Look." I said. "There's no aura."
"I can see." He said. His voice was even.
I looked – and stared – as he slowly reached out and touched my face. I felt myself shiver and smiled.
"Wow." I said. He smiled.
"What is that?" Asked my husband.
I looked at him, our child on my hip. "It's not aura. It's something else."
"The kid?" He said.
I stared down at her. "No."
He smiled. "You want to go home?"
"I can't. She needs to rest a little longer and the plane needs to be ready for the next flight out."
"Nasty weather." He said, nodding. He snaked his arm around my waist. "What do you say?"
I laughed. "I'm not sure."
"You can be home tonight, if you want." He smiled
"I'd think about it."
He looked around. "This isn't even as bad as it can be."
"I'll imagine it gets worse."
He looked down at his daughter. "Makes you scared?"
I stared at him. "It wasn't what I expected at all." My daughter laughed – a loud squeal – and held her arms up. I tightened my knees and reached down with one hand. I let her grab ahold of my pinky and nursed her with the other.
"Good." He said. He pulled me closer.
"Yeah." I said.
"Tara." A voice said. I looked up. "I'm glad to see you. I never would have guessed…" He gestured towards my daughter. "Maybe I should have asked." His voice was apologetic.
"No, it's fine. I probably should have warned you." It was obvious he didn't understand. I stood up and looked up at the man. His face was weathered. "We're traveling and we wanted to have just had a moment for some alone time."
"I understand." He said, nodding. He was much taller than me, and broader. "I'm Jamie."
I smiled. "I'm Tara."
He stood there, waiting for me to turn to face him. "Nice to meet you. I live here."
I turned and stared at him. "You don't have an aura?"
He looked down. "You wouldn't have met me if I did. I'm hurt." He said.
I laughed. "I'd never have guessed."
I looked down at my daughter. "We had a rough flight coming back."
"Is she.." He pointed up at her.
I looked up. "I'm not sure. She wanted to take a nap and it was the only way to make it until the next flight out."
"No worries." He said. "We can get this taken care of and enjoy your time here." He tapped his fingers together. "How about you get some rest, and I'll take care of her."
"I can manage her." My husband said, coming over.
"You can help." I said, smiling.
"You can handle her." He said. He sounded irritated.
I glanced over at him. "I can."
"Maybe I can help." The man said. He looked at my husband. "Can I help?"
"I guess." My husband said.
"I heard." I said. I looked around at the two of them. I had the feeling there was more tension than was necessary. "It doesn't seem to be all that necessary." I said.
The others gave me a look. "You really think this is unnecessary?" The man asked.
"I don't get all this." I said. "I can handle her."
"No." He said. "A long flight, hit with snow, mother and child lost." He said. "Not necessary."
I looked him in the eyes. "I try to do everything I can for her."
"What?"
"She's my child, how can you say it isn't necessary?" I asked. "It's not like she can take care of herself."
He looked away.
"If I'm so terrible at trying to take care of her, why did you even come?" I asked. He turned back to me.
"Sister Tara." He said. "I'm sorry if I offended you. I know what you do. It's just…" I looked to him. He looked back at my daughter. "I don't know. I just…"
"You know I can do things on my own." I said. "My strength is all I have. I'm not like you."
"I guess that's true." He said. He sat down, still staring at my daughter. "I can see that. I guess my fear is that you cannot."
I looked at him, or him. He was staring at my daughter and she was staring back. "What does that mean?"
He didn't say anything.
"Tara?" My husband asked. "Why don't you just go with him?"
I looked at him – or her – and another voice spoke. "Can I help?" I turned and found Beth, my sister-in-law, standing there, an aura of concern wrapped around her. I looked back at the man.
He nodded. "Yeah." He said, looking back at me. "I guess you're right."
I picked up my daughter and carried her with me. "Why?" I asked, looking at Beth. "Did one of them say something?" I asked.
Beth looked at me, her face still concerned. "No."
"Then why…" I stopped. There was a man coming towards us. He had a piece of paper in his hands.
"You must be the people with the baby who need a ride." He said.
"Yes, that's us." My husband said.
"Okay." He said, smiling. He looked down at my baby. He looked nervous. "The storm is getting worse. I hope you don't mind." He looked up at us. "We'd like you to come with us. It's only a half hour trip. You can get on the bus and we won't stop until you get to your hotel."
"It's fine." My husband said.
"Oh." The man looked down at my daughter. He smiled. "That would be great. Sorry."
"I want to go home." My daughter said. "I want to be in my mama's arms."
"I know." The man said. "I told your mama we'd be there in a little while."
"Okay." My daughter said and started to whine. "Mama…"
"I know, kiddo. I'm coming." I said. I kept my voice strong.
"I know." She said, smiling at me. "I'm just worn out."
"I know." I said. "One more stop and we can go home." I said. I still felt like she was being ridiculous. I looked up at my husband. He nodded. I turned to the man. "Yes. We'd be honored to go with you."
I looked at the men. They both nodded. I turned. "Okay. Let's go." I said.
We followed the man. I kept my daughter in my arms. She was starting to wake up. "I just wanted you to know that we're sorry. We won't be mad." She said. She was holding on to me and her little face was so tired. I looked down at her.
"Go ahead." I asked.
"Why can't you be happy?" She asked.
I looked at the man and he nodded.
"I'm tired. I'm sad. It's cold."
"I know, kiddo." I said. I knew better than to deviate when she wanted to talk.
"I'm so tired." She said. "Can't you just hold me?"
"I want to." I said.
"Let's go then. please." She said.
The man stopped – or levitated. I looked up and watched him hover. I looked down. "Tara?"
"Yes?" I asked, not looking up.
"It's going to be okay."
"I didn't want this to happen."
"I know." He said. "I know." I heard the man behind us. I turned and saw the other young man – the one who'd been there as we got on the plane. I looked at him. "This is Jake." He said.
"Yes." I said. "I know."
"Come on." I heard my husband say.
I walked faster and floated into the opening. I looked at the young man and he appeared to be taken aback. "We're on the same flight." I said.
"What?" He asked, looking around.
It was full. I heard the other young man shouting. "This is a joke, right?"
I looked at him. "I guess so." I turned to go.
"Can you do me a favor?"
"Sure." I said.
"Lift the child." He said. "I'd like to fly. She's tired." I watched him float up into the air. "It'll be alright." He said. "I've got you."
"I know." I said. I wasn't sure that I should. I knew the others were already there.
"I'll find you a seat." He said. He pointed to the rear of the plane. "Over there." He said.
I carried my daughter with me, in the aisle. I found my husband and Jamie seated. Jamie was watching me.
"You have a seat." I said. "Are you going to ride?" I asked my husband.
He looked at Jamie, who nodded.
