Goodbye, Audrey

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“Are you taking me home, Daddy?”

               Peter looked at Jennie for aid, but he saw that Audrey would understand best from him.   He pulled her away from him and placed her on her small feet.  “Listen, Ace, ya remember yer Mum, right?”

               Audrey looked up at Helen, who gave her a wide, crafty smile, which brought Audrey to a loud shriek.  “No!  No, not her!  I don’t want to go back to Mommy, I want to stay with you!  Don’t let her tame me away!”  Audrey clung to Peter’s neck, and followed him his every small movement.  Sobbing, she said something that also touched Jennie’s heart, “You’re my Daddy!  And you’re Mommy now!”  At her last words, she turned to hug Jennie.  “I missed you a lot, Mommy!  And I miss the yellow dog, too!”

               “Oh, darling,” Jennie managed to choke as she brushed Audrey’s reddening cheeks.  “It’ll only be awhile, you see, Mommy and Daddy can’t afford you.  You may have to wait awhile.”

               “My flight leaves at eight o’clock tonight.  Make your goodbyes quick,” Helen snapped, folding her arms and grinding the back of her heel into the floor.

               Audrey bit her bottom lip and went up to Peter, her chin lifted slightly and her shoulders squared.  “I’ll—I’ll try and be brave.”

               Peter tapped the end of Audrey’s nose and a quivering smile made it to his brokenhearted face.  “I know ya will.  I’m sorry it ‘ad to be this short.  Helen will look after ya.”  Peter stopped and looked over his shoulder at Helen, he glared at her as he said, “And she will treat you nicely!”

               Audrey shook her head rapidly and stomped one foot.  “No!  I’m not going with her, I’m going with you!”

               “Now, Audrey, don’t be a fuss.  I promise, we’ll git to see each other again,” Jennie said gently, smoothing out the wrinkles in Audrey’s frock.

               “That is if you can pay for the plane tickets,” Helen added, screwing her mouth to one side and folding her arms.  She arched an eyebrow at Jennie.

               Peter stood up and went up to Helen in astonishment.  “Ya mean, yer takin’ her to America?”

               “Yes.  Did I forget to mention that to you?  Oh yes, I did.  And yes, I am.”

               Peter turned around and stared Audrey with sunken eyes.   He mouthed words of rejection to what he just heard and kneeled down.  He took Audrey’s soft hands into his and kissed them.  “Mummy and Daddy will visit ya as much as we can.  Ya got to be a good lass, aye?”

               Audrey nodded her head slowly and her bottom lip poked out.  She mumbled understandingly, “You won’t be able to see me a lot, will you?”

               “Ace, we’ll do the best we can,” Peter assured.  He took a moment to think of the next words to say, and when he did, he lifted his lips to her ear and whispering sincerely, “No matter what your other mother says, Jennie and I love you very, very much.  Don’t forgit that now.”  Peter gave Audrey and final hug and a kiss on the cheek.   He ruffled her hair, making the braids uneven on her shoulders and walked out of the room.

               Jennie hugged Audrey and gave her multiple kisses on the cheek.  “Be safe, my darling, you be brave and mind Ms. Trapp, I’m sure she’ll treat you fine.”

               Audrey broke into sobs and her face became a deep red and her eyes scrunched up so much all one could see were the eyelashes and tears.  She reached out for Jennie and embraced her.  “Don’t go, Mommy!”

               Helen interceded and snatched Audrey’s hand.  She pulled her away from Jennie and scolded her verbally.  “Behave yourself, and mind me like that lady said, you hear?”

               Audrey only cried in response, her one hand stretched out towards Jennie.   All Jennie could do was cry and leave the room, begging the young girl and the man to make sure Audrey has a safe flight home.   Jennie found Peter sitting outside, several rooms down with his back rounded against the wall and his knees pulled to his chest.  His head was buried in his crossed arms and his feet side by side.   If it wasn’t for the occasional jerk of his shoulders, Jennie would have thought him dead.   She went over to him and sat beside him.  Stroking his flaxen hair she nuzzled her cheek against his and joined him in their terrible calamity.

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