Fortunate Sons

Chapter 51: Coming to America

The three days came and went like a flash of lightning and in the early hours of the morning, Taylor, Sue and Tri awoke and got ready to leave. They thanked the Parks for everything they had done, wishing that there was some other way they could repay them for their generosity. But as always, Sonwha and her husband insisted that there was no need.

The trio hitched a ride to Incheon and made their way through all the hurdles, security, bag check, and passport, all with perfect ease. Sue was still groggy from having to wake up so early, but was still excited knowing that she and Tri were one step closer to America.

After at least an hour of waiting, the three finally boarded the flight and took off at nine in the morning. They stopped to refuel in Tokyo and continued on towards Guam, with Taylor continuing to draw out the route for Tri on the map. Going from Guam to Hawaii had proved to be a long stretch seeing as many of the passengers that had boarded were also returning from other countries.

"My God I feel like a gypsy," Sue said.

"Don't worry," Taylor told her. "As soon as we're in America I swear, no more traveling for at least six months."

They settled in for the long eight hours and woke up just before they landed. Tri was so exhausted she didn't even awake, her head slumped against her father's shoulder as he carried her off the plane.

"Em be," Taylor whispered. "Em be......wake up, we're in Hawaii."

Tri lifted her head and rubbed the grog away with the back of her small hand. She looked around, all bleary eyed at the unfamiliar surroundings but couldn't remain awake for long. Her head fell against Taylor's shoulder as they went through the familiar process once again of arriving at a different airport......this time where they needed to be.

For three full days they took some time to rest up in Hawaii and clear their heads. The three of them walked along the beaches under a blood red sunset while Taylor took some time by himself to pay his respects at the Pearl Harbor memorial before Sue and Tri had come with him. By the third day, they left once more....but not for the last time.

Sixteen hours were spent flying before they touched down in L.A and got on their last leg to head for New Orleans. At long last they reached it. After days of traveling, they were finally home. Taylor, Sue and Tri got off in New Orleans and were met by one of Bill's closest friends who couldn't believe that Taylor had returned home with a wife and adopted child in tow.

"I tell ya Tay," Bill's friend Jon said as they drove home. "You ain't missed much. I don't think Bill and Etta even know you're coming home."

"You didn't bother to tell her?" Taylor asked.

"I figured I'd rather see the look on ol' Bill's face when you walk up to that door," Jon chuckled. "Etta's gonna shit when she sees you brought home a family."

"She won't mind," Taylor said. "Besides she keeps begging me and my siblings to give her grandkids."

Jon, Taylor and Sue all shared a good laugh on the ride home and in no time at all, they reached the Robillard House. The house was probably the most incredible thing Sue had ever seen with its wide stretch of verandas and black shutters against the white of the outside. Long tails of cypress and Spanish moss hung from the intricate ironwork of the deck rails and swept across the tops of the neatly trimmed hedges. It had grown much darker by this hour, the porchlights all just coming on and casting their warm glow as far as it could reach.

Taylor told Sue to wait a minute while he knocked on the door. No sooner had he done so than Miss Etta opened up, clamping a hand over her mouth to silence the cry that had nearly escaped her throat. She stared bug-eyed in disbelief at Taylor who laughed a little despite the shocked look on his guardian's face.