's up with the 'mister?' I'm just ole Baloo."
Eliza grinned. For once, she didn't feel shy meeting an adult. The bear's smile and laugh gave a warm sense. The last person to do that, besides Kit, was her father. And she knew exactly what kind of joke Silas would make. "Nice to meet you Just-ole-Baloo."
Baloo laughed and ruffled her hair just as her father always did. "You're alright, kid." Eliza laughed with him, not even minding the mess he made of her hair. "Kit told me you fooled the other boys when you played pirates."
Eliza shrugged. "The damsel act's an old trick in the book."
Baloo chuckled. "Sounds like my kind of book." He turned to Kit. "She's a keeper Lil Britches."
Eliza snickered and mouthed "Lil Britches?" at Kit, who turned red.
"Can we go now?" he moaned.
"You bet," Baloo replied, heading for the door. Eliza was about to follow when she felt a tug on her arm. She found a sad Molly at her waist.
"Will you come play again?" Molly pleaded.
"Well," Eliza hesitated. She couldn't make any promises, but she was hopeful since her uncle allowed her to come. Future playdates would mean staying out of his way, so he probably wouldn't object. She finally answered, "Maybe."
"Yippee!" Molly squealed, leaping into Eliza's arms. Although Molly was small, Eliza had to brace her legs to keep from stumbling. "I always wanted a sister."
This caught Eliza off guard. She sometimes wondered what it would be like having siblings. Hearing outright was both bizarre and thrilling. Plus, Molly's innocence could make anyone adopt her. Even though she only knew Molly for an hour, Eliza decided right then and there she would have protected her with her life.
"You know what?" She smiled and hugged the little girl. "So did I."
Eliza had seen the inside of a plane before, but the complicated machinery never ceased to amaze her. This one was a bit messier than her father's plane, but she didn't mind. Her body trembled, but she couldn't tell if that was from excitement or fear. Kit said he trusted Baloo, so she couldn't see what there was to be afraid of.
"You ready, navigator?" asked Baloo sitting in the pilot's seat.
"Actually, I think I'll sit with Eliza."
Baloo spun around, looking at Kit as if he had been replaced. After a moment, he grinned and said, "Oh, right." He winked. Kit and Eliza looked at each other baffled, and shrugged before taking their seats behind the cockpit.