Triple - Jeremy Freedman

Chapter 2

- Lucille -

"I hate planes," I muttered as the aircraft jolted again. I knew this was normal, but I hated it nontheless. Felix was asleep between Haylie, who was next to me and also asleep, and Elise. I took another sip of water and cringed at the insistent pain in my ears.

"We'll be landing shortly, the temperatures in Los Angeles are quite warm for this Christmas season, 66 degrees as the high." The pilot spoke through the intercom. I sighed in relief as the pain subsided a little in my ears. I was glad it would be a little warmer than the freezing New York City temperatures we live through normally. Plus the fact that the shirt I was wearing wasn't the thickest. It was just a Vogue muscle tee that Felix had gotten all of us when he scored the job. I was wearing it with black matte leggings, a black bandeau, and black ankle boots. Having a brother that works in Vogue also means that he sometimes scores free clothes the company has from photoshoots. Needless to say we love it, especially since we're all the same size, more or less. It also means we all have a fantastic sense of style. I woke up Haylie, then Felix, and told them what the pilot had said a moment before.

"So what if Aunt Anne's a weirdo?" Elise asked.

"I don't know," Haylie answered. "I have a feeling we'll like her."

"She's mum's sister, even if she is weird," Felix said, looking disapprovingly at Elise, the way Haylie had. Haylie was just like Felix. Stern and responsible, but soft hearted and caring. They were the most like our parents.

"I know, I was just wondering," Elise defended herself, smoothing down her red and black plaid skirt, then straightening her white tee that she'd wrinkled during the long flight. Elise was the rebel out of the three of us, and was never afraid to say what was on her mind.

It wasn't long before we landed, thank God. We got off the plane and went throught the airport to go find Aunt Anne. I was a little nervous. What if Aunt Anne looked like mum? What if she had the same light in her eyes when she smiled, or the same voice when she laughed? I know that I wouldn't want to go back home, and I don't think Elise, Felix or Haylie would either. We all looked around the busy airport, searching the crowd for someone, anyone that looked anything like our mother. It was another few seconds until we were approached by a woman. My breath caught in my throat, and I felt a lump forming as I saw her face. I wanted to look at the rest of my family to see their reaction, but I couldn't seem to tear my gaze from the beautiful woman in front of us. Aunt Anne was just what I'd hoped she wasn't: she was the spitting image of our mother. I quickly stole a glance at my siblings, not really wanting to look away. Felix's face looked awfully pained, his eyes seemed unsure of which emotion to choose. Haylie had looked away, avoiding eye contact with anyone and looking out into the bustling airport. Elise's lips parted in a single inaudible syllable: "Mum?"

"Girls?" Aunt Anne asked, closing more of the distance between us all. "Felix?" I felt my eyes start to fill up, threatening to spill over.

"Aunt Anne," I cried, hugging her just as the first tear slipped down my face. I pulled my face back a little to see her smiling kindly down at me, just like mum would. "I'm Lucy." I sniffled.

"I'm Elise," Elise stepped forward and hugged Aunt Anne as well.

"And you must be Haylie," Aunt Anne concluded, causing Haylie to turn her head, giving in. She looked sad, but a happy kind of sad. "You three look so much like your mother," she said, making me cry all the harder. "And you look just like your father," Aunt Anne put her hand on Felix's cheek. Felix smiled softly. He always tried to be strong for us, no matter how hard the accident had been for him. "Did you have a good flight?"

"Yeah," Felix answered. I nodded my head, clearing the very last of my tears away with the sleeve of my coat.

"Well we should get going, I still have that surprise," Aunt Anne said excitedly, her whole face lifting at the thought of what she had planned. She was just like mum. I loved her already. We followed her out of the airport to the pick-up/drop off area as she told us just how good the surprise was.