Page 34 of Luca
Yes, goats.
Aiden drove his motorcycle like a madman, fighting Long Island traffic. Riding a motorcycle while pregnant wasn’t the best decision, but it was the only way to ensure we’d get to the airport on time. We couldn’t risk luggage so all I had was a Vera Bradley large backpack with necessities to get me going and fifty grand safely secured in one of the inside pockets. The zipper Aiden had installed even had a lock so there’d be no accidents.
“I’ve always wanted to visit Italy,” I joked, speaking into the microphone of the helmet.
Aiden chuckled. “It’s the last place anyone will look for you.”
“I can’t wait to meet the goats,” I cracked up.
Traffic was on our side. In less than an hour, we pulled up in front of JFK airport. Once we arrived there, Aiden parked his bike and helped me off. With my growing bump, balance was quickly becoming a problem.
The whole airport and the streets around it bustled with life.
Every time I had traveled in the past it was by private plane. This time, I’d have to take a commercial flight. My first commercial flight ever, and I’d be doing it alone.
Well, not alone. I rubbed my belly. My baby would experience it too. Thank God, she was still inside me. Safely baking and protected from this mad world. But I feared loneliness.
I sniffled. “Do you think I’m being a coward?”
“No.” There wasn’t a shred of doubt in Aiden’s voice. “I just want you to be happy.” He wrapped his arms around me, and I buried my face in his chest. “This is not goodbye, little sister.”
He handed me my passport. “It’s a fake,” he said in a low voice. “The moment you land in Europe, get rid of it. Then use this one,” he handed me another passport, “-if you ever need to move outside the EU.”
I quickly grabbed the spare passport, opened my bag, then unlocked the inside pocket with the cash and shoved it in there.
We rushed to enter the departure area and headed straight to the ticket counter. Using the pre-loaded debit card Aiden provided me, I bought a round trip ticket to Rome with no intention of ever returning. When Aiden flickered me a curious look, I shrugged. “It’s cheaper.”
Nervously, I slid the passport across the counter. My hand trembled, but I quickly lowered it and let it hang loosely down my body. The woman scanned the passport and my heart just about exploded when I heard the beep.
“Set,” she announced, then glanced over her shoulder, issuing an order in Italian. I stood still, frozen and unable to process her words.
“Efficiency at its best. Thank you,” Aiden chimed in, thanking her with a wide smile. The woman blushed crimson.
“My pleasure.” Her tone dipped lower and suddenly, she was in all seduction mode.
Aiden’s hand wrapped around my upper arm, he tugged me away and towards security.
“What was that?” he muttered under his breath.
I blinked in confusion. “Umm, I think she was flirting with you.”
“Not that,” he grumbled exasperated. “You freezing up. You can’t be doing that.”
I licked my lips. Suddenly I felt parched and paranoid. “I thought the passport didn’t work,” I whispered. “I panicked.”
“It will work,” Aiden said with conviction.
Nerves twisted my stomach into knots. My hands shook. My heart raced. I hoped all this excitement wasn’t hurting the baby.
“Prenatal vitamins!” I exclaimed. “I forgot my prenatal vitamins.”
My memory has been horrific since I got pregnant. I couldn’t remember what I have or haven’t done lately. The look Aiden gave me said he questioned my sanity.
“What?” I protested, smiling sheepishly. “The baby needs to be taken care of.”
“Aren’t those really important only in the first trimester?”
I shook my head. “No, for the duration of pregnancy.”
